{"id":195,"date":"2012-08-08T14:55:46","date_gmt":"2012-08-08T14:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onfire\/?p=195"},"modified":"2012-08-08T14:55:46","modified_gmt":"2012-08-08T14:55:46","slug":"live-your-own-life-7-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2012\/08\/08\/live-your-own-life-7-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Live your own life: 7 steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The more we get what we now call \u2018ourselves\u2019 out of the way and let Him take us over, the more truly ourselves we become. The alternative is the real disaster. The more I resist Him and try to live on my own, the more I become dominated by my own heredity and upbringing and surroundings and natural desires.\u00a0 In fact, what I so proudly call \u201cMyself\u2019 becomes merely the meeting place for trains of events which I never started and which I cannot stop.<\/em><\/p>\n

– C.S. Lewis, \u00a0 Irish poet, novelist, academic<\/p>\n

Today I imagine a wise, old angel stepping down onto the top of a mountain to leave you and me a message. Seeing us caught in the modern trap of modeling our lives after others\u2014movie stars, gurus, religious and political figures, etc\u2014he reads from a scroll:<\/p>\n

\u201cHow to live the life you\u2019ve been created for:<\/p>\n

1. Take your place. There is a God and you are not Him.<\/p>\n

2. Your goal is becoming a vessel of God\u2014not self-determination. As a vessel, the love of Jesus flows through you, using your unique gifts and calling. You join Him in caring for others and healing the planet.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Becoming a vessel gradually destroys the debris that buries who you really are.<\/p>\n

4. Your heart, the deepest part of you, is the highest form of reality. This is the true universe. Get in touch with it.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Communicate with God in the quiet of your heart.<\/p>\n

6. Go deeper in trusting God. Let Him direct, unfold, open doors.<\/p>\n

7. See your unique life story unfold and get it down. Record it\u2014journal, 3 x 5 cards, graph paper, canvas, video recordings\u2014however. Don\u2019t let it float away in oblivion. It\u2019s the only life you\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n

God redirects you away from the noisy din of what others say and do and shows you your <\/em>way, the life you are capable of living as His vessel.<\/p>\n

Live your life forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

photo credit: RubenPS <\/a>(creative commons)<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

Dear Reader: this is a new Beliefnet blog. I need your help to make it a success. Would you subscribe (see bar above on the right) plus share this post with a friend who may enjoy it? Also, I appreciate your comments.\u00a0 Thank you, Gloria <\/em><\/p>\n

Gloria@gloriarose.com<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

@gloriabethrose<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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