Patience vs. Critical Spirit

"Patience and a critical spirit are mutually exclusive. Even when your complaints are justified, patience pushes and pulls you toward forgiving and forgetting: “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV)...Patience frees us to develop godly diversity in our relationships, where we no longer require everyone to act and look and think the same way we do." --Jon Walker in Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals.

Man I totally have a critical spirit so many times. I catch myself thinking the worst of people or sneering at decisions with piousness or thinking of just how much that person needs to grow. How hidious of me! I hate seeing my arrogance, my smugness. I really feel like this is such a true saying above: that patience and a critical spirit are mutally exclusive. Right at the time that I am not being patient with Andrew is when I hear myself saying things that puff me up and put him down in my mind, rather than receiving who he is, as is, with thankfullness and gratitude. I believe that my way and who I am is way cooler than how they do things or who they are. I always paint myself to be far more "put together" than reality shows. Wow! I need grace in this area.

Father,
You love us all, even despite our failings or malnourished areas. Forgive me for puffing myself up as more worthy of love and mercy than others; forgive me for thinking thoughts that go against your thoughts towards those you love. Help me to be truly and completely humble and to think of myself with sober judgement. Allow this to spur me to greater long suffering in patience with those you love. Thank you that you hear this cry. Change my heart O God to look like yours.