Day 355 - Ours

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There are times when it is so easy to believe that we just don't measure up. The world is really good at making us think that our talents, our abilities, our resources, our education, our relationships will always fall short when it comes to who we are. As we stay in that place of doubt, it gets easier and easier to let victim thinking take over in our lives.

I came across a Bible verse this morning that made me think about what it takes to make those times of doubt something different in our lives. Take a look at today's Bible reading with me now.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

At the beginning of our presentation today I used a word several times. That word was "our". I said that the world is really good at making us think our talents, abilities, resources, education and relations will always fall short when it comes to who we are. I went on to say that it is when we stay in that place that we thing our stuff won't be enough to make us who we want to be that victim thinking takes over.

Our Bible reading also uses the word "our". Interesting thing is that it is only used once. Peter says that we have all we need in this world through our knowledge of Him. The difference between victim thinking and victor living can be seen as we change the focus as to what we think we can control.

In my opening paragraph I listed things that I typically look to when it comes to identity. I lean on my talents and abilities and resources and education and relationships to make who I am be seen in the light my fragile ego needs so completely. This is such a failed strategy of making identity be what it was meant to be.

I'm not saying that talents, abilities, resources, education and relationships aren't important when it comes to who we are. What I'm starting to realize is that these things need to be secondary. They need to come under the power of something more lasting when it comes to making these important items do all they need to do to make us live out who we are in this life. Peter hits on what it is that empowers all these important traits of life. It is when we allow the knowledge of God be what fuels the fire behind talents, abilities, resources, education and relationships that victor living comes out of the truth of who we are.

Our reading today highlights a reality that I think we too often miss. God's divine power has given us everything we need to life a godly life. That word "godly" comes from a Greek word that means reverence and respect. It can also be translated as holiness.

I saw something in this word today that really changed the meaning of today's reading for me. I have always saw being godly as living in a place where I have reverence and respect for God. I think this is an accurate view of what this word means, but today I saw something more for us to consider. What if reverence and respect was meant for us as well? In other words, what if the fact we have been given everything we need from God to live in this world in a way that we receive the reverence and respect our souls hunger for? That is something that I find simply amazing.

Isn't that what we look for through trying to make our identity be all it can be in our world? Aren't we yearning for a little bit of respect. Some may call it acceptance. Others may look to being loved when it comes to respect. Reality is that we want our identities to work for us in ways that make who we are be respected by others we come into contact with. Today's reading promises that that will happen. It happens as we get to know this God that empowers who we are through all He is in our lives.

I love how Peter puts it in today's reading. We get to participate in the divine nature of God Himself. There is power in God's divinity. That power is promised to us. That power comes as we get to know who this God is that calls us His Child. When we are focused on the traits of our life we always fall short at reaching who we want to be. When we focus on the power behind those traits, life turns in a direction that makes victor living possible irregardless of what our circumstances might be.

We have been given everything we need. The world tells us we are falling short. Which are you going to believe today?

Let the power of God's divine nature flow into who you are. Take time to ask God to show Himself to you. Learn about Him. Make that knowledge of Him be yours! Let that knowledge turn your talents, abilities, resources, education and relationships into what they were meant to be when it comes to who you are. On your own, these traits aren't enough. With God, these traits are more than enough to make your identity do all it was destined to do in your world today.