Good morning everyone,

Psalm 84:11-12-For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

I believe one of the hardest things to deal with as a Christian is accepting disrespect, and not reacting to it in the typical frustration and anger that comes with being dishonored. Naturally to some degree we all differ as to what is dishonorable and will not be tolerated. But is having "a self-defined" dignity and honor a good thing to hold onto?

Growing up I was taught never to let people disrespect you, and especially growing up African-American. I was almost taught to be hypersensitive about disrespect, given my father’s and mother’s generation that grew up in the fierce and overt racism of the 60’s. So needless to say I fought a lot growing up having this stigma, angry and sensitive about having my "honor" challenged in anyway, racism or not.

Maybe you too at some point still struggle with a person or group who have made you feel dishonored and unworthy to them? But the truth we must hold onto as Christians’ is that our Master Jesus Christ is disrespected and dishonored continually by us, and never has been insecure about Himself because of how people treat and think of Him! He defines honor and self-worth by His faithful relationship to God and how His Father sees Him. Do you define honor and self-worth that way? Or are you holding onto some cultural stigma, image, or achievements that set you up to fight for some honor (pride) that even God fights against in us?

In His Love, Ld