Criticism and Praise, What to Do?

wp:paragraph I start every morning and evening with coffee and God through daily devotions from Our Daily Bread Ministries, https://odb.org. “Shelve Them and Move On” is the title of today’s devotion. The scripture is from Proverbs 15:30–33 with the key verse, "Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” Proverbs 15:31. Ruth O'Reilly-Smith wrote this devotion. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, before I write, I pray first to God to guide my words, so that it may serve as spiritual food and guidance. I want God to be the sole source of my writing, so all the credit goes to Him, not to me. I am only his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries as a base for comments. Criticism and praise stir in us powerful emotions that, if left unchecked, can lead to either self-loathing or an over-inflated ego. All of us are good at accepting praise, but not good accepting criticism, even if we know it is for our good. Solomon said that we have to learn from critiques and take praise in stride. God can help us learn from both criticism and praise, shelve them, and then move on in Him (Proverbs 15: 33).

Father God, thank You for the gift of praise and criticism. As I humbly surrender to You, may I grow and be sharpened by both.

/wp:paragraph wp:paragraph

May God bless you and may you grow and be sharpened by praise and criticism.

/wp:paragraph