This week we have the privilege of hearing from special guest speaker, the lovely and talented Maria Wolford! So you better listen-up. Or is it read-up? Hmm...
Getting started, here are four questions that most of us have probably asked ourselves at some point or another:
Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I go? What shall I do?
These are questions that we never really outgrow; maybe they change a bit depending on the season you are going through, but you will always ask these questions.
How do you view yourself?
Sometimes we can see ourselves based on what other people say about us or our own insecurities. Do you view yourself as royalty or a pauper? A warrior or a weakling?
We are all part of God's lineage; we are all royalty. But we don't always see ourselves that way. Sometimes we think that we deserve gravel instead of jewels and a Burger King crown instead of a golden one.
It can be easy to settle for a mediocre existence because of how we see ourselves. How we see ourselves greatly affects the course of your life; if you see yourself as what God has made you to be, you have vision for your life, you recognize what you are entitled to.
It doesn't matter where you come from but where you see yourself going. Sometimes we only see where people have succeeded, and we don't see the background of struggle they have come from.
What does your family tree look like? Some of us can be proud of our family, others maybe not so much. We may not even know our family past our parents or grandparents. A prior generation may have prayed for their descendants to know Christ; they may have prayed for you!
History is part of who you are – it's what makes you. Maybe you are afraid that your family's choices were negative ones and will negatively affect you. But take a look at Exodus 20:5-6.
Notice that punishment is passed to 3 or 4 generations, yet love is passed to 1,000 generations! Don't you want to be the one to pass on God's love to thousands of generations?
Maybe you're scared because of what your parents have done or even what you've done – but we don't have to accept the way our parents are or what we have done in the past. You can stop the cycle that has been passed down. Check out Ezekiel 18:4-32.
If you live a righteous life, you will be blessed by God, you will live. The wicked will die. It doesn't matter what your parents or grandparents have done, you can do what is just and right.
What you do will affect the lives of others – you can set a good example or a negative example.
What will your family tree look like after you? What are you doing different now to change it? Are you going to follow what your family legacy has been? Or will you choose something else? What you choose will affect not just you, but future generations as well.
You don't have to be paranoid, but think about the future. What will you pass on to your kids? Will it be guilt and shame, or righteousness?
You can stand up and be different, and in doing so influence not only your peers and your siblings, but also future generations!
Don't have the attitude of King Hezekiah in Isaiah 39:6-8.
King Hezekiah of Israel was a great king, but he was prideful. His pride affected future generations, but he didn't care. As long as it didn't directly affect him, he didn't care.
How about Joseph. He was a great man; he loved his family, but they betrayed him. Yet he didn't let that be an excuse for sin or a bad attitude. Instead, he chose to live in integrity no matter what he faced. He didn't let past experiences ruin his attitude and lifestyle. He still stayed true and trusted God, and in the end he saved his whole family from starvation!
Esther also didn't let her negative experiences stop her for standing up for her family and her people.
What we do today will affect our children and grandchildren, either negatively or positively. Which will you choose?
It can be easy to just forget about the past and the future and live for today; yet who we are is affected by and is affecting both of them.
What will people remember you for? What you've done for God's kingdom or how many video games you beat? Each day we are setting history – yesterday is already done and in the history books. Now is the time to start thinking about who you are, who you want to be and where you've come from. Don't let your parents and grandparents dictate who you are, what you will do and what you will become. You can choose something better! Or, if you have received a good legacy from your family, embrace it!
Start to leave a great legacy today! Be righteous, not wicked! Pave a clear path for future generations! Be confident in who you are, because Christ is on your side.
Take a look at Exodus 3:11-17.
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