One of the most common approaches (and I know I’m guilty) is blame. Not the scream-and-holler kind of “It’s all your fault!”). I mean, that happens and it is bad. But there is a much more subtle blame game which goes on. I think it is less offensive because there is a sense of justification and rationalization going on. The “if only” approach.

I’m good at that. It is much better where something goes wrong to blame God or to justify by the “if only” than it is to look into the mirror and ‘fess up.

• If only she had done this or that, I wouldn’t have…
• If only the kids had listened then I wouldn’t have lost my cool.
• If only he/she hasn’t screamed and yelled and called me a jerk (or worse) then I wouldn’t have cussed him/her out.

On and on. After reading Proverbs 4:23 and working on a sermon, there is no way to disagree with Tripp when he says,

Our words and behavior are not caused by what’s outside us, but by what’s inside us. But the Scriptures are clear that every wrong I do flows out of the thoughts and desires of my heart.

“Father, blame though I may, I know I’m the problem. Like my parents, Adam and Eve, I’m prone to blame. But it is my heart which is out of whack. Father, help me to look into the mirror and see what is honestly and truly there. Then and only then will I be convinced of my need for your grace.”