For about a month I was consistently feeling annoyed by the people around me. A friend challenged me to simply notice my internal judgments against others throughout the day. Quickly I “heard” my internal voice saying things like: “He’s so lazy.” “She’s weak and self-centered.” “He’s arrogant.” “They are so stupid.” And so on. To have those thoughts was one thing. But I was choosing them and quietly agreeing with them. They perhaps protected my fragile ego, but it fueled my frustration. My friend invited me to commit to refuse to agree with those judgments, and I felt much more at peace.
 
The Bible says, “Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged.” (James 5:9). That word — “grumble” — beautifully describes what I was doing: quietly judging the inner character of people in my life. Of course, we judge actions and ideas all the time. So we must. But the grumble-judgment is about persons. It is never loving and always isolates and attacks. Happily, we don’t have to waste that precious spiritual energy because Jesus alone is the judge of each person.
 
New year challenge: This week, I challenge you to do what my friend asked me to do: notice your internal judgments about those around you (perhaps also those on tv, social media, etc.), and then to refuse to agree with the judgments. Ask Jesus to help you resist those unloving judgments. It’s not easy, but you’ll be amazed at the peace that comes when Jesus liberates you from grumble-judgments.