It is common to hear people say, “Oh, just be yourself.” But, if somebody tells you to do that, do you know what really means? Who are you?
I battle daily to keep my thoughts, actions, and words in line with each other. I want what I’m thinking to sync up with what I’m saying, what I’m doing, and how others see me. That said, it all starts with what I’m thinking. The battle begins with what I devote my attention to.
Naturally, my attention shifts depending on where I am. At school, my attention is divided between the different roles I have as a teacher. At home my attention is divided between my wife, my kids, my responsibilities in the house, and my personal interests. At church my attention varies depending on whether I’m helping my wife teach Sunday school, catching up with another church member, or participating in worship.
But, in each of those places, and many different places in between, I must constantly battle the temptation to put myself first. It’s natural. It takes no effort at all to do what comes by default: view my moment-by-moment life experience in terms of what is most fun, comfortable, beneficial, and gratifying for me.
But, over the course of forty years I’ve learned that when I go the easy route, I always end up at the end of a dead-end street with nothing left to do, but, to be humbled by yet another reminder of my brokenness and kneel down to ask my Father for forgiveness for walking away from who He created me to be: my real identity – in Him.
I’ve also learned that I’m not the only one who struggles in this area. Each of us fight a battle daily against competing demands for our attention – some worthwhile and some not. But, our true identity – the one that we need to turn and walk toward again at the beginning of each day – is the eternal identity that God has designed for each of us in Him. We just have to turn, look to Him and say yes.
For me, that means starting each day by prayerfully reading His Word for a few minutes, closing each day in prayer, and turning back to Him mentally and spiritually in each small moment that I can remember to do so throughout each day. When I do, I never regret it and always come away with a new handful of hope to hold close as I walk forward. Try it. You won’t be disappointed. He is always faithful to give us what we need.
“When I’m with you, I feel the real me breaking through.” – Citizen Way
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Register to be a part of Big Big Yard Fantasy Football:
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For more information about The Hands & Feet Project visit:
http://www.handsandfeetproject.org
Big Big Yard Fantasy Football Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigyardHAFff/
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