As a child I developed very low self-esteem and as I grew older I became convinced that I’d never amount to anything worthwhile. Eventually I quit trying altogether and the nightmare that virtually every authority figure that I’d ever encountered had pounded into my head and predicted about me became self-fulfilling.
I became a monster.
Yesterday I wrote about arrogance and pride and predictably a few readers quickly wrote and told me that I’m arrogant. The dictionary defines arrogance as: feeling or showing self-importance and contempt or disregard for others.
At the age of 24 I was a hardened-loner, homeless, suicidal, addicted, and dangerous criminal. I was convinced that the only way I could change was to die. By chance I read the Bible and encountered Jesus Christ who spoke a different message to me through His Holy Scripture and in particular Phil.4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. I wanted change in my life, but didn’t think it was possible; however Philippians 4:13 became my life’s verse and miraculously my life did dramatically change for the better because of Him and only because of Him.
I spoke to a group last night and told them as I’ve told tens of thousands of others that if had it not been for my relationship with Jesus Christ I would be dead, or in prison, (likely on death row), or in an insane asylum.
The dictionary defines success as the attainment of wealth, fame, power, or rendering some significant achievement. Since becoming a Christian I’ve done all of those things to some degree, but vehemently disagree that those things define success. I know plenty of wealthy, powerful, famous, people who have achieved significant accomplishments that are miserable; Whitney Houston comes to mind. Misery is not my idea of success.
No my friends (and enemies) success is knowing peace, joy, and love in your life, and those treasures can only come from Jesus Christ. We cannot buy them or earn them. Jesus gives His peace, joy, and love freely to whomever desires a relationship with Him. Interestingly you can have them regardless if you live in a mobile home, homeless shelter, or some grand mansion; if you have a zero bank account or one with eight or 18 figures. They are readily available to everyone free.
I told the group last night that the Bible tells us that long before the creation of the world God thought of us. We did not come into being by some random act like spawning fish reproducing billions of fry out of some procreative instinct. The Bible states that the very hairs on our heads are numbered. God created and designed each one of us for His purpose and He has equipped each of us with every attribute that we need to accomplish it. We have the looks, intellect, strength, height, weight, hair color, eye color, et al that we need to do whatever He has in mind for us. To try and claim credit for being the way God designed us would be silly.
So God has equipped us with everything that we need in order to accomplish His purpose for our lives. Thus saying “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” becomes all the more poignant. The verse means what it states; however it doesn’t state that now that I’m a Christian, Christ will do everything for me. It states “’I’ can do” which means we have to do our part and that involves, (gulp), work and making good use out of all of those God-given talents and attributes.
The verse also states: “ALL’ things” but in reality means all things within the will of God for our lives and that are within the scope of His purpose for creating us. Forming a drug cartel or establishing a pornography empire will not be blessed by God; however starting a church or some other ministry might fit in nicely with His plans for our lives and be mightily blessed by God.
I believe this with all of my heart. I believe my purpose is to tell others of my crazy life’s experience and offer it as a powerful testimony via all kinds of different avenues from one-on-one witnessing, to speaking to groups, radio, television, printed media, Internet, books, whatever, as a witness to others about the miraculous power of God to change lives in order to give others hope.
I don’t take credit for God-given talents or intellect, but I acknowledge that I do work hard and persevere and I have tremendous faith in God. If that is arrogance, then label me arrogant. I’m VERY proud of what God has done in my life. If that is pride, then label me proud and there is NO doubt that I’m guilty of possessing a good dose of it.
Many people wrote yesterday and told me they would pray for my little Words for the Day column. I appreciate that more than you know and it means a lot to me. Please know that the naysayers who try to discourage me will not stop me from writing WFTD. I’ve written it for 14 years and will continue as long as my health allows. If you like it and it helps you with your own daily walk in life, please tell others about it whereby they can subscribe too and receive its blessings. What better gift could you give someone than something that will help them in their daily walk with God? And best of all it’s free and won’t cost you or them a dime to offer a free subscription to them.
Hmmm…Now that I think about it I know of a free gift that is far better than that. It is the free gift of forgiveness for our sins and salvation that is available only through Jesus. Witness to everyone you encounter who may not know Christ during this Holy season. People all over the world would benefit from the gift that “keeps on giving” for eternity, if all who call themselves Christians would take a little time to do so.
Psalms 139:16
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.