Live for Him As Only You Can

"Empty your life into the hands of the Lord Jesus--empty yourself out and you will be full."

~Ravi Zacharias 

When I was a teenager, super straight hair came into fashion. You know, that pin-straight hair that may only be achieved by using a straightening iron. And for me, the queen of curly-frizz, "the ideal" could never be achieved. I inherited thick curly hair from my Mediterranean Dad, hair that will not be tamed. :-) My Mom would say, exasperated, "Why do you want to straighten your hair? You have such pretty curly hair!" But straight hair was "in-style," and something within the human heart longs after something that it can't have. And so I tried to straighten my hair. And it didn't really work--it just rebelliously began frizzing at the edges and then the old curls tried to creep back in, and the rest is history. At any rate, I am back to "embracing" curly hair. It is how the Lord made me, what He gave to me. Something unique to my person, created in the image of Him. So I am content. 

Lately, the Lord spoke to me in a powerful way through a Ravi Zacharias message. I listened to the message over and over; he was addressing something that the Lord was pressing upon my heart. His peace came afterwards. 

Ravi was speaking about how the Lord created us as individuals. And I shared a trivial story about straightened hair at the beginning of this post, but sometimes, deep inside of our hearts, a battle is raging, more significant than curly or straight hair. An inward battle that can eat us up and consume us. 

The battle of who it is that God created us to be. 

Because there are times in our lives when we become frustrated with ourselves, with the distinctive personality that the Lord gave to us to be used for Him. We admire those around us who seem to exhibit the qualities we find lacking in ourselves.  Perhaps it is leadership abilities, maybe speaking abilities, perhaps those who seem to be "in control" of their circumstances and surroundings. Perhaps it is something else. It is natural to admire the perceived "strengths" of others. 

And maybe we struggle with speaking in public. Maybe we struggle with taking the lead or doing something independently. Maybe we struggle with understanding how to handle different situations that arise in our lives. Maybe we feel anxious easily. Maybe we are overwhelmed in social situations. These and other areas of weakness can cripple our souls. 

Each person has their own personal struggle unique to themselves. 

So it is tempting to see our own perceived "weaknesses" as a hindrance to spiritual growth in our lives. We think that if only our personality was different, things would be better, things would run more smoothly. 

But I have come to believe that the secret is not in trying to be what we are not, but in embracing who it is that the Lord created us to be--

We don't need to be like any other person, as admirable as they may be--we just need to be ourselves, embracing the unique personality that God has given us--surrendered each day to Him, filled with His Spirit, full of joy in Him, an obedient vessel of grace. The secret is not in a different personality but in an attitude of humility and surrender. 

And I think that many of us would begin to find great peace in the Lord when we embrace who it is that God made us to be --that "self" filled with the Spirit of Christ to be emptied out for others around us--our children, our husbands, our church families, our friends. 

Ravi Zacharias said in the message that I was speaking about earlier, "You are an individual, your face, your emotions, your way of speaking . . . He has made you that way. Accept who you are--and know that God has made you distinctive and unique . . . He made you that way; don't try to be anybody else."

We don't need to be like anyone else--except the individual the Lord created us to be-and then allow the Holy Spirit to fill us as only He can, with power and strength and love in and through our individuality. There is peace in that. There is quiet strength and joy in that. And there is hope. As we grow in our relationship with Him, He will show us areas that we need to change in terms of obedience and surrender. But in terms of our individual personality, He is working in and through it to accomplish His purposes. We may commit our self to Him. 

And again, we think that if only some aspect of our personality could be changed, we would "have it all together." Our homes would be clean and airy, our complexions would glow, our husbands would adore us, our children would be well-behaved. 

But friend, I have discovered that it is only in Christ that we have it "all-together," and even when the outside things seem to be "in order," (and they very well may be)  only He brings order and beauty to the inmost heart. He is the One who holds together, through trust, through obedience, through quiet determined dependence upon Him, day in and day out. 

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord tests the heart . . . 

Sometimes things need to fall apart before He pieces them back together in His beauty and order and peace. Sometimes we need to acknowledge that we desperately need His help, that we can't do it in our own strength, that we are limited simply by our human-ness. 

And sometimes what seems to be weakness and the stumbling block in your or my life may be the very thing that Christ uses to draw us nearer to Himself. When we surrender. When we admit our weakness before Him. When we stop trying to be strong in our own strength. When we admit our sins and shortcomings. When we allow Him to work through our weakness. 

And we embrace Him. Not our sin, but our makeup as a person created in His image with all of the unique personality traits He has given us--surrendered to His love. 

Lilias Trotter said, and I've shared this quote before, but it is so powerful, "Take the very hardest thing in your life, the place of difficulty inward or outward and expect God to triumph gloriously in that very spot. Just there, He can bring your soul into blossom."

Take the hardest thing, the very hardest thing, even the inward struggle of the way that you have been made and offer it to Him. He will use you when you surrender to Him and make you into a blessing for those around you. The Lord is using your weakness to make you realize how much you need Him--this is a gift, not a curse. As Ravi Zacharias suggested, we should pray to the Lord, "Help me to live for You as only I can . . ." Use your individual personality to bring glory to the Father and to show forth His grace and sufficiency. 

Ravi went on to challenge in his message, and this strongly challenged and encouraged me, "Do whatever you do for the glory of God. Do the best you can for the glory of God. Empty your life into the hands of the Lord Jesus and you will be full." 

Whatever your calling is--do it for the Lord. Whether you are a mother with very little children, struggling to overcome tiredness and drudgery, or a missionary laboring to bring the Gospel, or a Pastor, or a truck driver, or a waitress, or a single woman or man finding rest in the Savior, do it for the Lord. Empty yourself out. Give everything that you can, through His strength alone. Obey with all your heart; go from strength to strength and trust Him--not yourself,  for the results. 

He honors those who honor Him. And they and all around them, are blessed. 

Your personality is a gift; use it for the Lord. Empty yourself out. Embrace whoever it is that the Lord has made you to be--and be used for Him. 





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