Without this, introspection is useless …

Yesterday’s post focused on the need for honest introspection if we’re going to make real change in our lives, something we need to be doing on a continual basis. But building into our lives the discipline of regular introspection is useless unless we act on that introspection. Otherwise, our taking time for introspection might look more like this:

The act of introspection for the Christian is something we should do with the Lord, and being led by the Word of God and prayer as we turn our eyes internally. As the Lord helps us take inventory of ourselves in light of His word, we need to put action to what we believe (our faith) or else our introspection is simply vain philosophizing.

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it,” James 1:23-25.

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” James 2:14.

Have you developed the personal discipline of making time routinely for introspection? Are you acting on what you learn from that time? If you aren’t, what’s the purpose for the introspection?

Scotty