Uncompromised Living in a Super Size Me World

 

Compromise Happens when Striving for More

Our Heavenly Father is beckoning you back into His perfect will for your life. His unconditional and infinite love for you supersedes the world's love. Don't get me wrong. The world is a beautiful place. I'm not against the world; I'm for YOU.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." ~ Romans 12:2 (NIV)

If you're like me, the world's message of do, be, and have more create a healthy anxiety felt deep within my spirit as a red flag for BS.

Yes, I said it out loud. Contrary to many belief systems.

Here's what I know. God wants us to do, be, and have more, but on His terms, not ours.

It's been my experience that when we/you/me listen to the world's messages about striving for more (building a bigger church/ministry/platform/business, going for that "more significant "position or title, fill in the blank for you), our thoughts tend to focus on striving in life rather than resting in God's care.

I can see some of your faces right now! Resting! What! Rest in God's care. Performance, striving, going after, and being a go-getter produce results. But if we are honest, what type of results?

My best friend instincts kick in big-time...give yourself some compassion here because we know this is how the world works, and so does the church nowadays.

What are we focusing on? Am I focusing on the One who made me (He who has ordered my footsteps and makes my paths straight if I choose to follow His leadership) or the world's way of interpreting purpose and meaning in life?

Remembering the Truth

I've learned and continue to learn (through the leadership of the Holy Spirit) that striving for anything outside of our Heavenly Father's will can cause emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, and relational suffering.

Everything falls into place when I let go of playing Holy Spirit Jr and let God be God.

I've seen too many people numb their feelings through pills to get the up, down, to sleep, to have better sex, to have less of an appetite, to make them feel more confident and powerful, (you see a theme here) create masks, become people-pleasers, addicted to approval seeking, anything and at any cost to escape the feeling of not being, doing or having enough to make a difference or feel like they even matter in this world.

Enough is enough...not on my watch.

The three C's are a saying/tool in the recovery world.

I didn't cause it, I can't cure it, and I can't control it, but you better believe I can talk about it and illuminate a solution.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (AMP)

Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,

And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk];

Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (MSG)

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.

Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.

Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

Remembering the Solution 

The solution is simple—simple, that is, when I choose to keep my eyes on the Word of God. Here are a few Scriptures to keep close to your heart as they help me on this journey called life.

Release striving that leads to compromising.

God's Will vs. Worldly Striving

Matthew 11:28–30 (AMP)

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest... For My yoke is easy to bear and My burden is light."

Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV)

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."

Rest in God's care.

Rest Over Performance

Hebrews 4:10–11 (ESV)

"For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…"

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God.'"

Isaiah 30:15 (AMP)

"For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said this, 'In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and confident trust is your strength.' But you were not willing…"

Remember, grief, loss, and challenging times don't define or limit who you are. 

Holy Spirit Leadership Over Self-Will

John 16:13 (AMP)

"But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]…"

Galatians 5:25 (ESV)

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Your identity is in Christ and Christ alone.

Your Identity in Christ

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…"

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Remembering Why it all Matters

Every night when I lay my head on my pillow, I want to feel at peace with myself and God, knowing that I have taken accountability for my thoughts, words, and actions.

One of the essential life principles I live by is extending the same unconditional love, grace, mercy, and kindness to myself and others as God does to me. (Not perfectly, but with intentionality, commitment, and accountability)

Being a better human is my daily goal, which helps keep me from compromising.

Here are a few questions I ask myself and my clients:

What are you denying, minimizing, rationalizing, and justifying today?

What are you pretending not to see?

What would you do if you were to honor and embrace those slight nudges the Holy Spirit has been giving you?

What relationships would unify?

What future regrets would vanish?

And dare I ask, who would you finally become?

When the answers surface, and they will, you'll have an inside view of the very things God is asking you to examine honestly for uncompromised living in a super-size me world.

Now is the time to celebrate your life, how far you've come, and how you're uniquely positioned to add value to others and make a more significant impact in the world through being a better human being, one meaningful and uncompromising decision at a time.

My friends, give the world something to talk about...uncompromised living for the Glory of God.

Don't let grief, loss, and tough seasons hold you captive...

You never know who, what, where, when, or how God will use you. Becoming available and receptive to all the divine assignments that are right in front of you is the key to an uncompromising life full of grace, gratitude, and grit for the glory of God.

It's time...

From my heart to yours,

Rachel