To Thine Own Self Be True
I was an English Major student in undergrad and one of my favorite courses was Shakespearean studies. Maybe it’s just my love for theater and plays and I had an opportunity to act in a few stage plays and write some plays for my church some years ago. I still have my Arden Complete Works of Shakespeare handy and from time to time I like to sip my tea and glance through my favorite scenes in Othello and the rest.
This quote however has stuck with me since 2002 when I first read it in Hamlet, act 1 scene 3 of the play. It was spoken by King Claudius’ chief minister, Polonius as part of a speech where he was giving his son, Laertes, his blessing and advice on how to behave whilst at university.
“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man”
The world is getting more and more intriguing by the day and I for one made a decision years ago to not worry about pleasing other people, or living by someone else's rules or standards, but rather, living according to what God expects of me and the standards I have set for myself without compromise. Don’t take this the negative way because I still exercise circumspection in the environments I find myself in and the people around me at any given time. My dear friend, I found my peace in that reality. It was a personal deliverance session and transformation for me. Truth is, we all look at life and the world from our own lenses. Thus, the smaller your focus, the smaller your perception of life. My progressive lenses prescription is quite higher than most, all PUN intended here because I started wearing my lenses in 2007 so you will expect the higher and bigger lens prescription by now. Humans have unrealistic expectations of others but do not even hold ourselves to the same standards we expect others to perform at. So, take King Claudius’ advice like I did and live to please God and your soul. Do you know that when you stay true to your authentic self, you actually shine brighter?
I pray for you this week that God will deliver you from yourself and cause you to set your focus on Him and the excellent things He has in store for you. May it be so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Bid Me Come
Matthew 14:28-29 NIV
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come,” He said.”
I have a special love for this scripture and here’s why. When you read the entire story, Peter was seeing Jesus and between him and Jesus was a turbulent storm that was a hindrance to him getting to Jesus. Peter knew that in spite of that obstacle between him and Jesus, if the master bids him to come to Him that obstacle will be immediately leveled to nothing.
So, you and I would pray a prayer like this that God, if it’s truly You that I am seeing over and above this situation, if it’s you that has truly called me and loved me with an everlasting love, then reach out to me because on my own, I cannot conquer this storm or situation. Then, the loving Father said, “COME”, and the miracle unfolded - walking on the waters, striding on the storms and situations as if they didn't exist. The storm was still there but because the focus was on Jesus, Peter was able to walk on the waves. When he took the focus from Jesus, the storms tried to overwhelm him and he began to sink.
This week, no matter the storms of life or the mountains that have risen up in our way, let us keep the focus on Jesus because He says “COME!” Walk on the waters, walk on the storms, thrive and excel irrespective of the limitations. I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.
Take Up Your Cross
Matthew 16:24 ESV
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
I was brooding over this scripture and trying to understand what it truly takes to take up my cross. You see, the symbolization of the cross is mainly the crucifixion of Christ and His accomplished work towards our salvation, but as I was meditating on this scripture this week, I honestly couldn’t get it out of my head, I received another meaning of this cross. The things we hold dear to our hearts and lives that we are not willing to part away with.
Taking up that cross means taking all your desires, accomplishments, accolades, things you have amassed, every dream you have, etc., and putting those behind you while focusing on Jesus. That explains why Jesus asked us to deny ourselves of all those things which have become a cross to us because they have consumed our minds, thoughts and being. In other words, following Jesus means you are to pursue His agenda for His kingdom and humanity as a whole and this pursuit will require a selfless walk with Him. In Matthew 19:221-22, there was a man who was so enthusiastic about inheriting the kingdom of God and when Jesus gave Him the prerequisite for inheritance, that he (the young man) would need to give up all his possessions first, the guy left and did not come back because he wasn’t willing to part away with the very things the Lord has blessed him with.
Dying to self and to things takes a special empowerment from the Holy Spirit and a renewing of your mind daily to understand that you are only a steward of everything the Lord has given you in this life. Including your very own life itself. It is a gift from God and a time will come when the true owner will take it back. Once you live under that orientation, life becomes easy and you become more selfless, knowing that God has made you a steward of His people and resources and that when He places a demand on it, you should let it go. My prayer this week is that the Holy Spirit will empower us to consistently walk selflessly with Him so we can inherit His kingdom. I declare it is so and so it is in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.