Yesterday, the book My Own Worst Enemy by Janet Davis came in the mail for me. I didn’t even remember anything about the book, but I read the back and it sounded really good.
I read just 7 pages in and here I am writing a post about it.
Read this lovely excerpt from the book {page 19}:
Think about a woman who does an incredible job of directing a women’s retreat. Grateful participants come to her: “This was amazing. You are so good at this kind of thing. Thank you so much.” The typical reply: “Oh, really, it wasn’t me. God did this in spite of me;anything good you see is all God.” She makes herself out to be a zero, invisible, a negative number in a moment when she and God have clearly worked something beautiful together. Think for a moment about the difference in this reply: “Thank you so much.” Pause. “It has been fun getting to do something in line with my gifts. I am amazed at what God does in and through and around us! The most enjoyable part was matching various jobs to the gifts and passions of the women. We all got to shine!”
Wow. Janet has already captivated me and I can’t wait to dig into this book further.
The idea is so simple, yet so, so radical.
How many of you would give the “typical” reply from above? I’m raising my hand.
The 2 big truths in this book {so far} are:
Shining is not pride.
Hiding is not humility.
For a lot of us {myself included}, I feel like if we didn’t say the “typical” response, we would feel prideful. Like we were trying to take credit for something that we didn’t do.
But that feeling in that situation? It’s completely man-made.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” {2 Corinthians 4:6}
There is so much talk of light and “being a light to the world” {in my very favorite… Matthew 5:14-16!}
”In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” {Matthew 5:16}
When was the last time something involving God was “typical”?
You see, that alternative reply in the excerpt from the book is what’s going to change the world.
We were built to shine. Shine bright. Brilliantly bright. God gave you big gifts/talents and big dreams to bring glory to Him. He never said anything about taking anything away from ourselves.
It’s hard engrained in me and maybe in you too, but for God to be glorified {put up} we don’t have to put ourselves down.
God’s your team member. God and I. God and you. Teams.
And then you get a group of people together with God, and… boom. A community.
So don’t hide. If you have a gift, embrace it. Don’t worry that you aren’t glorifying God through it, because you’re doing exactly what he wants you to do. Follow your dreams. The ones He created for you in the first place. {See? It all goes back to Him.}
I’m the only one who holds me back from my dreams. My fear, my nervousness, my this, my that. See? That makes it about me. I don’t want that. So…for your sake, for God’s sake…
Let your light shine. Uninhibited. You won’t regret it.
love,
Sydney