Be Honest
by Tanya Person
I was realising recently that the way we perceive ourselves is frequently not how we really are. We may see a photo of ourselves, and we don’t like the way it looks because it doesn’t match our image of ourselves. We often picture ourselves as thinner than how we appear in photos. We also can be very critical of our appearance.
We might also have an unrealistic view of ourselves in relation to our capabilities. Some of us think of ourselves as more than we are, and others think of ourselves as less than we are. Or we may think of ourselves more highly in some areas and lower in others. Romans 12:3 (NLT) says, ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.’
God wants us to see ourselves as we truly are. How do we do that? I don’t presume to be able to fully answer that in this short devotional, but I am encouraged by David’s prayer with which we opened today’s devotional. ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.’ I believe that, as we honestly ask God to reveal to us the truth of how we are, we will be able to surrender to Him those areas of our lives that do not line up to the way He wants us to be, but we will also be able to embrace who He has made us to be and walk confidently in the calling He has for us. It takes humility to see ourselves as we really are and only God can truly reveal it to us. He knows us way better than we know ourselves.
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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