You Are What You
Have Been Becoming
By Carolyn Hulliberger
“Don’t be misled: No
one makes a fool of God.
What a person plants,
he will harvest.”
Galatians 6:7 (The Message, paraphrase)
If you had a crystal ball and could see the future, how do you
imagine your life in…
10 years?
25 years?
50 years?
The funny thing about this exercise is that if I reverse it and
go back in my head to the person I was 10 or 25 years ago, I wouldn’t have been
able to see my life exactly as it is now. But the decisions I made in those
years have absolutely impacted my reality today. You see, our future eventually
becomes our present. So often, we are lulled into complacency, thinking we have
plenty of time to work on that future “me.” In actuality, the only day any of
us is guaranteed is the day we are presently in.
Choices matter. The media we watch, how we treat our bodies, the
friends we have, are all important. Perhaps you’re like me: All too often, my
choices today don’t necessarily reflect the person I would like to think I’m
working to become, especially in my relationship with Jesus. Because He is not
physically next to me demanding my time, it can be easy to choose checking email
or catching up on Facebook over spending time in my Bible with Him, developing
my prayer relationship with Him, or even writing this devotional.
I read a quote recently: “You are what you have been becoming.”
It made me think about who I want to be, and to look for role models in those
areas. For instance, my grandma was the definition of a “prayer warrior.” I
find myself often thinking of her when I pray these days. I have other friends
who have exceptional hearts of compassion. They are influencing me, as well. It
can help to find a “Jesus with skin on,” a person who is demonstrating how to
live out an aspect of the Christ-following life, to have as a mentor.
So, back to the original question with a twist…how will Jesus be
demonstrated in your life in 10 years? 25? And what can you do today to start
to get there?
GOING DEEPER:
1. Ask the Lord to show you how you can be involved in another’s
life as a role model or mentor.
FURTHER READING:
Along
with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative and
serves in Oakwood Church as a Community Group leader.
