“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus”
It is a verse I am familiar with; whose meaning I know-but that as I look at the year that is just past, I know I have desperately needed. It is a source of strength, a reminder that my identity is now different-I used to be the sinner, now I am a child of God; I used to be without an advocate, now I have one. On the inside of me, the Holy Spirit dwells and I am indeed born of His unfailing word. It is a wonderful privilege to know that indeed, from the very inside I am completely born again and am His.
I am glad now that the Lord is bringing it to my attention, or maybe rather that I am listening now. Somehow, last year I caught myself in thought and realised that I did not see myself as a good leader, or able to successfully venture into business or achieve the dreams I longed for a Young Adults group I have been given the privilege to lead.
Somehow, insidiously, an inferiority complex had nested itself in my view of myself-I saw myself as missing an element, an elusive component I could not define, that would otherwise lead me to be effective in my role as leader both at home and work. I could conjure up the dream that said I would see exceeding and abundant provision from God, but I did not see myself as capable of taking the necessary steps to get there. In summary, I realised that I thought of myself as not enough-inadequate to meet the demands of either my current situation or the height of my dreams
As I caught this train of thought-that probably had festooned in my mind for the better part of a year, I realised that I had believed a lie that was actively hindering me from the pursuit and fulfilment of my deepest longing. And as the scripture from Philemon (vs 6) says, the communication of my faith was ineffectual in a lot of areas. And I realised that as I got into the new year, if anything, the big change that will shift the rate at which I achieve my God given dreams will be what I am saying about myself. Will I see myself as more than a conqueror, a joint-heir to the throne and a partaker of His divine nature? Or will I look at myself as a miserable worm just lucky to be where I am?
. It is my prayer that this verse this year does not depart from my lips, that I see myself as He sees me and speak the same way. For the reality of life is this-we are by our co-operation or refusal co-authors of where our lives end up. The responsibility and choice is ours for He does expressly declare that “life and death are in the power of the tongue”
With that, this is my Happy New Year to you all. May God bless you all in 2020.
Selah