VISION PURSUING GOD S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE Running After Your Destiny APRIL 2015 THE SECOND PRINCIPLE

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1 VISION 2015 PURSUING GOD S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE Running After Your Destiny APRIL 2015 THE SECOND PRINCIPLE Jeremiah 29:11, I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. DEVELOP A HEALTHY VIEW OF YOU! In our first principle we discovered how important it is to realize God s creative purpose for you. He uniquely designed you for relationship (Worship) with Him. Once we come to grips with the fact that we are not our own, we are here for His pleasure and Glory, we can now move to the next step in pursuing His plan for us. The pressing question of this principle is, Who am I? It may seem to be a pointless question because most of us believe that if we do not know anything else, we know ourselves. I want to rush to suggest that there is a great possibility that of the many things that you do really know, among those may not be an accurate knowledge of who you really are. Most of us are the result of years of misinformation that we have acquired over our life span about who we are. We are a composite of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, responses, and actions that have become our personality. In our description of ourselves to others we orate the conversations that we have had with ourselves about ourselves which has become how we present ourselves to others. Those conversations, whether internal or verbal, have been a mere expression of our identified responses to the events of our lives that we have mentally documented and rehearsed. But the real question that we must ask is, Have I ever asked God who I am? Have I really identified myself apart from my life experiences? Have I deliberately undergone a process of self-discovery? I submit to you that until we do go through a process of self-discovery or what psychology calls self-actualization, we will never maximize our God intended purpose. Consequently we will never have a healthy view of ourselves. I know that you are tempted to disregard this principle because we pride ourselves in self-awareness. We forcefully say, No one knows me better than me. My task is to get us to realize that there is someone who knows us better than we know ourselves, 1

2 and that person is God. Now, if you can at least admit that fact, here is what He said about every person who ever lived, (Jeremiah 17:9), "The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is (God s Word Translation). Note: The KJV translation uses the word heart instead of mind. These words are used interchangeably in God s Word but refer to the cognitive and emotional aspects of humanity. The danger of using our heart to establish self-understanding is that it can and often does make us a victim of self-deception. God wants us to understand ourselves who we are, not in a selfish way, but in the sense that we must understand our place in His creation and His plan for our existence. It is God s plan that as we know Him we will also come to know who He created us to be. It is extremely important that we take some time in this principle to understand the theory of self-actualization from a psychological standpoint as we understand what the Word of God has to say on the subject. So, prepare for a month of SELF-DISCOVERY that will revolutionize your outlook on your future if it is taken seriously. THE REDISCOVERY OF ME! Is it possible to get to be the age that you are and still not know who you really are? That is a rather intimidating thought that most of us certainly would not entertain in the company of others. We especially avoid this thought when it comes to those who are in our inner circle, close friends, family members, spouse and children. The reason is that we have spent all of our years presenting the ME that has been crafted by my life experiences and my world view. It is that ME that everyone knows. It is the ME that I have carefully packaged for public presentation. So, the very thought that I possibly don t really know who I am is one that I am uncomfortable with and willing to avoid. But to do that may mean that I am leaving a lot of the life that I was intended to live, on the shelf. Think of it, you and I could possibly die with unlived life because we never dared to take a deeper look at ourselves. So, join me in rediscovering me. SELF-ACTUALIZATION The term self-actualization was originally introduced by Kurt Goldstein, (neurologist and psychiatrist) as the motive to realize one's full potential, to express one's creativity, to be in quest for spiritual enlightenment, pursuit of knowledge of self and purpose. He introduced the theory of self-actualization as "the tendency to actualize as much as 2

3 possible our individual capacities in the world. Under the influence of Goldstein, Abraham Maslow, (April 1, 1908 June 8, 1970) was an American psychologist who was best known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in selfactualization. Maslow explicitly defines self-actualization to be "The desire for self-fulfillment, namely the tendency for the individual to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as, The desire to become more and more what one is; to become everything that one is capable of becoming. An even deeper meaning is, The intrinsic growth of what is already in the organism, or more accurately of what is the organism itself. Maslow said, A self-actualizer is a person who is living creatively and fully using his or her potentials. What a man can do, he must do. It is the desire for selffulfillment, namely, the tendency for a person to become actualized in what their potentials are. Many times in life we focus on what is wrong with people or even what is wrong with ourselves. But Maslow did not focus on what goes wrong with people (psychopathology). He formulated a positive account of human behavior which dealt with what goes right with a person. He was interested in human potential, and how we fulfill that potential. In 1943, Maslow stated that human motivation is based on people seeking fulfillment and change through personal growth. The need for personal growth and discovery is present throughout a person s life. For Maslow, a person is always 'becoming' and never remains static. In self-actualization a person comes to find a meaning to life that is important to them. To further understand Self-actualization it may serve you well to observe Maslow s model called: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Maslow s model hierarchy of needs originally consisted of five stages: 1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep. 2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom from fear. 3. Love and belongingness needs - friendship, intimacy, affection and love, - from work group, family, friends, and romantic relationships. 3

4 4. Esteem needs - achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, self-respect, and respect from others. 5. Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. During the 1960 s and 1970 s his 5 step model was expanded to 8 steps to include: 1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc. 2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, etc. 3. Love and belongingness needs - friendship, intimacy, affection and love, - from work group, family, friends, and romantic relationships. 4. Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc. 5. Cognitive needs - knowledge, meaning, etc. 6. Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc. 7. Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. 8. Transcendence needs - helping others to achieve self-actualization. Although we are all, theoretically, capable of self-actualizing, most of us will not do so, and some will only to a limited degree. Maslow (1970) estimated that only two percent of people will reach the state of self-actualization. He was particularly interested in the characteristics of people whom he considered to have achieved their potential. By studying 18 people he considered to be self-actualized (including Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein), Maslow (1970) identified 15 characteristics of a self-actualized person. Characteristics of self-actualizers: 1. They perceive reality efficiently and can tolerate uncertainty; 2. Accept themselves and others for what they are; 4

5 3. Spontaneous in thought and action; 4. Problem-centered (not self-centered); 5. Unusual sense of humor; 6. Able to look at life objectively; 7. Highly creative; 8. Resistant to enculturation, but not purposely unconventional; 9. Concerned for the welfare of humanity; 10. Capable of deep appreciation of basic life-experience; 11. Establish deep satisfying interpersonal relationships with a few people; 12. Peak experiences; 13. Need for privacy; 14. Democratic attitudes; 15. Strong moral/ethical standards. Now, Maslow s theory has been met with much criticism, especially from some Christian Psychologists. There are Christian writers and theologians who argue that the psychology of self-actualization promotes self-centeredness, and humanism, and is largely ineffective, and anti-biblical. One argument from Christian Psychiatry is launched from what Paul recorded in 2 Timothy 3:2-4, People will be selfish and love money. They will brag, be arrogant, and use abusive language. They will curse their parents, show no gratitude, have no respect for what is holy, and lack normal affection for their families. They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous, lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good. They will be traitors. They will be reckless and conceited. They will love pleasure rather than God. We must be careful not to Scripturalize psychological fads or Spiritualize world viewpoints. Nor should we allow ourselves to become self-centered and caught up in the self-ism of this world. But it is true that having a correct Biblical self-concept in light of God s Word and His Grace is important to Spiritual maturity and produces a healthy spiritual life. 5

6 A CASE FOR BIBLICAL SELF-ACTUALIZATION USING CORRECT MEASUREMENTS The Bible does teach the principal of self-actualization, but the process of acquiring such self-awareness is far different from the process emphasized in psychology. The Word of God provides us with some spiritual truths that should give every believer a sense of special purpose and a sense of destiny and conviction of God s hand on his/her life. This sense of destiny can drive the believer to unbelievable lengths and enable them to achieve unprecedented things for God. The key is that we must grasp and act on these facts of Scripture rather than focus on man s standards for success and importance. There is one problem that we must overcome before we can achieve self-actualization. It is the problem of looking at how other people utilize the gifts and talents that they have been given. We must cease focusing on their achievements and popularity, and cease measuring ourselves against them. Whatever God has blessed them with is their gift to use and their Grace to receive. When we compare ourselves with other people it gets our eyes on men and off God and His Grace plan for our life. It creates feelings of inferiority and jealousy. God has uniquely gifted you, and that gifting is the only gift that you can do anything with or about. Please give serious consideration to the following Scriptural teachings: (Locate and meditate on each Scripture). Genesis 1:26-27, will teach you that we are all created in the image of God. This means that our lives have special value even though we are marred by sin. Psalm 139:12, will convince you of God s prolific genius in creating YOU according to His own purpose. Romans 12:3, will teach you the responsibility that you have to discover, know and think rightly with Faith about who you are, based on the Gracious work of God through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 & 6; 2:10, will emphasize that fact of God s Spiritual recreative work in us through Christ Jesus, which includes His provision for our Spiritual union with Christ and our special purpose in God s plan. Colossians 3:10 and 2 Cor. 3:18, will show you how we are conformed to the image of God as revealed through Jesus Christ. This transformation is fulfilled by and through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. 6

7 The fundamental issue is that Saints must be equipped with a growing level of Spiritual maturity in Christ. The standard or measurement by which we are judged is the Biblical description of Spiritual maturity. Consideration of Ephesians 4 will make this principle clear: Eph. 4:11: He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts to his church. v12: Their purpose is to prepare God's people, to serve, and to build up the body of Christ. v13: This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God's Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. v14: Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. Christ is the standard for growth and maturity as we grow in Him and become like Him by the Grace God provides. Any other standard or measurement is unwise and pure foolishness. The Apostle Paul wrote: 2 Cor. 10:12 We wouldn't put ourselves in the same class with or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are. Any other measurement for who we are and how we should relate to ourselves as well as to others, is a false measurement. False standards and measurements will always lead to a number of problems that are detrimental to living an effective life. False standards lead to selfish ambitions and to a spirit of competition wherein we view others as opponents to beat rather than friends to enjoy fellowship with. False standards lead to guilt, frustration, depression, and feelings of failure because we think we haven t measured up to man-made standards. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Rather, we are always spreading the Good News. God trusts us to do this because we passed his test. We don't try to please people but God, who tests our motives. 1Thessalonians 2:6, We didn't seek praise from people, from you or from anyone else. 7

8 False standards can have the opposite effect. They can lead to feelings of pride and a false sense of success. 1 Timothy 3:6, He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned. False standards can lead to fear of failure which also can cause us to become withdrawn and unwilling to try again. False standards can lead to self-depreciation. We begin to feel that in the large scheme of things, we don t really matter. The true Self-acknowledgement comes from discovering who God created you to be and not from the gumbo of experiences and negativity acquired over the years of our lives. THE AUDACITY TO FACE THE REAL YOU! As I suggested in the beginning, could it be that the vast collection of your life experiences, both good and bad combined with the many choices that you have made in life have given you a false identity? Could it be that the description of yourself that you have given to yourself has become the description that you have presented to others? If any of this is true, then it is reasonable to conclude that YOU don t really know YOU! I am fully aware of what you might be thinking about this principle. There is a voice telling you that this is a waste of your time. But let me suggest to you that it takes one who has pure audacity to say to himself/herself, Perhaps I don t really know ME. If you are ready to admit that life has made you who you are, and that the struggles, challenges, disappointments, discouragements, and even your successes have created your identity, then you are ready for RECONSTRUCTION! Before life started happening to you, before your entrance into this world, before you were even conceived in the womb, GOD had created a you that it may be time to get acquainted with. Please do not be afraid of this process, it is simply to step into God s Word and discover who He created you to be. This process gives new clarity to Romans 12:2, Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants--what is good, pleasing, and perfect. The truths that God will impart into the life of a believer will give a true sense of special purpose, a sense of destiny and a conviction of God s hand on his/her life. A true sense of destiny can drive men and women to unbelievable lengths and enable them to achieve unprecedented things in life and for God. (Please locate and meditate on these Scriptures in your Bible): 8

9 (Gen. 1:26 & 27) The Bible teaches us that every Christian is created in God s image. (Ps. 139:12) The Bible teaches that each believer is uniquely and personally crafted by God from the womb. (2 Cor. 5:17) The Bible teaches that each believer in Christ, has been recreated and is a new spiritual creation in Christ Jesus. (John 1:12-13; 3:3-6; 1 Pet. 1:3, 23; Jam. 1:18). The Bible teaches that through faith in Christ, every Christian is a child of God by the new birth. What a marvelous identity and heritage! Such a heritage means that you have value beyond compare, regardless of the opinions of others. In (Psalm 139:1-12) (read), the Psalmist declared his faith in the Lord s knowledge of all the details of his life. However, the Lord not only knows and perceives the nature and needs of his people in general, but the Psalmist believed in God s personal purpose for his life. God is not only the Sovereign Creator, the Transcendent One, but He is also the Immanent One who is intimately concerned with the individuals He has created, even from the womb and before! In ( Psalm 139:13) the Psalmist declares that God is personally responsible for creating him. He declares You created my inmost being (the spiritual aspect), and you knit me together in my mother s womb (the physical aspect). Jeremiah documents the message that God gave to him about his existence, (Jeremiah 1:5), "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations." All beings owe their existence, including their individual gifts and abilities, to God as the Sovereign Creator. Look deeply at what the Psalmist recorded in (Psalm 139:14-18), v14 I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. v15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop. v16 Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus. Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place. v17 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are! v18 If I try to count them, there would be more of them than there are grains of sand. When I wake up, I am still with you. 9

10 Reflecting on the reality of this truth had a tremendous impact on the life of the Psalmist. He knew that the Lord had formed him as a unique person with gifts and abilities according to God s sovereign purposes. This element of God s purpose for us is also seen in (Ephesians 2:10), For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. Simply put, God has a special purpose for each of us: no one is excluded. While some aspects of His purpose are the same for all of us, specifically to glorify the Lord and live for Him, this includes a special destiny for each person according to the way God has gifted and brought us into this world. But the nature of this life, who we are in Christ (blessed with every spiritual blessing and complete in Him), and our ultimate destiny as believers in Christ should impact how we view who we are as individuals. If we truly know and act on WHO we are in Christ, WHY we are here, and WHERE we are going (our eternal destiny), we should be able to rest comfortably in our own created skin, knowing that we are the true product of our CREATOR and not a product of life. It is important that each of us begin to act on the truth of our IDENTITY in Christ and that each believer is uniquely and personally crafted by God from the womb. We must begin to act on the fact that God s purpose for each of us is unique and individual. We as believers in Jesus Christ sense more than any other part of God s creation that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We must begin to live with a personal awareness of God s gracious purpose for our existence. Then we will begin to discover some things about ourselves that perhaps we have not seen before. We will begin to see our God-given gifts and abilities like never before. We will also begin to face some weaknesses that we have attempted to ignore. Some of these weaknesses can be changed and some cannot. Part of our Spiritual-Actualization is discovering those that can be changed and then seeking to correct them by the grace of God while learning to live with those that cannot be changed. God made us the way we are, not in our sinfulness, but in our basic makeup as to our physical and intellectual abilities and limitations. So there are three steps that we must take as we exercise our Spiritual-Actualization: 1. We need to thank God for who we are in Christ, unique and distinct with purpose in the world like no one else. (Eph. 2:10) God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. 10

11 (Ps. 139:1, 4) I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. 2. We should seek to know our strengths and develop our abilities to the fullest degree. In other words, we need to be all that we can be according to the creative and providential work of God in our lives. Remember, we are each the product of God s creative handiwork and His providential direction and provision. 3. We should seek to correct and change what can be corrected now that we realize that we have become a person that God did not create us to be. There are certain things in our lives that we cannot change and from which we may inherit certain limitations. They include: ancestors, time in history, race, national heritage, gender, family, physical features, mental abilities (natural aptitudes, mental limitations, and talents), physical size, abilities and handicaps, and aging and death. But there are things we can change: These I call the changeables and include things that we can do something about. The changeables include: weight, physical condition, physical strength, spiritual character or maturity, knowledge and how to use it, dress, posture, attitudes and viewpoint, facial expressions, habits or patterns, and skill. Obviously, anything that is clearly contrary to the Word of God or the moral will of God is sin and needs to be dealt with by God s grace. Rom. 6:1-4; What should we say then? Should we continue to sin so that God's kindness will increase? That's unthinkable! As far as sin is concerned, we have died. So how can we still live under sin's influence? Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life. Eph. 4:22-24; You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. However, you were taught to have a new attitude. You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. NOW, LET US PRACTICE THIS PRINCIPLE! 11