Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are (p. 58). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Some of you really need this today.   You are getting real close to feeling like a victim but you haven’t crossed that line yet.   Maybe you have some of these thoughts floating around in your head.  You haven't taken them as the truth yet but you are close. “Everybody else always gets the breaks. Nothing ever goes right for me.”  “My marriage stinks. It’s never going to get any better  because my spouse is always going to be a jerk.”  “Ugh! I’m just never going to get married. Everybody calls it Valentine’s Day; what they should call it is Singles’ Awareness Day. Table for one, please!”  “I’m always going to be overweight. I might as well just give up and keep eating.” “Nothing I’ve tried works; I’m never going to get over this addiction.”  “I don’t care what anybody says, I’m nev

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are (p. 43). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) OK.   So, what am I supposed to do?   I thought I was supposed to find my weakness and work on it.   And that will make me stronger. Craig tells what to do.   He says, “Turn your attention to the things you can do. You are the masterpiece of God, created for the Master’s purpose. Don’t flip through the catalog of things you aren’t, wishing you could order a few nice things for yourself. Instead, look at the sales brochure for you. Start meditating on the truth about you: ‘I am the masterpiece of God. I’m a new creation in Christ Jesus. I already have everything I need to do everything God wants me to do.’” He then says, “Even as you’re reading these words on this very page, God is shaping you. Paul tells us, ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have b

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are (p. 23). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I know, I know.   You may have been given a new title and you have problems believing what it says you are. Craig says, “Shortly after joining my church staff at the tender age of twenty-two, I passed a lady in our office. She smiled broadly and said, ‘Hi, Pastor Craig,’ and kept on walking. Pastor Craig? Are you kidding me? I don’t deserve to be called ‘Pastor’ anything! “Uncomfortable with this title, I found my boss, Nick, and told him that I wasn’t ready to be called Pastor yet. I didn’t know enough. Wasn’t good enough. And still had way too much to learn. Pastor Nick burst out laughing, put his hand on my shoulder in a fatherly manner, and said, ‘Pastor Craig, I remember feeling just like you. Don’t worry. You’ll grow into your new name.’” Craig goes on, “Those words helped change my li