Wear It Humbly, With Pride | Day 3

In sports, when an athlete is chosen to join a team, typically the first thing they will do is to put on the team’s cap or jersey. When an artist is chosen to receive an award they immediately begin thinking about the clothes they will wear. When a student graduates and goes to their first corporate job interview, if they’re fortunate enough to get the job, one of the first things they will do is to update their wardrobe. In all of these cases the persons will humbly wear their outfits with pride. Humbly because they were chosen to be part of something bigger than themselves and with pride because they get to represent something bigger than themselves. 

BIBLE READING:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12 NIV

As followers of Jesus nothing should give us more pride than to have God choose us. At the same time nothing should makes us feel more humble than to be chosen by God. But chosen for what? Chosen to be loved by God, to become part of the family of God, and to represent his kingdom in this world. Just as teams and corporations have their uniforms and colors, all of us who are chosen by God should clothe ourselves with our new team’s jersey and colors. However, the main article of clothing we should wear is not a pair of shoes, a dress or a suit. The main article of clothing for those of us chosen by God is humility and we should wear it with pride. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

When a policeman, fireman, or soldier puts on their uniform they are representing something greater than themselves. They are representing their family, community, and their nation and they should wear their uniform both humbly and with pride. As God’s chosen people we get to represent something far bigger than our earthly families, communities, and nations; we get to represent Almighty God. Therefore we should wear humility everywhere we go, not only at church, but also at school, at work and wherever we are irrespective of what we are doing. We should wear humility humbly and with pride. 

PRAY:

Heavenly Father, I humbly come before your throne with thanksgiving and praise. I am humbled that you would consider me, that you would choose me to become part of your family. Father, I am humbled because I recognize that I do not deserve such love, that I do not deserve the honor to sit at the side of Jesus and call him brother, Savior, and Lord. Yet it is with great pride that I can call myself a child of the most high God and coheir with Jesus. I pray that you would continue to grant me the privilege and the honor of wearing my salvation humbly and with pride wherever I go. I pray that people everywhere would see Jesus in me. I pray that my actions, words, plans, even the clothes I wear would be a witness, a humble yet very proud witness of your unfailing love for us. I thank you for the example we have in Jesus and I thank you because you loved us enough to send him to ransom us. It is in his precious name that I say with pride as I humbly pray, amen. 

El mejor año de tu vida | Día 02

El comienzo del año es el tiempo de hacer resoluciones, un tiempo para contemplar nuestras vidas y establecer metas para crear un futuro mejor. Un futuro mejor físicamente, financieramente, relacionalmente, espiritualmente y todo tipo de “mentes”. Pero si quieres experimentar un año extraordinario, el mejor año de tu vida el simplemente mejorar no va ser suficiente, tendrás que añadirle a las mejoras un poco de humildad. Porque más humildad siempre produce algo extraordinario. Pero, ¿qué es la humildad? La humildad, es decir, la humildad bíblica, es   Fue a través de la humildad que un hombre tartamudo llamado Moisés liberó al pueblo de Israel de la esclavitud. Fue a través de la humildad que un joven llamado David derrotó a Goliat. Fue a través de la humildad que los apóstoles que un día abandonaron a Jesús luego difundieron el evangelio más allá de Palestina y desde el siglo primero hasta el siglo presente. Y, fue a través de la humildad de Cristo que Dios ofrece la salvación al mundo entero. No fueron solo sus talentos y recursos los que les permitieron vivir vidas extraordinarias, fueron sus talentos y recursos combinados con un propósito mayor que ellos mismos lo que les hizo vivir vidas extraordinarias.

LECTURA: 2 Crónicas 7:14-15 NIV.

 “Si mi pueblo, que lleva mi nombre, se humilla y ora, y me busca y abandona su mala conducta, yo lo escucharé desde el cielo, perdonaré su pecado y restauraré su tierra.  Mantendré abiertos mis ojos, y atentos mis oídos a las oraciones que se eleven en este lugar.”

Después de que el rey Salomón había terminado la construcción de un templo para honrar a Dios (un propósito mayor que él mismo) y después de que dedicó el templo a Dios, una noche Dios se le apareció y le dijo:  “ Si mi pueblo, que lleva mi nombre, se humilla y ora... ”En otras palabras, si quieres que Dios escuche tus oraciones en este nuevo año necesitas entender que Él busca y escucha las oraciones de aquellos que oran por un propósito mayor que ellos mismos. Así que, si deseas experimentar el mejor año de tu vida, comprométete a cumplir tus resoluciones. Pero más importante aun, humíllate y orar, no solo por ti mismo, orar también por los demás y nuevamente, orar por un propósito que sea mayor que tu. Y en mi opinión, no hay otro propósito mayor que el propósito de Dios, de que ninguna persona se pierda, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento para el perdón de los pecados y la restauración de su tierra.

PIÉNSALO:

Las personas que más nos inspiran son aquellas que han vivido vidas extraordinarias. Y apuesto a que si lo piensas, descubrirás que es porque vivieron para un propósito mayor que ellos mismos. Y la forma de hacer de este el mejor año de tu vida es dedicarte a un propósito mayor que tú mismo.

¿Cuál es el propósito detrás de tus resoluciones de este nuevo año? ¿Es para un propósito mayor que tú? Y si es así, ¿cuál es su propósito? En el comienzo de este nuevo año humillémonos ante Dios mientras que ayunamos y oramos. Garantizado que Dios escuchará esas oraciones. 

ORA:

Padre celestial gracias por mostrarme que mis talentos y recursos debo combinarlos con un propósito mayor que yo mismo para que pueda disfrutar de esa vida extraordinaria que planeaste para mí, en este nuevo año mi mayor resolución es humillarme delante de Ti y orar para que ninguna persona se pierda, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento para que Tú los perdones y restaures como lo hiciste conmigo.

The Best Year Ever | Day 02

The start of the year is a time for resolutions, it is the time when we pause to contemplate our lives and to set goals in order to create a better future. Typically the goal is to create a better future for ourselves by improving physically, financially, relationally, spiritually, an all of the other (fill in the blank) “ally” we can think of. But if you want to experience an extraordinary year, your best year ever, improving will not be enough. You will have to add to your improvements humility. This sounds a bit odd doesn’t it? I say this because “better” combined with “humility” results in “extraordinary”. But, what is humility? Humility, in the Biblical sense is living for a purpose greater than oneself. It was through humility that a stuttering man named Moses liberated the people of Israel from slavery. It was through humility that a young boy named David defeated Goliath. It was through humility that the Apostles, who at one time abandoned Jesus, spread the Gospel beyond Palestine, throughout the first century, and all the way into the 21st century. And, it was through Christ’s humility that God offered salvation to the entire world. Talents and resources alone did not cause these men to live extraordinary lives; it was their talents and resources combined with a purpose greater than themselves that allowed them to live extraordinary lives. 

READ: 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” 

Once King Solomon had completed the construction of the temple to honor God (a purpose greater than himself), and after dedicating the temple to God, God appeared to Solomon and said, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray …” In other words, if you want God to be attentive to your prayers this year, you need to understand that He is looking to hear the prayers of those who are praying for a purpose greater than themselves. If you want to experience your best year ever, then make a commitment to fulfill your resolutions. But more importantly, you must humble yourself and pray, not just for yourself, pray for others too. Let me reiterate, pray for a purpose that is greater than you.  In my estimation there is no other purpose greater than God’s purpose, and His purpose is that no person should be lost but that all will proceed to repentance for the forgiveness of sins and the healing of their land.

THINK ABOUT IT:

The people who most inspire us are those who’ve lived extraordinary lives. I would venture to say that if you thought about it, you would discover that the reason they lived extraordinary lives was because they lived for a purpose greater than themselves. So, the best way to make this the best year of your life is to dedicate yourself to a purpose greater than you. 

What’s the purpose behind your New Year’s resolutions? Is it for a purpose greater than yourself? And if so, what is your purpose? As we kick off the New Year, I am certain that if we strive to humble ourselves as we fast and pray, God is going to listen to, and answer our prayers.

PRAY:

Heavenly Father, all glory and all honor are yours, now and forever. 

Today, I humbly come into your presence with thanksgiving and gratitude. I am thankful for this New Year, for this new beginning, for this new opportunity to love and to serve you. I have many dreams and aspirations, numerous resolutions, and many desires. But this time I want to surrender them all to you. For so long I have lived a life of personal aspirations, but this time I want to live for a purpose that is greater than I. Today I surrender my plans to you and ask that you would hear my prayer and bless the work of my hands. I pray that everything I do would serve to further your Kingdom and your agenda for mankind. Place in me a burden for others and teach me to serve and to love as Jesus served and loved, not my will but your will. 

Thank you Father for hearing my prayer, thank you for using me for a purpose greater than me, thank you for making this an extraordinary year and for helping me to live an extraordinary life that will have a positive ripple effect long after I am gone.

In the name of your precious son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 

Humildad | Día Uno

Uno de los fenómenos más sobre salientes del siglo XXI son los selfies. Los estudios demuestran que cada minuto se suben mas de 60,000 selfies a Instagram y que la persona promedio va a publicar más de 25,000 selfies en su vida. Ahora ten en cuenta que el promedio de vida de una persona es de aproximadamente 27,000 días, eso significa que van a publicar aproximadamente un selfie por día durante toda su vida.

Este fenómeno de los selfies refleja una cultura que piensa que lo más importante en la vida es “ser uno mismo, creer en uno mismo y confiar en tu corazón”. Y, hasta cierto punto, estoy de acuerdo, después de todo, cada uno de nosotros somos únicos; Dios nunca ha creado a dos personas iguales. Pero, ¿qué sucede cuando la obsesión con ser uno mismo se convierte en el objetivo final? El resultado es una generación de personas cuyas decisiones morales se basan en cómo se sienten, adictos a la fama, que piensan que se lo merecen todo y que se sienten obligados a exagerar sus realidades. Pero la verdadera tragedia con la generación de selfies es que cuanto más permiten que sus vidas se conviertan en el centro de su existencia, mas infelices e insatisfechos se vuelven.

LECTURA: Filipenses 2: 2-11. 

No hagan nada por egoísmo o vanidad; más bien, con humildad consideren a los demás como superiores a ustedes mismos. Cada uno debe velar no solo por sus propios intereses, sino también por los intereses de los demás. Filipenses 2: 3-4 NIV.

Por eso Dios lo exaltó hasta lo sumo y le otorgó el nombre que está sobre todo nombre.

Filipenses 2: 9 NVI.

Lo fascinante es que a través de la Biblia descubrimos que Dios quiere que seamos la mejor versión de nosotros mismos que podamos ser, pero no solo para obtener un beneficio personal sino también por el bien de los demás. El problema es que la mejor versión de nosotros mismos requiere humildad porque sin humildad lo que queda son personas arrogantes y egocéntricas.

Según la Madre Teresa, la humildad es la madre de todas las virtudes, pero es muy contradictoria a la idea de las virtudes de la generación actual. El problema es que la mayoría de las personas malinterpretan lo que es humildad, la ven como una debilidad, que se le atribuye a las personas que no son importantes, que son pobres financieramente hablando, o que tienen una baja autoestima. Pero cuando se trata de la humildad bíblica, nada puede estar más lejos de ese concepto. Nadie exhibió más humildad que Jesús, sin embargo, fue la persona más grandiosa, más dotada, poderosa, rica y famosa que jamás haya caminado sobre la tierra. Pero lo interesante de Jesús es que su grandeza y fama no impedían que se manifestase la humildad a través de su vida, sino mas bien esto fue el vehículo a través del cual dispensó la humildad. Porque la humildad bíblica es usar quién tú eres y todo lo que tienes por causa de los intereses de los demás. Como CS Lewis dijo una vez: “La verdadera humildad no es pensar menos de ti mismo, es pensar menos en ti mismo” 

PIÉNSALO:

La humildad es “ser uno mismo” y al mismo tiempo valorar a los demás por encima de uno mismo. Y, si Jesús siendo Dios se humilló a sí mismo para servir a los demás, creo que también nosotros deberíamos de escoger ser humildes y servir a los demás.

¿En el 2020 que vas a hacer para convertirte en la mejor versión de ti mismo?

¿Cómo vas a utilizar lo que tienes y en quién te convertirás para considerar a los demás como más importantes?

ORA: 

Amado Jesús que maravilloso ejemplo de humildad me dejaste para que yo te imite y es lo que quiero hacer en este nuevo año que me permites vivir, ayúdame a pensar menos en mí y a considerar a los demás como más importantes que yo, ayúdame a servirte a través de las personas que has puesto en mi vida para acercarlos a Ti teniendo la misma actitud humilde que tuviste Tú.

Humility | Day One

Unquestionably, selfies are one of the most prominent phenomena of the 21st century. Studies show that 60,000 selfies are uploaded to Instagram every minute and that the average person will post more than 25,000 selfies in their lifetime. Now keep in mind that the average person’s lifespan is approximately 27,000 days, that means that they will post almost one selfie per day over their entire life. 

The selfie phenomenon is reflective of a culture that has been taught to believe that the most important thing in life is to “be yourself, to believe in yourself and to trust your heart”. To a certain degree I agree, after all, God has uniquely created every one of us; there are no two persons alike. But what happens when the obsession with self becomes the ultimate goal? The result is a generation of people whose moral decisions are based upon how they feel, who are addicted to fame, entitled, and who feel compelled to exaggerate their realities. The real tragedy with the selfie generation however, is that the more their lives become the center of their existence, the less happy and unsatisfied they become.

Read: Philippians 2: 2-11 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2: 3-4 NIV

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name … Philippians 2:9 NIV

What’s fascinating is that throughout the Bible we discover that God wants us to be the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be, but not merely for the sake of ourselves but rather for the sake of others. The problem is that the best version of ourselves requires humility because without humility we become people who are self-centered, self-promoting, and arrogant.

According to Mother Teresa, humility is the mother of all virtues, yet it is so antithetical to the concept of virtue of today’s generation. The problem is that most people misinterpret humility, they see humility as weakness, they see humility as being unimportant, impoverished, or having low self-esteem. But when it comes to Biblical humility nothing can be further from the truth. No one exhibited more humility than Jesus yet he was the greatest, most gifted, powerful, and wealthiest person to ever walk the earth. The dichotomy is that Jesus’ greatness and might were not an impediment to humility but rather the vehicle through which he dispensed humility. Biblical humility is to use who you are and what you have to look out for the interests of others. As C.S. Lewis once said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.”

THINK ABOUT IT: 

Humility is to “be yourself” while at the same time valuing others above yourself. 

If Jesus humbled himself, I believe that we ought to humble ourselves as well. 

What will you do to become the best version of yourself in 2020?

How will you use what you have and who you’re becoming to value others? 

PRAY: 

Dear father who are in heaven, thank you for a New Year. As I start 2020, I pray for your wisdom, your guidance and above all your mercy and grace to do your will. This year I want to change my way of thinking; I want to change the way I approach life. Dear God I want to be the best possible version of myself that I can be. I don’t want to be the best version of myself for personal ambition, I want to be the best I can be in order to serve you and to be a person of influence in 2020. I know culture has changed, I understand we are living in a selfie generation. But Lord, I pray that when people see my selfie, that they would see a reflection of Jesus in me. I pray that you would grant me the wisdom to have a heart of service like Jesus had, I pray that I would love others like Jesus did, I pray that I become a person of influence for generations to come like Jesus was, but more importantly I pray for the humility that Jesus had. In 2020 I want to think less about me and more about you and the things that matter to you. Thank you Lord for this new opportunity to impact your Kingdom and above everything, I thank you for Jesus Christ in whose name I pray, Amen.