I want to preface this blog by saying two things - every single one of us comes equipped with an ego. Ego is not bad in and of itself, but when we live unaware of our ego's, it can be destructive to both ourselves and to others.
Ego as defined by Webster's Dictionary is egotism, conceit, and self importance. It is also defined as one's image of oneself.
Confidence defined is belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance.
Arrogance as defined is the offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.
Broken people have broken perceptions, and we are all broken people! We see things through the lenses of our own experiences. Confident people often times are misjudged because the ones who are misjudging are insecure and have a low self worth. I've been both! I've been the confident one and I've been the judgmental one. I think if we are all honest, we've all been there and will be there again and again.
"Broken people have broken perceptions, and we are all broken people!" TDahl
It is incredibly important to be aware of oneself. I want to become a more authentic and more vulnerable individual each and every day that I live. I want to live in an awareness that the person sitting next to me at work, or the person I'm worshiping with at church, or where ever I am, may have tremendous insecurity and low self worth or they may be the most confident human being on the planet. Either way, I want to live in a constant awareness of others through Romans 12:3.
Romans 12:3 - CJB
For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust.
Every single person on this planet has purpose! Every single person on this planet has the ability to help another person discover their purpose AND help them live it! It's about all of us, as Jesus followers, coming together and helping each other discover who we are in Christ, and encouraging each other to utilize our gifts and talents, and to touch others by "their" own personal design.
We've been given this creative ability by Daddy God! We are not commissioned to create mini versions of ourselves and "followers" of ourselves. We are designed to look for the treasure God has placed within each person, and to partner WITH God, to make the impact in their life that will result in those individuals desiring to follow Christ with reckless abandon, living their own personal mission, designed by God. That get's me soooo excited!!!! There is nothing more satisfying than to see someone come alive to who they are in HIM, and to their purpose! I seriously could jump up and down right now, just thinking about that!!!
One of my favorite quotes in the entire world is by Marianne Williamson -
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
We must be constantly aware of ourselves, in a balanced way. We must be aware of our egos and what kind of an impact we are making. Ego is about how we want others to see us! It's insecurity masked as confidence. It causes brokenness to yourself and others, because it is not authentic. However, when we are confident in the reality of who we are in Him, and empowered by that reality, our love for others becomes supernatural, and reflects the love of God in us, more than it reflects us!
I'll end this blog with this......I hope it challenges all of us to continually check ourselves and remain balanced and humble.
"If something reflects us, more than it does HIM, we've got an arrogance and ego issue." TDahl
Is your ego causing brokenness?
Rock Your Story!
TDahl
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