A Question Worth Asking

We spend a lot of time in life asking, “Who am I?”

The answer to that question is available to us in the Bible: We are humans, male and female, created by God, in His image, fully loved by Him. He desires a relationship with us — one that lasts for eternity, because He loves us. So, He came to earth as both man & God – Jesus – to make things right on our behalf to make that possible. And, He calls us onto His mission of sharing His love, hope, and salvation to those around us, because He loves them too.

And so, while we can be confident in who we are, as we look into the Word of God, there is a different question I believe we might ask ourselves:

“What kind of person do I want to be?”

You have that choice. I have that choice. God gave each of us free will. He already created who we are, and now it’s the free will side of us that each of us must reckon with. We must each wrestle with and decide the kind of person we want to be then take the action steps to be that person. And there is nothing passive or ethereal about it. We each have a choice.

If we have used our free will to make bad choices in the past, there is good news: It is a new day. And the Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.

If you have made bad decisions until today, you are not the only one. But don’t allow that to define you any further. Decide what kind of person you want to be from now on. Then take the steps to make things right, apologize, and then get going on this new path you are charting for your future. It may feel daunting, and you may have a lot of people to apologize to, but change is possible! Ask God for His help and for wisdom on what steps to take.

Connect with someone you look up to, who is walking the path you want to take — with character and integrity. Share about where you are and also where you are going. Receive support and prayer. Find new, healthy locations to hang out in — church, the gym, gathering with healthy friends.

This is your life, and you have the power to decide who you want to be. You have free will. And continue to reflect on this as you make daily decisions, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

And if the person you want to be feels far from the person standing in this current moment, reflect on this (every day!)… even speak it out loud:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

So, I ask today — to both you and to me: What kind of person do you want to be?

I pray that God grants you the strength to be that person by His healing you and through His power at work within you in Jesus’ name!