( Matt. 7:5 ; James 3:1-2 ) To judge means to criticize, condemn, censor - a habit of censorious and carping criticism. To criticize others is to boost one's own image, at the expense of another. This makes us feel that our lives are better than the person who failed. We justify our decisions and acts by pointing out the failures of others, and this shows that we are stronger than they are. Criticism is really an outlet for our own hurts and desire for revenge. The criticizer will be judged for the very same thing he criticized: it is that for which he shall be condemned, and that by God himself ( Rom. 2:1-4 ).

( Ps. 19:7-11 ; Prov. 30:5-6 ; 2 Pet. 1:2-4 ) By judging and examining ourselves correctly, we open up and allow God's grace and peace to flow within to provide a fit place for the divine nature to inhabit. This nature is the power of Christ, the power to save us from death and to give us life and godliness. Just using God's word itself provides this hope and gives direction for change in deeds (thoughts, speech and action) consistent with God's nature. The Word is adequate to equip you for very good work, and to develop a Christ-like attitude of servanthood within.

( Jer. 17:9 ; Heb. 4:12 ; Matt. 15:18-20 ) You cannot fully understand your own heart but God's word is the measure and instrument by which the heart level of your problem is discerned. "'Let not your heart be troubled...' ( John 14:1,27 ). Am I then hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? If I believe in Jesus and His attributes, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to disturb my heart, or am I allowing any questions to come in which are unsound or unbalanced? I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate." (Adapted from [8][Chambers2], April 21.)

( Eph. 5:14-18 ) How the believer walks day to day is crucial to the cause of Christ and to the welfare of society. The wise person knows God personally and he knows that he is on earth to live a righteous and godly life. He walks throughout life exact, strict, disciplined and controlled. As such, people, circumstances or things in life do not cause his problems but only reveal the condition of his heart - the spirit within. By being under control and influence of the Holy Spirit, the believer can assess his heart and biblically respond regardless of the situation, and become a blessing under the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

( 1 Cor. 11:28-31 ; Heb. 12:1 ) Practicing God's word begins with judging yourself and removing sinful obstructions from your own life. Then, you will have the privilege and responsibility of restoring others to victorious living. We have no righteousness of our own. We can only be counted worthy when we examine ourselves to assure that we are walking in constant fellowship with Him. And constant fellowship means actively thinking upon and talking with Him through confession, repentance, praise and request.

( Prov. 28:13 ; 2 Cor. 7:9-10 ; Rom. 6:12-13 ) Once you have identified sins in your life, you must repent of them, confess them and immediately put them aside. Repentance moves us from the old creation to the new creation, from the flesh to the spirit, from the natural to the supernatural realm.

( Titus 2:11-12 ; Gal. 5:16 ; Eph. 3:16-21 ; Eph. 5:18 ; 1 John 5:3 ) The believer needs to be strengthened with power in the 'inner man', in his soul, in his heart, in his spirit - in the spirit that God has renewed. This is the only way he can overcome the flesh with all its weakness. The source of this strength is the Holy Spirit Who provides the energy and the force to live the overcoming life. Thus, the believer is to prepare himself through repentance, through renunciation, and through detachment of all that is of the flesh to allow the Holy Spirit to move one to stretch forward: "for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".