HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
When I play Pball, and I make a bad shot, it us not unusual to hear me grunt, or chide myself (like, David, David, David). Sadly, I do this a lot.
Anyway, the reason I respond like that is because I THINK I SHOULD HAVE MADE THE SHOT. I have high expectations for myself. I do not lack confidence (though skill is another thing). It is not that I have unfounded expectations. I am fairly good at what I do. When I play someone who simply overpowers me I don't get down on myself, because I cannot help that I am outclassed. But when I fail to do that which I know I can do, then I am bothered. BTW I do not get bothered with others.
In the spiritual life we should be expecting ourselves to give our best. I am not talking about legalism or works salvation. I am talking about reasonable service, total effort, faithful obedience. We need to examine ourselves, not only to see if we are living up to our full potential, but to see if we are in the faith or have become reprobates.
BTW, there is no point in examining ourselves to see if we are in the faith, if being in the faith is a unilateral, unconditional, "sovereign" decision of God, rather than a free will, faith choice that we make, in response to the call of God.
