The Me I Want to Be

1. Discover Your God-Given Identity and Flourish

God made you to flourish — to receive life from outside yourself, creating vitality within yourself and producing blessing beyond yourself.

Embrace your uniqueness. God created you with a specific purpose in mind. Your temperament, natural gifts, talents, passions, and desires are all part of His design. Flourishing means moving toward God's best version of you, not trying to become someone else.

Understand your value. You are God's masterpiece, handcrafted with care. Your life is not your project, but God's. He has good works prepared in advance for you to do, which are signposts to your true self.

Pursue spiritual growth. Flourishing is not measured by outward signs such as income or attractiveness. It means becoming the person God had in mind when creating you. This growth is a lifelong journey of discovering and embracing your God-given identity.

2. Embrace the Flow of the Spirit in Your Life

Jesus made staggering promises about his ability to transform human lives: "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them."

Experience divine vitality. The Holy Spirit is described as streams of living water flowing from within you. This metaphor represents a sense of God-given vitality and joyful aliveness overflowing in your core being.

Yield to the Spirit's guidance. Living in the flow of the Spirit means doing what Jesus says. It requires surrendering your will to God's and being open to His leading in every aspect of your life.

Cultivate spiritual practices. To stay in the flow:

• Pray regularly
• Read and meditate on Scripture
• Worship and praise God
• Serve others
• Practice gratitude
• Seek spiritual community

3. Renew Your Mind Through Positive Thoughts and Scripture

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Monitor your thoughts. Pay attention to what you're thinking about throughout the day. Identify patterns of negative or anxious thoughts and consciously replace them with positive, life-giving thoughts.

Feed your mind with excellence. Expose yourself to uplifting content:

• Read inspiring books
• Listen to encouraging podcasts
• Watch thought-provoking documentaries
• Engage in stimulating conversations

Meditate on Scripture. Regularly read and reflect on Bible passages. Memorize key verses that speak to your current situation or struggles. Allow God's Word to shape your thinking and worldview.

4. Navigate Temptation and Overcome Sin

Temptation tries to get our appetites and will to override our deepest values.

Recognize your vulnerabilities. Understand your "signature sin" – the patterns of temptation most appealing to you. These are often connected to your greatest gifts and passions.

Implement practical strategies:

• Ask for help from trusted friends
• Consider the long-term consequences of giving in
• Remind yourself of your deepest values
• Practice self-control in small areas to build "willpower muscles"

Rely on God's strength. Remember that you're not fighting temptation alone. The Holy Spirit is always available to guide and empower you. Pray for strength and wisdom when facing temptation.

5. Cultivate Life-Giving Relationships

Love is mostly something you do, not something you feel.

Prioritize meaningful connections. Invest time and energy in relationships that bring out the best in you and others. Seek out people who encourage, challenge, and support you in becoming your best self.

Practice active love. Show love through:

• Acts of service
• Words of affirmation
• Quality time
• Physical touch (when appropriate)
• Thoughtful gifts

Be authentic and vulnerable. Allow yourself to be known deeply by others. Share your struggles, fears, and joys. This openness creates space for genuine connection and mutual growth.

6. Transform Your Work into a Calling

Any work that has meaning, that can be a blessing to people and to the earth, can be a calling.

Discover your strengths. Identify the activities that energize you and align with your natural talents. These are clues to your God-given purpose.

Find meaning in your work. Regardless of your job title, look for ways your work contributes to the greater good. How does it serve others or make the world a better place?

Pursue excellence. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Approach your work as an act of worship and service to God.

Maintain perspective. Remember that your identity is not solely based on your job. Balance work with other important areas of life, such as relationships, rest, and spiritual growth.

7. Grow Through Adversity and Find Hope

God isn't at work producing the circumstances you want. God is at work in bad circumstances producing the you he wants.

Embrace challenges as opportunities. Difficult situations can reveal hidden strengths and develop character. Trust that God is using your struggles to shape you into the person He wants you to become.

Deepen relationships through shared trials. Adversity can create stronger bonds with others as you support and encourage one another through tough times.

Cultivate hope. Hope is not based on circumstances but on God's faithfulness. Even in dark times, choose to believe that God is working all things together for your good.

Practice resilience:

• Focus on what you can control
• Seek support from others
• Maintain a grateful attitude
• Look for lessons and growth opportunities
• Keep the big picture in mind

Last updated: October 12, 2024