Have you ever experienced this: you received correction and were quite pleased with yourself because you accepted it fairly well. You even agreed with the feedback you were given. But as time went on, when you thought back to that correction, you didn’t feel the same anymore.

You start to replay what was said to you, and it makes you angry. Maybe you took the remarks well at first, but you keep thinking about that moment, and now you’re upset with the person who gave you the feedback. Sometimes it’s simply spiritual oppression trying to pull us backward, just when we were beginning to walk the right path again—with the right character and the right way of doing things.
The Lord says that if we choose obedience, we will eat the best fruits of the land. Let me paraphrase it this way: if you know how to receive criticism and change, you will eat the best fruits of the land.

God has called us to meditate on His Word—not to meditate on the negative side of what people may say to us. Often, God is calling us to take new steps in life, and many things will be revealed to us. This is why people are often powerfully touched by the Holy Spirit in meetings, but if they do not want to change, they end up worse than before. David said to the Lord:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23–24

David wasn’t praying religiously—he was praying with all his heart. Oh, how I wish each of us could pour out our hearts before God, humble ourselves in prayer, and say: “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done. Show me if I am on the wrong path. Open my eyes, Lord, to know Your desires. Search my heart, because I am ready to change.”

You can start praying like that from your heart right now. I am sure many of you will have a powerful moment with the Lord today. Pour out your heart before Him, pray earnestly to know His ways!

These two verses express the heart of someone who truly wants to grow. You can read, listen to, and watch sermons—that may increase your knowledge, but unless you put it into practice, your life won’t truly change. Sadly, many people store up knowledge week after week but never change because they think it’s for others, not for them. They believe others need to change, but not themselves.

There is a real spiritual blindness caused by pride. Pride keeps us from seeing ourselves as we truly are. Faith is not opposed to change—faith recognizes its weaknesses and says to God, “Lord, show me what I need to change.”

Pride, on the other hand, sees nothing at all. It saddens me to meet Christians who think they don’t need to change. They don’t say it outright, but when someone gives them a valid piece of feedback, they always respond with, “Yes, but…” justifying themselves and convincing themselves that they already obey God’s Word in that area. They can’t change, and God can’t change them!

If someone gave you feedback yesterday, a week ago, or even a month ago, take the time to listen and examine yourself. It’s not a sin to question yourself. Yes, everything that is not born of conviction is sin, and a good self-examination helps make us people of conviction.

If, for example, your best friend says to you: “I find you a bit moody, it would be good to work on that,” don’t respond automatically with, “Oh no, I’m not moody, I’m always cheerful!” Instead, say: “Thank you for pointing that out—I’ll think about it and reflect on what you said.” Then, at home, ask yourself the right questions: Was I in a good mood today? And yesterday? And last week? Have others ever mentioned this before? Have I ever noticed it myself? If so, isn’t this confirmation that I really need to change in this area?

Let us learn to ask ourselves the right questions, and let us not forget the criticisms that can help us grow. Don’t keep dwelling on what people said to you—learn to retain what is worth keeping.

“Test all things; hold fast to what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

“The one who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.” — Proverbs 27:7

This verse is so relevant to the topic of receiving criticism, teaching, correction, remarks, or advice. If we are full of ourselves—meaning we think we don’t need to change—we will trample underfoot what could have taken us further. We will trample underfoot the honeycomb. But the one who is hungry and thirsty for change, for more, for righteousness, will find even what is bitter to be sweet. Even if the remarks seem bitter, they will find them good because they are useful for their growth.

“He then said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.” — Ezekiel 3:3

“So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, ‘Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” — Revelation 10:9

The Word of God (as well as the remarks inspired by men and women used by God to speak to us) will not always be sweet to our soul. It will touch us where it hurts… It will highlight the things we didn’t want to change—things we’re ashamed of or that are still open wounds. BUT it’s precisely here that God wants to bring healing.

I pray that you may receive the Lord’s healing where you need it, because the Lord is available for you right now—to bless you and do you good.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:29

This text is an excerpt from the book “365 DAYS AT THE MASTER’S FEET” written by several French-speaking authors, the main one being Jérémy Sourdril.

We invite you to read the following article: “YOU MUST MAKE RIGHT THE WRONG YOU HAVE DONE.”

RECEIVE CRITICISM. RECEIVE CRITICISM. RECEIVE CRITICISM. RECEIVE CRITICISM.