| April 21st, 2017

Live As God Sees You

How does God see you?  The answers to that question will vary greatly.  Some people will give a Biblical answer based on the Grace we receive.  Some will answer from a place of shame and feel God is always ready to point out flaws.  Some believe that as long as they are living “right” and following law, then God looks on them with favor.  Moreover, there are all kinds of answers in between.

As I continue to work with various people through coaching, I frequently notice how my clients define themselves according to the results in their lives.  They say things like, “I’m not the man I want to be yet, but I am working on it”.  “I want to be a person of integrity”.   “I see growth as I develop into who I want to be.”  “I should be doing better.”  “I haven’t arrived, but it’s my goal.”  What keeps each of these people (and so many more) from living as they as they desire?  The focus is on their results.  And, why not?  We live in a results-oriented society.

Results are a good indicator of whether or not we are reaching goals for our lives.  Setting goals are a good thing as well.  Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart,  but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”   It is true that we should always be striving to be the best version of ourselves we can be.  To do otherwise would leave us stuck.

However, the goals, the betterment, the results should not be our only focus.  Recently, I was receiving some coaching from another of The Crucible Project blog authors, Dmitri Bilgere.  In this particular session, he noted we tend toward being “addicted to our reality.” In fact, our raising from childhood to adulthood points us towards waiting on reality to tell us who we really are.  This is so engrained in us that our heart rises and falls with our results.  It can become at times very disheartening.  Taking this a step further, many times we see our undesirable reality and project this onto God.  We feel God sees us based on our results

Although we want different results in our lives, those results do not define us.  Furthermore, those results are not how God sees us.  Early in my athletic coaching days, I came across a quote from Tony Robbins that has stuck with me for years.  “There is no such thing as failure, only results.”   I used this for years as motivation for both my players and for myself.  Now, as I coach others in life, leadership, business, etc., I am compelled to add to the quote, “…those results may not be what I desire, but they do not define me!”

So, how does God see me…you…us?

  • As His creation – Genesis 1:26, 31a God made us in His image and he said this was “very good.”  He never changed His mind on the fact that we are made in His image.  This is CERTAIN!
  • As Powerful – Ephesians 3:20 His power is already in us.  Go live as God’s POWERFUL MAN!
  • As Loved – Romans 8:39 His love is always there and available.  You, are, LOVED
  • As HE, does not see us as Humankind does – No matter how we think we are viewed, God views us from a place of love, grace, mercy, and compassion. He is disappointed with us much less, than we are with ourselves.

In a sense, at times, we set our results up in the place of God.  I at times think I am hearing God’s voice of disappointment when my results are not acceptable.  When we make our results our definition of who we are WE WILL NEVER MEASURE UP!  I sincerely want to work every day to be a better version of myself.  However, my focus should not be on my results.  My focus should always be on how God sees me.  When I live as the man that God sees, and believe in His love, then the things that I cannot control will not control my heart and me.

Find some time this week to reflect on God’s truth about you.  Find a trusted friend or guide to help you touch the truth about who God made you to be.  Develop the mindset that no matter the results, I am God’s Man!

By Byron Myers

Byron completed his initial Crucible weekend in 2009. His deepest desire is to help people believe in their God-given goodness and live lives of integrity, authenticity and feel loved and accepted.Byron is the author of the ebook, Weekly Devotional Thoughts:  Weekly Applications of God’s Word. Byron is the High School Principal at Midland Christian School in Midland, Texas and a successful Business and Personal Life Coach. You can follow Byron at Weekly Devotional Thoughts.

Photo Credit:  Bethany LeRoy