"He who commands us to treat each other with love does not resort to chiding and scolding to motivate us. It is Satan who points the accusing finger for, in his perverse strategy, he knows that shame paralyzes rather than energizes. While the evil one scolds us and cajoles us to do better, he laughs because he knows that such scoldings discourage us. His message is to do good but the efeect of his message is to do nothing.
"Satan and God approach us very differently. Satan points the accusing finger at us while God's hand is stretched out to us. Those are very different gestures. Satan accuses. God invites."
This is such a wonderful concept. It could be very comforting to remember when I am feeling down on myself. By remembering, I would be able to open myself up to feel God's love once again and thus access His comfort and be energized to try again.
But it is also a wonderful concept in parenting. We chide and scold and point out difficiencies far more often than we "invite." Could it be that when we do so, we are using Satan's techniques? Techniques which he uses BECAUSE they backfire? How doubly foolish of us to use them! To invite, to praise what is good, to love . . . these things energize. I must use them always!
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