I think I spent at least the first forty years of my life living out other people’s expectations for my own life.

My parents.

My friends.

My family.

What I thought my spiritual leaders expected.

One day I asked myself: What will I regret about my life when I reach the very end of my days?

That my secret and wonderful ambitions will never have been realized because I’ve spent my whole life doing what I believe others expect of me.

And I am by no means suggesting that anyone should shuck their God-given responsibilities and live selfishly.

What I am saying is that I believe God has planted in each of us some glorious image of the kind of person He intends for us to be. And He intends for us to accomplish great and marvelous things.

But instead, we look at a successful sibling, or our best friend, or our pastor, and we imagine that we should live the same life they’re living.

Someone once said, if you imitate some person, the best you can ever be is second best. Because they are the original.

God did not make you to be a carbon copy of another person.

He wants you to be you.

But how do you discover the you He intends for you to be?

Here are ten actions to get you closer to your goal of discovering God’s best for your life:

1. Get right with God by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Stay in close contact (prayer) with Him throughout each day.
3. Read and study His Word.
4. Ask Him what He would have you do. He is the Master!
5. When you hear His voice prompting you to do something, obey!
6. Cultivate many relationships with other Believers.
7. Volunteer for many different types of helps within your church and community.
8. Take a spiritual gifts test.
9. Construct a plan for using your specific talents or gifts to bring glory to God.
10. Remind yourself: Almost anything noteworthy and great is also risky and scary, but the Child of God is noble, adventurous, and courageous!

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt. 10:37-39 NIV Bible)

Wednesday’s Word (July 24th).

Wednesday’s word is:

yahoo, noun

pronounced yah-hoo

Definition: a course, bestial person

Last week’s word was xenophobia.

“Unfortunately, my cousin’s xenophobia had been well developed by his unpleasant experiences with the wrong kind of foreign tourists.”

Tuesday’s Thought:

“Nobody cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.”

Cynthia Nelms, writer

Hello Friends of God and Me! Please check back on Mondays through Thursdays for the same kinds of blogs you’ve been reading at my old blog address.