Pity

Pity is one of the most noblest emotions available to human beings. Self pity is possibly the most ignoble.
Pity is the capacity to enter into the pain of another to do something about it. Self pity is an incapacity, a crippling emotional disease that severely distorts our perception of reality.
Pity discovers the need in others for love and healing and then fashions speech and action that brings strength. Self pity reduces the universe to a personal wound that is displayed as proof of significance.
Pity is adrenaline for acts of mercy. Self pity is a narcotic that leaves its addicts wasted and derelict.

~ Eugene Peterson

Delight

For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer. 17:9. Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief! Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in his beams. Feel his all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in his almighty arms. . . .

. . . Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Let the Holy Spirit fill every chamber of your heart; and so there will be no room for folly, or the world, or Satan, or the flesh.

- Robert Murray McCheyne, DesiringGod

Poverty of Attention

But here’s my point: “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” And a poverty of attention is spiritually dangerous. The writer of Hebrews warns us:

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1)

- Jon Bloom, Desiring God

Reborn

When we believe in Jesus it's not just "well I'm still a dead sinner who just loves Jesus now." No, actually, I've been reborn. I'm a brand-new creature. Yes, I'm still a sinner, but I'm a redeemed sinner. I'm also a saint. I'm also part of the priesthood of believers... I'm not a slave to my sin anymore. That's not who I am.

- Trip Lee

Be praised

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; 
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

- Job 1:21

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.
Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust —
    there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.
For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love. 
For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

- Jeremiah, on Lamentations 3:25-33