by Alesha Sinks | Nov 1, 2015 | Just Me
Learning Humility…
I knew this series would be humbling. I just didn’t know in what way.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1446341439924-UAJLAZV4B4J7QQUP1YKV/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
I wrote some hard posts…humbling posts.
I missed a lot of days…and back dated a lot of other days.
I had so many days where I didn’t know what to write or wrote something and realized what I wanted to write wasn’t true…and I had to redefine humility again.
And through all the humbling moments, I learned a lot as well.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1446342005444-IVPLKAM3NN6KNI18FO8T/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
I learned that humility isn’t a low opinion of yourself, it is a right opinion of yourself.
I learned that humility celebrates the individuality and uniqueness God created each of us with.
I learned that we need humility before God and others.
I learned that gratitude requires humility.
I learned that humility is required by God and empowered by God.
And so much more…
What did God teach you through this series?
Be blessed
by Alesha Sinks | Nov 1, 2015 | Just Me
Learning Humility…
I knew this series would be humbling. I just didn’t know in what way.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1446341439924-UAJLAZV4B4J7QQUP1YKV/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
I wrote some hard posts…humbling posts.
I missed a lot of days…and back dated a lot of other days.
I had so many days where I didn’t know what to write or wrote something and realized what I wanted to write wasn’t true…and I had to redefine humility again.
And through all the humbling moments, I learned a lot as well.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1446342005444-IVPLKAM3NN6KNI18FO8T/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
I learned that humility isn’t a low opinion of yourself, it is a right opinion of yourself.
I learned that humility celebrates the individuality and uniqueness God created each of us with.
I learned that we need humility before God and others.
I learned that gratitude requires humility.
I learned that humility is required by God and empowered by God.
And so much more…
What did God teach you through this series?
Be blessed
by Alesha Sinks | Oct 30, 2015 | God's Word, Just Me
“The Christian life is one of daily repentance.”
Martin Luther
I’ve learned over time that it is never God creating distance between Him and me…it is always me.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1446340630497-NSKXPFKT0X40EQJ1FA68/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
I used to get frustrated, asking why God is far, not realizing that it was me who was far off.
It’s easy to feel the distance grow and to blame it on God, when it’s our own feet that have wandered.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
He has promised to be with us.
He has promised to never leave us.
He has promised to be near.
So if he has promised to be with us, to never leave us, and to be near to us, then what are we to assume when He feels far expect that we are the ones who’ve wandered.
But if He has promised to be near, then we must also assume that He can find us even in our wandering.
These truths require our humility. They require our willingness to humble ourselves before God.
We need to admit our wandering.
We need to ask for forgiveness.
And we need to request His presence in our lives.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1446340868784-U2IWBQ99SMFCEE9D79WG/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
He will be faithful to answer. He desires for us to live in the light of His presence. He wants us to be humble and repentant before Him.
It then appears that truthfully…
“The Christian life is one of daily repentance.”
And daily repentance will bring us daily into His presence.
Be blessed
by Alesha Sinks | Oct 27, 2015 | God's Word, Just Me
There is a difference between being self-consumed and self-aware. Being self-consumed is unhealthy but being self-aware is healthy. Being self-consumed is prideful, but being self-aware can actually be a piece of humility…
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1445906900368-60FS3HBSFKD3ZX6GEC5K/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
But like most things that are good and wise, being self-aware takes discipline and intention… And we can get overwhelmed and tired just thinking about being it.
So today I wanted to share with you Two Simple Ways to Become More Self-Aware
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1445907122503-V27NJO8UPSEY33YQ2SAT/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
1. Pray
There is no one who knows us better than our Creator.
It’s so easy to get lost and confused about who we really are. There is so much information about how to “find yourself” or “discover the real you”. But no one knows you better than the One Who made you. He knows the “real you” because He designed it. He gave you your personality and characteristics. He knows ever detail of you life and how those experiences shaped you into the person you are.
Pray that God would reveal yourself to you. Your flaws. Your strengths. Your struggles. Your talents.
He wants you to see what a wonderful creation you are, and He wants you to see the beautiful work He is doing in you.
2. Be Quiet
Turn off the noise.
Turn off the music.
Turn off your phone.
Turn off your tv.
Turn off your scattered focus.
Turn off the distractions, and for a little while, listen to your thoughts.
Let me just say, this is painful. I don’t like quieting down my life and just listening to myself think. It gets a little crazy in my head and if I fill my life with noise and distractions, I can ignore the crazy.
But when I quiet down everything else in my life and listen to my thoughts, I learn things. I realize the real reasons I’m anxious and distracted. I discover my passions and my joys. I see the potential in my life and myself. I understand why I’m reacting the way I am and I begin to plan my responds instead of living reactively.
And most importantly, I find myself reaching out to God. I instinctively begin reaching out to Him in the quiet.
Self-awareness should bring us closer to God. Self-awareness reveals my weaknesses and my need for God, but it also reveals the talents and passions God has given to me to use for His glory.
So take some time today to become more self-aware through prayer and quiet listening.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Oct 21, 2015 | God's Word, Just Me
Self-awareness isn’t easy.
Self-absorption is too easy.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1445462078885-IW3R91U0K3OP64EQYHR0/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
It’s easy to think about myself, my wants, my needs, my feelings, my moods. It’s easy to think about myself all of the time.
It’s hard to be aware of the state of my heart and my soul and my body and my mind. It’s hard to be self-aware all of the time.
Humility is not self-absorption, but humility does require self-awareness.
Because in order to be self-aware, we must understand ourselves fully…our strengths and our weaknesses.
We need to be aware of where our hearts are at.
We need to be aware of our desires and longings.
We need to be aware of how others successes and failures affect us.
We need to be aware of what our hearts are worshiping.
We need to be aware of how we respond to criticism.
We need to be aware of where our hope is placed.
We need to be aware of how we respond to personal weakness or failure.
We need to be aware of our natural weaknesses, our reoccurring temptations, and our lingering sins.
Self-awareness can keep us humble, because self-awareness keeps us aware of our weaknesses.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1445906281490-CN8EZZEFLDAXAFQTKVAW/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
So we work and try and focus hard to be aware and as we do we learn that being self-aware without becoming self-absorbed can be exhausting. But we have help.
We have the Spirit of God living and working in of us. As children of God, we have His Spirit teaching us, helping us, showing us our weaknesses and then empowering us with the strength of Christ to overcome those weaknesses.
Self-awareness is important, but unless it is aided by the Holy Spirit and drives us to our knees to seek the power of Jesus working in us, it will merely take us on a roundabout path back to pride.
Be blessed
<3
