Be The Best

A lot of us feel insecure sometimes.  Some people more than others.  And most of us know that isn't what God wants for us.  Humility and feeling bad about oneself are not the same thing.  Humility is not self seeking, or self focuses, while insecurity and being down on ourselves is.  It is our attention turned inward, when God wants it to be outward and upward.

I've struggled with insecurities and self esteem issues most of my life.  And even now that I've grown to settle myself into the Lord's love and acceptance of me....knowing that I am okay just as I am in Him, I still feel that negative inward focus rear it's ugly head from time to time.  It's the "I'm not good enough," or "I'm less than..." feelings that push there way into my mind, that on occasion I still have to battle.  I forget, or lose sight of the fact that I am designed especially and specifically by God and that makes me exactly how He wanted, and that makes me perfect in Him (I'm talking gifts and talents and abilities here, not behavior and attitudes that don't always align with God's ways).

A second gift the Lord gave me for my birthday on Monday was the gift of growth and freedom.  It's a gift for all of us, something we can all become proficient and "the best" at.   I have a calendar with daily words of wisdom called "God's Way, Day by Day/"  It's written by Charles Stanley.  "Be an encourager of the the gifts of others.  There is plenty of opportunity for every person to become excellent in his use of his gifts...Many people I know have a strong desire to be better than others, and they resent those who are equally talented or who seem to have superior talent....Jesus didn't suffer from that complex.  he wanted His disciples to accomplish even greater things than He had accomplished in His three years of active ministry"  This was the pearl of wisdom written on Dec. 5. God gives better gift than physical jewelry!  His gems decorate of lives with the mantle of His presence and love.  They are meant to sparkle for all to see!

It's losing the "comparing ourselves to others" routine.  It's losing the "accomplishment to validate us as human beings" routine.  It's not needing to be the best at whatever to feel as if we have value.  This  statement stirs us to take the focus off of ourselves and puts it on to helping others do their best.  I think God wants me, all of us to become each others cheer leaders!  Embolden others to step out into their gifts and applaud their accomplishments!  Cheer them on!  This will help us forget about ourselves, and free us from the "Am I good enough" burden that so many of us seem to carry.  

Is that not freeing?  No more worrying whether we are good enough.  No more "I have to be the best" for anyone to like me, value me or give myself worth.  Letting God take care of us, doing our best, but focusing on encouraging those around us will bring us into the place of rest God speaks of so often in the Bible.  Cool.

I'm grateful for all the progress I've made in this area of my life over the years, thanks to the Lord.  I still have bouts of  feeling "less than" and have some more room to grow in this.  I believe this is God's next step for me on this path toward wholeness in Him.  I hope and pray that it helps you too. He is so good!

Thank You Lord for the next step.  You are amazing, how You just have the perfect pace for our lives. Help me to walk in this new found attitude and wisdom You have imparted to me.  I want to be the best encourager I possible can in Your Name and by Your power.  Use me to bless others...to help them grow in You.  Thank You for these few small sentences that turned out to be a really big God visit!

Encourage someone today....make it a practice!