It's not about me!

"Its not about who I want to be; it's about who I need to be."

Think about that statement for a moment. I was reading a book, actually a novel and that was a line in the novel. It hit me like a ton of bricks. How often do I go through life thinking about what I want to be and what I want to do and what I want to accomplish. I have come to realize that there is a far greater plan than what "I want to be". The big picture really is about "Who I need to be."

I often ponder about having the faith to be content with what I have and constantly not be looking to the future for bigger and better. Some times we need reminders that can take us down from our ladders of unnecessary climbing, especially when we are climbing the wrong ladder. That often happens to me. I have often found myself absorbed with what I want to be and I keep pushing focused on the "me" way to much. When that happens I find myself drowning in doubt and frustrations.

It is important to have goals and work towards things in life, but when we focus to much on the "me" we quickly lose track of the things that really matter in life. We should have the desires for better things and we should have the drive to improve and progress. But in all the moving forward there are a couple of things we need to remember and when I remember them life just seems to get better.

There are three things that I use to guide my life. When I remember these three things I accomplish more and am at peace with who I am and what I am doing here. If I focus on these three things I find a greater peace and direction in my life.

#1 God has a better plan.

This perhaps for the most part of my life has been the greatest challenge, and still is. I have an agenda and am driven by that agenda. I have in my mind where I wanted to be and where I wanted to go. I was determined come hell or high water I was going to do it my way. I was determined I knew what was best for me and I pushed and pushed to get it done. I have to admit that I had years of frustration and anxiety over my jobs, where I lived, my career, what people thought of me, and family. I went through financial, emotional, and spiritual disasters. At one point after losing my business, "my" dream, and things that I held near and dear to me I realized that something was wrong with the picture. I stepped back and realized that I had an agenda and was not really concerned at looking at what God had in store for me. I was fighting against his plan for me and in the process I was unhappy. One day, I remember it well, I decided to step back and accept where I was and that perhaps God had a better plan for me. My current plan was not working out to well. My prayers became more focused on what could I do today to be where God wanted me to be. It was amazing the changes that took place in all parts of my life. And the amazing thing was a lot of things that I thought were important were not any more. Things that had frustrated me in the past no longer frustrated me as much. I actually said "Ok God, My plan is not working to well, what is your plan for me". I stepped back and watched as he revealed his plan for me. For me I decided that he sees so much more and knows what I need and where I need to be to serve his purposes. I still have desires for greater things, but I am learning to just move forward and trust in a far greater plan and trust that God will lead me and inspire me to be where I need to be. Life is richer and better. Still filled with frustrations and hard things, but when I feel those I just remind myself who really is in control, and it's not me.

#2 Take the time to edify others.

After realizing that God has a better plan of me the next important thing I learned was our purpose in life is to edify those around us. This is perhaps the most important part about "It's not about who I want to be, but who I need to be". In the who I want to be part of life we are focused on the "me". In all we do we are thinking about ourselves and for me I found when I am only focused on my needs they are not met and I am unhappy. Constantly looking for something that I can never find. Amazingly enough when we can learn to focus on others our lives become more complete. A great part of Gods plan for us is to learn to serve others and edify those that come into our paths. I have found when I am the most discouraged and unhappy, when depression and frustration overcome me, if I start focusing on others life returns to normal and the experience is sweeter. I believe to become all we are supposed to be can only happen as we learn to edify and serve others in a greater capacity. When we lose our life, we find it. When we learn to edify we others we are edified and we can start to see clearly who we need to be.

#3 Live in the moment

The past is the past, we cannot to anything about tomorrow, in fact tomorrow might not even come. Today is the most important part of our lives. What can I do to day. This goes perfect with numbers 1 and 2. God, what can I do today to make a difference. Guide me today to the things that matter most and will be of greater value to me in my journey. Who can I edify today. Who needs me today. Who can I lift, love, inspire, and bless today. See the power in that. Today matters the most. I can live his plan for the day, I can bless someone today. When I live in the moment, and make sure I am making the most of the day today things just seem to fall into place. Tomorrow doesn't matter as much and I am able to let go of yesterday. Often we carry the shame and frustrations of yesterday and don't allow the possibilities of tomorrow to happen because we don't live today.

Life is an amazing journey. Life is a hard journey. I am constantly battling, as most of us are, but in the midst of the battle I find comfort in knowing God has a perfect plan for me and as I edify and look to bless the lives of those around me I learn to live in the moment and enjoy the journey.

Greatest success to you as you trust in the plan, edify others, and live each day to the best of your ability.

Brad