Living with conviction over personal preferences will show in the shadows that cause you fear, as well as in the reflections that show you who you really are as a person. It’s easy to get lost in our own stuff, but it’s so important to make sure we take time to stop and check ourselves every now and again. Are we doing what we say we’re going to do, especially to those closest to us? Do we get lost in another person, situation, or quest for what we think our lives SHOULD look like? When we get what we want in the world, do we let the things of God and the ways He intends to use us become secondary? Do we worry more about our own happiness and contentment, than we do about looking after those placed in our path?

These are all questions that can be difficult to answer, especially if the answer doesn’t make us look very good or feel very good about our choices. What we seem to forget is that every single day is a new choice placed in front of us. No matter what we did yesterday, today we can choose to do it differently. Everything we have in this life is temporary. Every single thing. Our possessions, our relationships, our circumstances, our feelings. All of it. The goal is to get to a place where we are able to enjoy, appreciate, and place proper value on all of these aspects of human life, yet still keep our focus on making choices and spending our time in the ways we believe would be beneficial.

“All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].” 1 Corinthians 10:23 AMP

“Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].” 1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP

When you lose yourself in the world…when you place more importance on what is happening to you in your every day life than you do on the things of God, you’re choosing to be of the world, instead of just in it. We are called to take care of the things and people God brings into our path. It’s not always easy, and it’s certainly not always fun. In fact, sometimes it can make you feel like you’re losing at the game of life. But remember…no matter what choices we made or what happened yesterday, today is yet ANOTHER opportunity to do it differently. Today is always going to be another chance to do it God’s way instead of our own.

Love yourself. Love the people God has given you to love. Don’t let yourself get sucked into believing that everything important is found here in this life, because that’s the biggest lie of all. Every gift we have in this life is from God. Every challenge we face is an opportunity to walk in faith. We are not tasked with loving people and doing the right thing only when it suits us, only when situations please us, or only when we feel we are being shown love and appreciation in a way that feels impactful to us. We are tasked with loving people as they are, meeting them where they are, and always doing our best to hold our circumstances and our behavior up to the word of God to see the truth.

Don’t forget what God has given you and don’t let those blessings go unattended, or they will wilt and fall away. Don’t let the shadows Satan throws in your life obscure the reflections God places all around us to show us what is real.