I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day on this absolutely beautiful Friday afternoon on the Texas Gulf Coast.
My Moms ministry was giving people the book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. Most every morning at breakfast my Beautiful Bride will read it to me before I go to work. On the Friday before Kath and I celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary I reflect on the awesomeness of God - the first woman I ever loved, my Mom, used to read a daily devotional to me every morning over breakfast as a child and now the woman He gave me to do life with does the same thing. Makes the heart happy and brings a smile to my face! :)
I went on a business trip this week. Kath got up early with me on Wednesday morning before I went to the airport and as I ate breakfast she read Jesus Calling to me. The words struck me as profound and I wanted to share them with you this afternoon. It read in part:
"Stop judging and evaluating yourself, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority; sometimes a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless."
This little paragraph is so filled with wisdom. A few quick thoughts:
- Judging and evaluating ourselves is not our role. What if we stopped this nonsense, simply did the best we can do with where we are each day and then lay our heads on the pillow at night with the knowledge that we are in fact enough?
- How about the truth in comparing produces pride, inferiority or a mixture of both? Dang! So true...so not what we are called to do or be!
- Our paths are tailor-made for us, individually, by God. Let that sink in...
- And the one that just struck me like a punch in the stomach; not only is comparing wrong, it is meaningless. You are you, I am I and we each have our own paths to walk. Comparing ourselves to others is truly no different than saying an orange is a bad apple or vice versa. Of course it is, that is not what it was created to be!
So I got this all bouncing around in my mind and I am listening to the radio as I drive the beautiful back roads of Missouri. And a person calls in and talks about how they feel like such a failure, they have made so many mistakes, etc. Ever been there? Yeah, me too. And then the radio host reminded everyone listening that God uses our messes to give us our messages. Tied right back, in my mind, to the beautiful words Sarah had written. It's about our journey, not judging it as good or bad, and walking out the truth that God works for the good of those who love Him.
And then finally, I was reading Seize the Day: Living On Purpose And Making Every Day Count by Joyce Meyer this morning. I want to share several excerpts from what I read with you.
"Part of His purpose for us is that we live "on purpose" for a purpose. Many people feel useless, and they waste their time wondering why they are on earth. "Who am I? What am I here for?" is the cry of many hearts.
You are here because God wants you! You are important to Him, and you fit into His purposes. You are not an accident. You are personally designed by the hand of God and have been given abilities that you are to use in the service of God and man."
"Get to know yourself and learn to appreciate yourself! Every day that you are against yourself is another day that you waste. It is important to be able to say, "I like myself, and I love myself with the love of God." To do anything other than that is to offend God. I once heard a pastor tell a woman who had just said that she hated herself, 'Who do you think you are? If God loved you enough to send His Son to die for you, surely you can stop hating yourself and become useful to God.'"
"One of the best ways that you can stop wasting time is to accept yourself as God designed you this very moment. Don't ever fight against yourself again. Say, "I am what I am, and I cannot do anything God has not designed me to do - but I can do everything He has purposed for me. I accept myself as God's creation. He loves me and has a purpose for my life." Even if you don't know what that purpose is yet, this will help you get on your way to discovering it."
"We may give someone a simple compliment without being aware of how much he or she needed it. You smile at someone and she is comforted because she has just been through a stressful ordeal. That person is encouraged, and we have fulfilled God's purpose for us at that moment. You will miss God's purpose for you if you only look for major world-changing things or things that cause everyone to clap and cheer. God uses small things as much as big things, and sometimes He even uses them more. Always remember that what seems small and insignificant to us may be a life-changing event for someone else!"
So what is the point of this Happy Friday? I pray you, and I, will know we are enough. Just as we are. Right now. In this moment. That we, I, would stop beating ourselves up all the time and walk in the love, mercy & grace of a God that loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins so that we do not have to be separated from Him for eternity. I pray that as you read the words of Sarah & Joyce that the words wash over you and penetrate the deepest recesses of your soul. That you will accept you and run your race. You are not a mistake or an accident. You were created on purpose, for a purpose by God. THAT is who you are!
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families!
Kev
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