I am no one special. Though my message is incredibly important and one that women need to hear. In a world that tells us we should be more than we are, we are losing the battle. We are caught up in the unimportant and don’t know who we are. Many will feed you their own truths, and it is most often a skewed perspective. Unfortunately, our world has become so small and influenced by the meaningless that we have become “the blind leading the blind.” We are being swayed by someone else’s truth rather than reality. 

The purpose of this blog is not only to remind myself of my responsibility, but also to take others on this journey with me. This is something each person must choose for themselves. It is a devotion to God first. I don’t mean getting deeper into religion; I mean getting deep into your relationship with God. In this, you will learn to see yourself in a different light as your gratitude for who God made you grows. This is for women of faith who want to take it further — challenging themselves and how they see the world. 

These are the principles I choose to follow. Are you brave enough to do the same thing? If so, let’s get on the ride and see where it takes us.  

BEST SELF PRINCIPLES 

I choose to live intentionally and with purpose. I am responsible for who I am and the person I become.  

I live for God; He is the one who brings me joy and inspires me daily to be more than I ever imagined was possible. 

I embrace who God made me and is making me. My life is about being better every day.  

I give myself grace and permission to fail. 

• ”I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.“  -‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT.‬‬ 

I choose to be present and hold myself accountable. (For what is in my heart, mind, words, and actions.) 

• I will use my words wisely and speak the truth that builds with love.  

• I will stay in my lane and allow others to be themselves. (Check your heart and motivation; we each have our own journey.) 

I choose to be kind and loving. (To everyone, no matter the circumstances.) 

• No matter the circumstance (whatever is happening inside me or around me), I am the one who controls (chooses) my attitude and response. 

I choose to trust God with the “details”, both big and small. (He sees the big picture, and I do not.  He is the Creator.) 

• I understand that I have no control over the world outside of me. 

• “God’s Word outranks my circumstance.” 

I understand that no person or thing can make me happy. My happiness and joy come from within. (I need to replenish from the well that fills me–my relationship with God and myself.) 

• I understand that I am a victim of no person or circumstance. 

• I know that if there is a problem, if I have an attitude, then I am the problem.  If I am the problem, then I am the solution.  

• If I am having a problem, it comes from my internal emotional state.  I need to be self-aware so that I can make corrections–asking myself “what is going on” inside.  What is my internal state and why? 

“BEST SELF”  PRINCIPLES WITH SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENT 

I CHOOSE TO TRUST GOD 

• ”Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.“  -‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

• “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” —John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

• Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬. (God is drawing a line.  He tells us to “choose” whom we will serve.  He has given us the choice of how to live our lives.  We must choose who we will be and what/who we will serve in this world.) 

I CHOOSE HOW I RESPOND 

• ”Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you MUST clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and FORGIVE ANYONE who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you MUST forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.“  -‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

• “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”  —1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

I CHOOSE HOW I THINK 

• ”Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.“  -Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

• ”We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.“  -2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

• “Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom”. —Hannah Arendt (German philosopher and political theorist) 

• We are not our circumstances. We choose to be victims of our circumstances. We have the power to decide how we will respond to life. 

I CHOOSE TO BE MY BEST SELF 

To be the best version of myself, I will say “no” to my sinful nature and the emotions that drive it. I am done with the lies and manipulation of a world that strips away the existence of God in everything.  It does not matter what comes at me or for me. I choose to love.  I choose to be kind.  I choose to give my best at every opportunity. I choose goodness and righteousness.  I choose to reflect Jesus in this world.  I choose to live a life where God is seen. 

• ”Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?“  —‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

• ”For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.“  —Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

(If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.  -Theodore Roosevelt) 

I hold the power to live in integrity and be the best version of myself. 

Today, I will be the best of me.