In that moment, I felt God say, "Get over yourself. There is
so much more going on if you would take your focus off yourself and place it on
Me."
I was convicted. I asked God to forgive me. My mind became clear
and my heart began to soar. Conviction led to repentance which led to such a
freedom.
Not thinking about myself frees me to be who God has created me to
be. The real me that isn’t concerned with what anyone else might
think. The real me that is confident in my uniqueness. The real me that is free
to be me.
Since I'm an introvert, I'm naturally extra self-aware. So, what
do I do when I realize I need to get over myself?
Focus on God. Sounds simple, right? It
takes intentional effort and discipline but it’s so necessary for me. Especially
when I can sense that I'm over analyzing something I've done or said. The
fastest way to nip it is to start thinking about all that I know to be true – God
and His word. That’s where I renew my mind and begin to find peace in who He
has made me to be. It’s like my mind is released from a prison where crazy fairies
torturously rule.
Focus on others. Once
I’ve recalibrated my perspective from myself to God, I can see others with a
clear lens. In fact, the plaguing self-magnifying glass is removed and I am
freed to think of others. Thinking of others leads to praying for them which
also leads to looking for a way to meet their needs. And, that’s so much more
rewarding.
Focus on what matters. Focusing
on God and others takes my eyes off the details that have no eternal bearing. I
am reminded that the true heart of life is love, joy and peace which supersede the
little details that can entangle my mind. Whew, what a relief! It’s a relief to
release myself from the dead-end thoughts and mental exhaustion of what DOESN’T
even matter. With that new-found energy and focus, I can contribute to what I know
matters.
So, I’ve come to the conclusion that getting over myself is more than worth it.
