Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
I get quite a bit of content sent my way each day.
Be it addiction and epidemic related or just a good word from some valued sources like Stanley, Lucado, Maxwell, Jeremiah and others. And today sitting at the top of my email was a little something from the WISDOM HUNTERS called,
“It's Not About You"
Now those of you who know me, know why this catches my eye. I had a very prominent and insightful psychiatrist tell me in 2008 that I was the biggest narcissist she had ever met. And it was her along with many others who have helped me to realize that the diagnosis was spot on and that ailment is CHRONIC for me. It needs daily treatment!
And ever since 2008, and after making Lucado’s book, “It Not About You” a personal manifesto of sorts, a title like this will always catch my eye.
So, I thought I would share a portion of this devotion today.
Credit the team from WISDOM HUNTERS for the message.
Yet, I pray it resonates with and challenges you as it did and does me.
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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
I don’t like it when I don’t get my way—embarrassingly this is one of the ways I am most unlike Jesus. Furthermore, I want others to think I am valuable. I want them to affirm me. I want them to respect me. I want them to love me. When I fall into self-obsession—a “look at me” funk—I am almost certain to not be very focused on Christ. My heavenly Father reminds me, “Dear Boyd, take your eyes off yourself—look into My loving eyes and look for ways to serve others”.
Even the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] left His heavenly home full of God and worship of God to live among sinners, to serve sinners and to love sinners—though having no sin of His own. If anyone ever deserved respect and attention it was God in the flesh—Jesus, yet He deflected His own needs (not my will, but Your will be done)—for the sake of serving—even giving His life from a heart of love. Jesus forsook ease to please His Heavenly Father by fulfilling His purposes.
“Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing” (John 5:19).
Since it’s not about us, how can we make it about others? One way is to deny ourselves in deference to another’s desires. My way may not be the best way, certainly not the only way—so, why not embrace someone else’s idea to honor them, learn from them and give them an opportunity to grow. If one person makes most or all of the decisions, both parties miss out on being challenged to live out of their comfort zone and trust the Lord more fully.
Love honors others.
Most of all, we grow in our love for others by following how Jesus loved others.
Life is not about us, so let’s live boldly, authentically, and generously in the Lord’s service to others.
“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality” (Romans 12:9-13, MSG).
WISDOM HUNTERS – 4.12.2017
“…Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader…”- Tzu
Remember it is not about you.
I love you all!
OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE
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