The View of Self that Does Not Lead to Pride

Especially as Catholics, many of us have been taught not to think too highly of ourselves or we will fall into pride. I myself have fallen into spiritual pride.

You see, when I first started following Jesus at the age of 19, I ran way ahead of him. A lot of what I was doing however ended up being in my own effort and strength. This led to spiritual pride.

The next 10 to 15 years, I went through the wringer of life which felt like tumbling around in a washing machine trying to catch my breath. Through these life circumstances however, the Lord taught me how to surrender, lean back in him, rest and just be; finding my worth in being a child of God and not worth in the things I was doing for him.

After a time of purification however, I was afraid of thinking too highly of myself, falling back into spiritual pride and going forward.

In my last blog post I talked about the importance of having the right perception; the right perception when it comes to other people and our circumstances.

It is also important that we have the right perception about our self.

Lately, the Lord has been impressing on me how important it is to know our true identity in him. It is also important that we know how the Lord sees us.

Our true identity can only be found in Christ but it is this identity that is imperative for us to know. When it is rooted in Christ, it doesn't lead to pride but is important to know if we are going to advance the Kingdom; do the things Christ has destined since the beginning for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he has prepared in advance for us to do."

Now, I'm not talking about the Barney or Arthur mentality that was taught to our kids about just believing in yourself and we are all special and should all get trophies. This kind of mindset leads to self-absorption and egotism.

I'm talking about identity rooted in the truth of who we are in Christ and whom he is calling us to be. Scripture is full of examples of God calling people higher by revealing their true identity and calling. Take the examples of David, Gideon, Peter, Paul, and Philip to name a few.

Many of us go through life not really giving much thought about how the Lord views us or who we are. I wonder if that is what the scripture from Proverbs 29:18 is talking about when it says, "The people perish for lack of vision."

We just kind of wonder around aimlessly with no real purpose.

Did you know it is okay to ask the Lord questions?  I think he actually loves it when we ask him question!

Try asking him how he sees you. Ask him who you are in him. Ask him what he has destined for you.
If you ask him, I am confident that he will show you. Once he shows you, write it down, declare it, stand in confidence, and walk in that knowledge!

Also, it is only when we come into the knowledge of who we are in Christ that we will be able to see the majesty and goodness of who God really is.

1 Corinthians 13:12 -  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I am fully known." 

Let me know what the Lord shows you. I would love to hear!

Perception is Everything!

What we focus on in life makes all the difference in the world! What we focus on can either invite God's blessing into a situation or hinder his blessing.

Do we look at a situation and see the majesty of God or adversity? Do we look at the world and see darkness or see opportunities for God's light to break through.

Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (Romans 5:20).

Yesterday, I took my children to the pediatric dentist. My kids had been called back and I was sitting in the waiting room, waiting. A teenage girl walked in by herself. She had several facial piercings, a black shirt with curse words and vulgarities all over it, and an expression that said, "Leave me alone! I hate you and I hate life." Understandably, I think most of the mamas in that room were shielding their kid's eyes.

This girl ended up sitting near me. I felt the Lord's presence. I began praying for her. For a long time she would not look at me. Finally she looked at me and I was able to strike up a conversation with her. I smiled at her and said, "Interesting shirt." She replied, "Um, it's my friends." I said, "I bet your friend has had a hard life!"

I then got called back so I couldn't talk to her anymore but hopefully through those few words, I was able to show her the Lord's kindness and understanding.

Now, I could have looked at this girl as trouble, stayed away from her and kept to myself but I would have missed out on an opportunity and a "God" moment.

The right mindset doesn't just apply to people we come into contact with in life, but even difficult situations we find ourselves in.

A few years ago we went on a retreat as a family. The retreat grounds were beautiful! At first my kids were enjoying the beauty of  nature all around us but then started noticing the bugs and started complaining. I told them not to focus on the bugs but God's beautiful creation. In that moment, God spoke to me that I have a tendency to do the same thing. I can often focus on the negative and fail to see what God is doing in a certain situation and see the opportunities that are available.

Also take a lady bug for example. Some people will see the lady bug and see a pesky bug. The lady bug is a also called a lady bird. Some people will see this creature as something beautiful.

Recently, the Lord gave me a word for a friend but I do not think it was just for this person but for anyone who is trying to follow Christ. The word was:

"You have heard it said, 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' but I say 'When life gives you lemons, don't see the lemons as adversity, but see them as opportunity. Opportunity to encounter an aspect of my nature that you wouldn't otherwise have been able to discover."

The majesty of God is bigger than any situation or circumstance we find our self in! As we allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), we can find rest for our weary souls in his sovereign majesty!