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A Moment to Super Size Your Thinking

All of Me. Helen Baylor, gospel recording artist, has a beautiful gospel ballad entitled “All of Me” Jesus take all of me—I’m holding nothing back—I give myself to thee and though I do not know what the future holds. I ask you to take all of me. This song comes to mind because once again the holiday season is upon us and it’s so important to give yourself the gift of loving you. All of you—the good, the bad and the ugly deserve your best. This is not about being complacent, but all about being content with loving you—right here and right now. We’ve often said love isn’t love until you give it away. I believe you can’t begin to give true love to anyone until you embrace who and what God created you to be.

Remember that your reputation does not determine your destination because you are the sum total of your experiences. We all are ex-something, but if we allow God—He can take your misery and give you a mission. A test will become your testimony and grief can be replaced with grace. Isaiah 61:3 states, “…He will give you a crown of beauty for your ashes” and Psalm 30:11, “You have turned my mourning into dancing…” Plain and simple we have all been torn up from the floor up—straight up jacked up. But remember God specializes in things impossible—there is nothing too hard for God including forgiving your past. Let’s revisit some of the most noted bible characters that God used mightily. These men of God had messed up tainted lives. Paul was a serial killer, David was a murderer and adulterer, Moses was a fugitive and Peter lied and denied Jesus Christ. In other words—All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). I believe God allows us to mess up so we don’t boast in our own abilities and works. Trials and challenges of life often makes us stronger, better, wiser, grateful and more compassionate people.

There are probably lots of people who would welcome an opportunity to take a chunk of their life and erase certain chapters into oblivion. The truth is you can never escape your past—it’s like your shadow because it’s always there and you can’t outrun it. Embrace it. What you are experiencing right now is a result of your past thoughts. Your present situation is a result of your past thoughts—even if it was one second ago—it’s still your past. Perhaps what you consider a mistake is what makes you unique. Actually, those mis-steps are minor in the grand scheme of things, but major as they are marks of greatness for your life. For the record, God only uses people who make mistakes—who have an imperfect past. They are called human beings. No one is perfect—no one is exempt! Romans 3:10 “…not even one.” Everyone encounters dark chapters in their lives whether voluntarily through ignorance or as a victim of circumstance of bad choices.

Your past should not be your autobiography, but rather a reference point. Since, you can’t drive forward looking through the rearview mirror, resist allowing your past to rob you of your future. News flash. Your future is God’s history…He knows about everything concerning your life (Jeremiah 29:11).

Because God made you, love you and wants to use All of you, it is equally important that you love all of you. You are what you are and that’s enough. He is looking for ordinary people available for service that will give Him praise and glory. We should be willing vessels to allow the splendor of His glory to shine for all to see.

As we prepare for 2016, don’t look back—you’re not going that way. Instead look forward to a better—bigger and brighter future that is more than you could ever imagine as you make your life print in this world. Give it all you’ve got. Give, live and love ‘all of you.’

Will you allow love to come to and through you…?

©Effie Rolfe is an Author of “Supersize Your Thinking,” Media Personality and Motivational Speaker. You can contact her at effierolfe.com or on twitter.com/effiedrolfe. Listen to urbanpraiseradio.org

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