We have looked at how we see ourselves, how God sees us and how aligning our identity can connect us to action. Now I want to leave you with three simple steps for maintaining a healthy self-identity. Pray, reflect and take action.
Pray that the person you strive to be is reflective of God’s nature. To reflect God, you must know God. This can only happen through studying His word and talking to Him through prayer.
We take our cue from Jesus here. He and God are one, yet he needed to take the time to stop and pray. He prayed on the mountain all through the night prior to selecting the twelve disciples in Luke 6. He prayed after feeding the five thousand in Matthew 14, and he prayed in Gethsemane in Matthew 26 before going to the cross.
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Of all the things they witnessed and could have asked of him, this was what they wanted to know in Luke 11:1.
Reflect on who you are. Take time to sit and think about how you think of yourself. I know that for some of us, finding five minutes of quiet time can be challenging, but it is well worth it. Think about how you describe yourself. Do you like the words that you have chosen? The answer may be a resounding yes! Or it may be an “I’m not sure” or “not really”. The wonderful thing about that is that we can change our narrative if we find that it’s not exactly where it should be, or if it’s not aligned with the person God desires you to be.
You may be wondering what this process of reflection looks like. For me it looked different at each stage of my life. I can tell you that there wasn’t a lot of reflection in my 20’s. I was in a hurry-up and get life going mode – marriage, kids, work – hurry, hurry, hurry. Looking back some of the decisions I made could have benefited from some reflection. As my kids got older, things only seemed to get busier, but it was during this time that I realized how beneficial setting a priority for this time could be. So, in my car on the way to work or in the shower was about as good as it got for my personal reflection time. Through the years I have learned to find a corner in my house that is uniquely mine. My girls know it as my reading chair. It is the place where I retreat to when I want to think, process and reflect. I usually have a journal and my Bible with me because for me, prayer and reflection go hand in hand.
Paul instructs the Corinthians to “examine themselves” in II Corinthians 13:5.
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith…”
We read in Psalm that the stillness of a moment can allow for the knowledge of God to come through.
“Be still and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10
So don’t feel guilty or self-indulgent for taking some time for yourself. The act of reflection is preparation for your daily walk with God.
Take Action. This final step of taking action should be a natural result of prayer and reflection. It is an outward showing of your inner thoughts that are centered on Christ. Taking action may sound intimidating, but really it’s all about finding out how to serve the Lord in your own unique way. Your action doesn’t have to be a grand production. Sometimes just showing up and encouraging those around you with a positive attitude and a smile may be what the person sitting next to you needs. Each of us has talents that are uniquely our own. They are not meant to be compared, but to share.
You may be a wonderful encourager, or maybe hospitality is your specialty. Each of us have a unique way of taking action for the Lord, and that’s why we are called the body of Christ. Together, as a collective group, we show Christ to our community, to our families, and to our friends. My goal with this series of lessons was to ultimately encourage you to realize your potential in Christ. To take courage and step out in faith. I believe that the following verse says it best:
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
Giving God the Glory 