Focus On What You’re Doing
How do you view your own life? I think a lot of times we tend to focus on what we do not have, causing us to miss all that we do have. Sometimes it is much easier to look at what other people's lives look like and covet it (strongly desire what belongs to someone else). So, let me ask you this: what plus you do you think will make you feel worthy and complete? Is it you plus attention from guys? Is it you plus validation from people? Is it you plus your degree/schooling? It is you plus the places you’ve traveled to or the things you own? Is it you plus a certain amount of money? What you need to remember is that there will always be someone else who goes on more vacations, owns better material things, has a better paying job, a greater schooling experience, a more useful degree, or is further along in life than you. We are not meant to have the same life as those around us. We all have different qualities, talents, perspectives, interests, and purposes! Yes, we can have similar things or experiences, but ultimately no one’s life looks the same. We can even bring all of this back to the fact that no one has the same fingerprint – which is crazy to think about!
Each of us is truly uniquely made, and therefore, made to be uniquely used by God.
And guess what? God knows what He needs to give you to go through, or steward, in order to make you more into who He intends you to be! Rather than compare, it is important to look at what God has entrusted to you. Why is that important to do? Well, I’m glad you asked! You see, what is really taking place is that you are focusing on what will make you feel satisfied and worthy, not realizing that you are worthy without any of that stuff. There is a book named "Victory Over the Darkness” by Neil T. Anderson that touches on this perspective change that needs to take place. Anderson writes,
“wholeness and meaning in life are not the products of what you have or don’t have, what you’ve done or haven't done. You are already a whole person and possess a life of infinite meaning and purpose because of who you are- a child of God. The only identity equation that works in God’s kingdom is you plus Christ equals wholeness and meaning” (emphasis mine).
You see, your worth is not based on being a business manager or owner, an influencer, a girlfriend, a best friend, a high school or college graduate- you are, first and foremost, a child of God and have worth just from being a daughter of the Most High King!
God created you with purpose, but your biggest purpose is found in being a child of God!
First John 3:1a encourages us, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” God knew you and loved you before you were even born (1 John 4:19). He intricately knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13). You already have meaning behind your worthiness. And I want to let you in on why. I heard this point from Pastor Joby Martin once and it completely changed my view for this topic. In Matthew chapter 3 Jesus, the Son of God, got baptized. In chapter 3, verse 17 tells us that after He was baptized “.. behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”” Do you know what Jesus had done in His ministry by this time?
Nothing.
God said that about Jesus before He did any of the mission that He was placed on earth to do. Why is this a good thing to note? Well, believe or not, God has the same view towards us as He extends the same kind of affirmation to us! You are known and loved by the Savior of the world! God sent His Son, Jesus, to provide forgiveness of your sins by dying, taking all sins upon Himself, and defeating sin, death, and the devil as an innocent man. And He did it all so you would be able to have direct access to the Father, your heavenly Father!
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection gives purpose and wholeness to our lives!
We are covered because of what Jesus did before we were even born. Romans 5:8 tells us how “.. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Our part is to walk in the fact that we are forgiven and called children of God! You are not meant to compete and try to be above others.
Instead, you are meant to live out the life you have been given with the worth you have from being a child of God!
Worth comes from you partnering with Jesus, for He is the one who gives the “in” to be called a child of God! Therefore, don’t concentrate on what you do or how much you do, but concentrate on who you are and Whose you are!Acts 4:13 is a great example of being able to do anything with boldness that comes from the Lord and being His. In addition, it shows the results of partnering with the Holy Spirit, who is given to us through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Some context of this verse is that after Jesus rose and went to heaven, a few of the disciples were called in for questioning. They were used to heal a man, who had been lame since birth, by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth. We pick up after the council had heard the disciple's response to their negative accusations. The Word reads, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Even the council, who were involved in giving the “go” for Jesus’ death, realized that these men were being used by God and had learned much from Jesus. The disciples were known not to be the most successful and intelligent group on their own, but with Jesus, they found identity and confidence to do what they were called to! Not to mention, they were successful in anything they did with and for the Lord, no matter how many came against them! First Corinthians 15:58 tells us to “..be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” When you work towards the things that you want to be a part of your lifestyle, remember that you do not need them to feel satisfied and successful. When you focus on what the Lord has given you, trust that He can use what you have in more ways than you think. You just have to turn from the worldly view of disappointment and comparison, to how God can use you with what you have been given! Some questions you can ask yourself to help with that include,
“what have I done to be kind to others or to portray Jesus to those around me?”
“what am I doing to help further the Kingdom of God?”
Sometimes, to feel better about yourself you tend to look outside of yourself. Jesus calls us to look to Him and then serve others. When we do so, we are working towards not what can fade away, but towards God’s everlasting Kingdom! So, remember, you get to participate in His Kingdom just because of Jesus and the worth He has given you as a child of God! And how you can participate is by focusing on what the Lord has given you in your life, trusting that He will help you steward it for His purpose!
