As we approach Lent it is time to take a moment and reflect on our shortcomings and hindrances to gaining spiritual strength. It is more than just sacrifices of physical comfort.

How are you able to say to your brother, ‘Brother let that I might cast out the splinter that is in your eye,’ yourself not seeing the beam in your eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam from your eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the splinter in the eye of your brother.- Luke 6:42

Like most people, when you have a problem with someone else, you focus on what that person did wrong. You think the problem would get better if the other person would change. It is extremely rare that one person is completely right and one person is completely wrong. Honestly confront your own faults, even if you think you are only one percent wrong and the other person is ninety-nine percent wrong.

Become aware of how your emotions, actions and words affect others, you likely will discover that you contribute to problems more than you realize.

Spend some quiet time with God, asking him to show you your part of the problem.Even though you need to concentrate on changes you should make, do not blame yourself for everything wrong in your relationships. Of course there are things you need to work on. On the other hand, you are not the only one with problems. It is reasonable to be aware that others have faults; just do not concentrate on them.

This season think abut how you can reach out.