Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in Sidetracked In The Wilderness - # 45
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life Ministries
International
Littleton, Colorado
Notice: this email is part of a BLOG, called Getting Out of the
Wilderness. Why a blog? So that many can receive the weekly thoughts
I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner.
All
sorts of books have been written over the years that try to give us the secret
of dealing with our insecurities. Again
and again the writers give us exercises in determining how we can improve
ourselves, build upon our weaknesses, strengthen our strengths…and the lists of
how we can be working to be stronger and more independent go on and on. Amazing how man cannot be happy with how God
has made us.
Michael
points out that God has made us to be what He wants us to be…and to remain
dependent upon Him. Well, amen!
A CLOSER
LOOK AT THE UNIQUE SELF
excerpt
from pages 127-131 of SIW (5th printing,
March 1998)
excerpt
from pages 125-129 of SIW (14th printing,
March 2012)
(used with permission from
ALMI):
When
I disciple those critical of others, I immediately ask the question, “What is
it about yourself that you do not like?”
It will often be that they are not as intelligent as their friends, or
as attractive, or as talented.
Therefore, since they do not love what they are, they must tear everyone
else down, finding flaws to ease their own inferiority.
We
are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
If that is true then most neighbors are in for a lot of disappointment
when it comes to being loved…
There
is a great variety of unique selves in the body of Christ, from those who love
following a plan to those who never make a schedule, from those who love
working with people to those who’d rather deal with things. All who are expressing the nature of their
unique selves under the control of Christ’s life are a great blessing.
It
will be important to discern between the three selves, the one that is
crucified, the one to deny, and the one that is to be loved. The reason that I have spent considerable
time explaining the baggage, residue, and old identity is so Self #2 can
readily be recognized and denied.
Otherwise, one could try to deny the unique self, the one God made,
which is quite uncomfortable and unproductive to do.
Do
you love yourself? You should! It may take some time to become pleased in
what God has made you to be, but once you do, you will stop comparing yourself
with others and begin to appreciate the rest of the body of Christ…
…God
creates those with great talent, ability, and intellect – no one creates
himself – therefore, boasting must not be in the unique self, but rather in
God.
You
see, talent, ability, and intellect are relative. Each unique self has its own purpose and
usefulness. We have different gifts,
workings, manifestations, bodies, and nationalities, but the same Spirit. Each of us is a different individual, and yet
we are all one; together we experience wholeness. Paul encouraged those who are not content
with the unique self (and, therefore, judge God, their Creator) to love what
they are, and at the same time warned those who take pride in what God has made
them to be.
You
may ask, what is my unique self; how can I discern it? Knowing your unique self is simple and does
not take prolonged inward vision. Your
unique self is determined by those things you do naturally and are most
comfortable doing (this is different from the behaviors, such as withdrawal, avoidance,
and erroneous fears that may develop through false identity messages).
Just
remember, however God has made you, enjoy yourself, love yourself, and refuse
to listen to those who would intimidate by boasting of their natural
abilities. Whatever measure He has given
you, enjoy it. If you are not as
intellectual as another, that was God’s decision, and if you complain, you make
yourself out to be the Creator…
Whoa! What’s that question, “What is it about
yourself that you do not like?” I was
just trying to point out something in someone else that is “clearly evident”…
not trying to self-analyze!
Aha. Michael got me. And now I have to be honest with myself…what
inferiorities do I have? And if God has
made me to be, what am I doing comparing myself with others? And then will I acknowledge that it may be
something that God hasn’t worked out in me yet…or, may never work out in me?
So,
Michael once more gives us the way out of the wilderness:
...I am just one of a great variety of unique selves in the body of Christ.
...If I can learn to express the nature of my unique self under the control of Christ, I
can be a great blessing.
...I am just one of a great variety of unique selves in the body of Christ.
...If I can learn to express the nature of my unique self under the control of Christ, I
can be a great blessing.
...I must learn to love myself, love what I am.
...I must not boast in my unique self, but in
God, who made me my unique self.
...I must find what purpose and usefulness my
unique self was made to be.
YEA! This is an easy LIST to accomplish…knowing my unique self is “simple and does
YEA! This is an easy LIST to accomplish…knowing my unique self is “simple and does
not take prolonged inward vision”…it
“is determined by those things I do naturally and are most comfortable
doing.” Well, amen!
So,
I am going to acknowledge God has made me, enjoy myself, love myself, and
refuse to listen to those who would intimidate by boasting of their natural
abilities. I will enjoy the measure He
has given me. I am not the Creator, and
I will quit playing that role.
Note: if you don’t have one of
Michael’s Sidetracked In The Wilderness books, please contact ALMI (www.abidinglife.com) and get one today!
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Getting
Out of the Wilderness by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
leemccm@gmail.com
1737 CR
2051 Nacogdoches, Tx 75965 936-559-5696
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