More of You, Less of Me
We live in a world where the material wants and desires of our human flesh take precedence over the spiritual cravings and hunger of the soul; a world of scientific advancements and high tech creations that consume us.
We live in a world where being busy means filling our lives to the brink so not a moment is left unscheduled; a world in which we spend more time on our cell phones, updating our social media sites rather than having meaningful conversations with other people.
We also live in a world where we have more than enough resources to delve deep into the Father’s word. A world in which we can see the love and compassion of God in the kindness of strangers and in the hugs of loved ones.
One thing is true: God is in our midst…How are we responding?
In Colton Dixon’s song More of You, he sings:
This life I hold so close
Oh, God I let it go
I refuse to gain the world and lose my soul
So take it all I abandon everything I am
You can have it
The only thing I need is
More of You
Less of me
I have heard this song dozens of times on the radio, and its words resonate within me. It’s meaning was made even clearer when I was doing Bible study one night and came across John 3:30:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
This is the lifestyle that we must adapt ourselves to. To put Christ first, examining our hearts and humbling ourselves along the way. In this one small and simple sentence, John the Baptist summarizes the basic struggle that all Christians face: Christ must be our everything. We must begin to desire the things that bring us closer to Him and letting go of the things that do not. We must glorify Him in our actions and deeds so that when others look at us, it’s not us they’re seeing, but Christ.
Through his statement of profound faith and obedience, John the Baptist teaches us what it means to humble ourselves before God. Everything we have is given to us by God, not by our merits but because of His grace, so it is only right to give Him the glory and praise. By “decreasing” we let our ego and pride take a back seat and we step forward in an act of faith -- entrusting all control to our Creator.
Easier said than done, right? Written out it looks poetically beautiful but how can we live a life that glorifies Christ, when the world is telling us to do anything but?
Here are some tips:
Prayer. Praying provides comfort and it is our best weapon in fighting our insecurities and vanities. When you lay it all before Christ, you are at your most vulnerable -- stripped away from the façade you may portray to everyone else. Whether you are down on your knees crying or if you recite the simplest of prayers with a humble heart, you are opening yourself up to being changed by Him.
Thy Will Be Done. Learning to ask for His will and not my own has been a game changer for me. When my patience is being tried or when I am far past the edge of frustration, I close my eyes, take a deep breathe and say “Thy will be done.” By truly believing what I am saying, it’s as though a calming spirit of peace washes over my body and takes away my anxiety and frustration. I remember why I am doing something and for whom I am doing it.
Point to God. When others praise you for a job well done, do not let it go to your head. Rather, acknowledge that it is because of God’s wisdom and strength that you can do what you’re doing. Remember, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Allow Christ to be at center stage and not yourself. When people ask you how you were able to do something, point them to God and say “God’s grace.” Pointing towards God is an expression of humility and an expression of praise.
Be a part of a strong community. Surround yourself with good people who push and inspire you to be a better version of yourself. People who will encourage you to seek God in all aspects of life. People who tug at your heartstrings and spur on a fire within you to be more compassionate and giving of your talents and time. When you are pushed to reach your full potential (or pushed to tap into unnoticed potential) you are using the talents that you’ve been bestowed with to glorify the God who blessed you. Remember, it all comes back to Him!