Finding My Path

I’ve had these thoughts wandering around in my head since my last “Mugs & Muffins” Bible study: 

In the society we live in, where everyone has the ability to create themselves online over and over again; when photoshopped photos are common; when we have photo filters to fix all manner of blemishes, social media to hide behind, and a computer screen to keep our communities at a safe distance….how can I live an authentic life?

How do I ensure that the person you meet online, through my blog, Twitter feed, Facebook statuses and emails is the same person you’ll meet in real life one day? 

I’m not going to claim that I came up with the following – Ms. Jean, my mentor and amazing Bible study teacher shared this in our last meeting, but I didn’t want to forget it, so my tens of readers, you can enjoy it as well 🙂 

How do we do this? How do we focus on who God created us to be while we live in this world? It’s all about the Holy Spirit in our lives, transforming us into more than we could possibly imagine. 

“…ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit. Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices {and instruments} and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, at all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” Ephesians 5:18-20 (AMP)

Be ever filled with the Holy Spirit. Seems so easy, doesn’t it? It is, actually. 

• The command to be filled with the Holy Spirit is imperative
• The verb “be filled” is plural – it is applied to everyone
• It is also in the passive voice – we must be involved in the process to be filled
• To be filled is in the present tense – it’s continuous – moment by moment

There is not one person who has accepted Christ as Savior who is left out of this promise – no one is denied the presence of the Holy Spirit. But it’s up to us to be involved, day by day, minute by minute to be filled, to follow God’s leading in our lives, and to allow ourselves to be transformed. 

The transformation is hard. It’s easier to live the way the world lives. To try to fit in, blend in, seek achievement and praise through the eyes of the world. But that life? From someone who has lived it far too long? It’s not the Light-living Christ desires for any of us.

I work in marketing, so I can promise you that every advertisement, marketing message, and business model knows that the best way to make you think you need their product is to target your “what’s in it for me” button. To live as  Light, we have to forget about what’s in it for us and start looking at what’s in it for her – the sweet mama who needs some encouragement today. The friend who is struggling in her new season of life. The husband who works multiple jobs to support his family. The daughter who needs someone to remind her she is loved. It’s not about us. 

In the Light we know where we are – we are no longer lost – we can see the path before us. When we stop focusing on ourselves, the Holy Spirit can work in our hearts to put the gifts and talents God gave us to use for His kingdom. When we stop focusing on ourselves all the time, we can shift our focus to others and see the path God has for us. 

Walk in the Light where you are and where you want to be will be very clear.

“Let the word {spoken by} Christ (the Messiah) have its home {in your hearts and minds} and dwell in you in {all its}richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom {in spiritual things, and as you sing}psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with {His} grace in your hearts. And whatever you do {no matter what it is} in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in {dependence upon} His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:16-17 (AMP)

As we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us, as we begin to discover the gifts and strengths God gave us, and as we think of others instead of ourselves, we will only have one choice: to live authentically, in the Light, allowing the One who is Truth to shine through our cracks and weaknesses.