Integrity- People of God

Self-Care is a natural part of humanity and it is needed to ensure that we ourselves are healthy and well, in order to help and take care of others. However, if we linger too long in that state of mind it becomes more than self-care but of self-focus, self-centeredness or selfishness. Fallen mankind’s nature is rooted in self-preservation. Adam’s first act of defense when God asked what he had done was, “that woman You gave me…”  Adam blamed God and his wife, rather than accepting responsibility for his own actions. 

Genesis 3:11-12 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Self-Care can sometimes be used to veil the real intent, which may be rooted in selfishness and hidden in pride and self-importance. When we speak of self-care we all can agree, we must take care of ourselves first, and then we can grow into caring for others. God’s kingdom way is to seek another person’s good and that is what God tells us to do.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 

1 Corinthians 10:33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Self-Care is needed and is helpful for us to be refreshed, revived and renewed in our spirit while in the presence of God.  But, we must be careful not to allow this to disguise the idolization of self, which will allow our ego to be put on the throne of our hearts. This can also result in prideful thinking and self-interest that is rooted in the fallen way of thinking, that is the need to always be right or the best. 

Self-Awareness is the ability to know, understand and comprehend one’s position and purpose in this life. To understand our culture, social norms, race, gender, family tendencies, biases and inclinations will help us understand and know the weapons and tools that are used to entrap us. We are all brought up with certain biases, opinions and perspectives that have been handed down for generations through our family, social norms, religion and national views that impact, effect or slant our outlooks. 

Our culture, values and principles make us unique within our individuality. As followers of Christ, we must now sift every opinion, perspective, belief and attitude through the word of God. As ambassadors of Christ our perspectives and views should change as our minds are renewed and transformed from the old fallen ways. We must now first embrace His word and represent God’s kingdom as we live in our uniqueness and culture. While our nationality and gender stay the same it is now modified in accordance to the word of God to fulfill His purpose to show the love of Christ in earth.  

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Most people are woefully uninformed about who they truly are according to their created purpose, which is to resemble and reflect God’s likeness and glory in the earth. Just as Jesus was the embodied Person and Spirit of God, we too can embody the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reflect and reveal God’s glory in the earth through us. 

Most people are ignorant of the schemes Satan uses against their nationality, culture, gender and against their family history and propensities. To have self-awareness we must look seriously at the things we have been taught and what the enemy has used and targeted against us as individuals, families and as people created as image bearers of God. 

Many people seriously overestimate their abilities and say they are just fine, but this is rooted in pride.  Those who are self-focused and self-absorbed are less likely to be efficient in true self-awareness, or to deliberately choose to go through the hard emotional process of seeking reality according to the truth of God’s word. It is this truth that we operate in, which will enable us to live a life as Jesus did, which is to be led by the Holy Spirit and so to embody the nature and glory of God that is lived out daily in us.

A proverb: “if you know your enemy, and know yourself, your victory is sure.”  

Self-awareness is to know the enemy and his strategies, that he uses, pride, lies, hate and fear to deceive the hearts of the people and to turn them away from the love and the glory of God, which is their created purpose. We need to know the weapons the enemy has used for centuries to ensnare our family, culture and nationality through biases, prejudices, discriminations, hate and pride. It is important to be honest with one’s self, and to admit the tendencies and bents that have been a trap for us in the past and are still struggles at present. Self-awareness is knowing these things and the ability to set guards and boundaries to help avoid snares and prevent us from falling into the same cycle of evil or misdeed. 

Metacognition: is a higher order of thinking, it is the ability to reflect on and to assess one’s own thoughts, the process of knowing, perceiving and having good judgement based on the truth of God’s word and wise reasoning, which is the wisdom of God.  

Self-Reflection with God’s purpose: To live according to a higher calling, which is the true meaning of life and the reality of our created purpose as God’s image bearers, which is to reflect His Glory in the earth.  True Self-Reflection should lead us to seek and to live as Jesus lived on the earth. 

As we follow Jesus’ example we will want, and begin to establish (righteousness) virtue, justice, morality; (honesty) trustworthiness, fairness and in doing good deeds; and (integrity) truth, honor and kind words. Self-Reflection will allow us to be diligent in our understanding, and in obeying and reflecting the Person of Jesus and God’s glory as our Creator. To show the love, mercy and forgiveness of God to all mankind while we are in the earth, and this is the fulfilling of our created purpose. 

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

We must seek the truth and commit to operate in the truth that we know, which is from God’s word as our Creator. Jesus the Son of God came that we may know and operate in the truth of God’s word and our purpose. Many people know the truth but fail to act on it. Some people would rather stay quiet while knowing the truth, just to follow the majority even when they are wrong. But, it is the truth that we know, operate in and take action on, that frees us from bondage of fear, hate and generational tendencies and curses. 

John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice

John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

When our life is rooted and grounded in the reality of the truth of God’s word and in knowing His presence is always with us, we can then take a stand and make a choice of our will and choose to live a Christ centered life. We can choose to die to self-focus and to let go of social norms or family biases that goes against God’s principles. We can begin to walk as Jesus did on earth in service to God, and to served others. 

Romans 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17, 20 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

We are told to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive in Christ. A dead man has no rights, is not prideful and does not seek his own welfare.  Therefore, we too can learn to die to self and live for Christ.