The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "True to Yourself" for Thursday, 21 September 2017 - Read Romans 12:1-8

The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "True to Yourself" for Thursday, 21 September 2017 - Read Romans 12:1-8
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Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. 2 In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. 3 For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust. 4 For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function; 5 so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others. 6 But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust; 7 if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; 8 if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully.
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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. (Romans 12:2 (NRSV))
I have spent countless hours wondering if I should act, talk, or fix my hair like certain individuals. I see that they are popular, and I think that if I do what they do I will be popular. However, I shortchange myself by not being true to the person God created me to be.
My mom hangs inspiring quotes on our wall where we can all see them. The quotes encourage us to be ourselves and be happy about who we have become or are becoming. I realize now that unless I include God in my life, things are not going to work out very well for me. I have begun to realize that I do not need to copy someone’s hairstyle, clothes, or lifestyle. I need to accept who I am, love who I am, and be proud of who I am. This is who God wants me to be.
With so many outside influences, it’s easy to forget who we are. We can pretend to be someone we are not instead of following the path God made for us. When that happens, we need to call on God to help us be true to who God created us to be.
The Author: Amanda Brechko (North Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: I will strive to be true to the person God created me to be.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to discover a focus for our lives so that we may serve you more faithfully. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those struggling with peer pressure
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