A Christian Oxymoron: Self-Centered... or God-Centered? - Living Free - June 29
A Christian Oxymoron: Self-Centered... or God-Centered?
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT
Thoughts for Today
God calls us to lead a God-centered life rather than a self-centered one. What a privilege that is! Living a God-centered life brings self-esteem rather than self-centeredness.
Robert Frost in his famous poem "The Road Not Taken" tells about taking the "road less traveled" and how that makes all the difference. Below are some of the characteristics of a self-centered life . . . and a God-centered one. Which road do you think Frost would consider the "road less traveled"?
Consider this . . .
Self-Centered
- Focusing life on self
- Being proud of self and personal accomplishments
- Placing confidence in self rather than God
- Depending on self and one's own abilities
- Affirming self
- Seeking to be acceptable to the world and its ways
- Looking at circumstances from a human perspective
- Living a selfish and ordinary life
God-Centered
- Being confident in God
- Depending on God and his ability and provision
- Focusing life on God and his activity
- Being humble before God--seeing oneself as God does
- Affirming God's work within self
- Seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness
- Living a holy and godly life
Which road are you taking?
Father, I see some of these self-centered traits in myself. Please forgive me and help me center every area of my life in you. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from . . . Seeing Yourself in God's Image: Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia by Martha Homme, MA, LPC. Written by a counselor with experience helping those with eating disorders, this study is born from her own struggles in adolescence. The group challenges members to find their identity in Christ as they overcome this difficult struggle. This guide offers understanding of distorted body image, denial, and the family systems influence. It also explains how to break free of social pressures and how to restore the temple and tie the recovery process together. A companion booklet Seeing Your Loved One in God's Image, can be used as a quick reference guide dealing with issues associated with eating disorders. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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