Become a Better You

Designed for Better

Who told you that you were naked? the LORD God asked.

Genesis 3:11

Our potential has been put in us by our Manufacturer, our Creator, Almighty God. Whether we use it or not does not diminish it, but it does impact our futures. The events of your past do not reduce your potential. How somebody has treated you or what he or she said about you doesn’t change your potential. Maybe you’ve been through some disappointments or have had some unfair things happen in your life. None of that affects your potential, which has been put in you permanently by the Creator of the universe. When we believe, we take a step of faith and stretch ourselves; that’s when we start to tap into it. That’s when we’ll rise higher.

The capability is in you. The real question is: Are you willing to break free from your self-imposed limitations and start stretching to the next level?

Direction Through Rejection

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Too often, when we suffer some kind of rejection or disappointment, we get so discouraged that we settle right where we are. "I guess it wasn’t meant to be," we rationalize. Or "I thought I could go out with that attractive person, but maybe I am not good-looking enough." Or "I thought I could get the promotion, but I tried and failed. Maybe I don’t have the talent. It didn’t work out."

When disappointment or rejection knocks you down, get back up and go again. We give up too easily on our dreams. We need to understand that just as God supernaturally opens doors, sometimes God supernaturally closes doors. And when God closes a door, it’s always because He has something better in store. So just because you’ve come to a dead end, that’s not the time to give up. Find a different route and keep pressing forward.

Step into Your Future

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Years ago, I went into a government building that had two sets of double doors spaced about fifteen feet apart. The doors opened automatically as I approached, but for security reasons, when I went through the first set of doors, I had to let them close tightly before the next set of doors would open in front of me. As long as I stayed at the first set of doors, the second set would not open.

In many ways, life operates in a manner similar to those automatic doors. You have to let go of your disappointments, let go of your failures, and let those doors totally close behind you. Step forward, into the future that God has for you, knowing there’s nothing you can do about past disappointments. You cannot change the past, but you can do something about the future. What’s in front of you is far more important than what is behind you.

Great Expectations

The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Joshua 5:9

God told the children of Israel in Joshua 5, verse 9, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." In other words, they didn’t feel good about themselves. They had been hurt and mistreated; they were discouraged, even after being delivered from slavery. God came to them and said, "Stop doing that. I am rolling away the reproach from you." I believe the reproach had to be rolled away before they could go into the Promised Land.

It’s the same with us. You may be trying to live in victory, trying to be successful, trying to have a good marriage. But you are negative toward yourself. You’re constantly dwelling on your past hurts and pains. Until you are willing to let go of those offenses and start focusing on your new possibilities, they will tie you down right where you are. Quit focusing on what you’ve done wrong. God has already rolled away your reproach—your shame, embarrassment, failures, and setbacks.

Bless Someone Else

May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us.

Psalm 67:1

Do you want to get more out of life? Who doesn’t, right? Okay, try this: Get up every day and, rather than trying to be blessed, do everything in your power to be a blessing to someone else. If you will do that for six weeks—trying to be a blessing to someone every day—your life will be filled with so many blessings you won’t be able to contain them all.

I’ve discovered that if I meet other people’s needs, God will meet mine. If I make somebody else happy, God will make sure that I’m happy. Every day, we should look for opportunities to be good to people. Maybe you can buy somebody’s lunch, or give someone a ride, babysit somebody’s children, tip a little more than is expected. Get in a habit of doing some good for somebody every day.

Freedom from Bad Habits

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!

Matthew 26:41

The first step to overcoming any habit or addiction is to identify what’s holding you back. But don’t stop there. Make a decision to do something about it. Take action. Don’t be too embarrassed to seek help. People struggle with chemical addictions, sexual addictions, and all sorts of other maladies. It may be an anger addiction. You just can’t control your temper. Understand that you can change. Freedom is available. Don’t believe the lie that you’re stuck and you’ll never get any better. God already has a path of success laid out for you.

But you must do your part and be willing to walk it out. The next time that temptation comes, the first thing you should do is pray. Get God involved in your situation. We cannot defeat bad habits in our own strength. Ask God to help you.

Living Above Circumstances

There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant.

Genesis 41:12

Circumstances can be intimidating. You may be saying, "Joel, you don’t understand. I’m doing the right thing, but the wrong things are happening to me,"

Please don’t use those attitudes as excuses to live your life in the doldrums or in the pits. Consider the Old Testament character Joseph. He spent thirteen years in prison charged with a crime he didn’t commit. He could have spent all his time trying to figure out why the horrific events happened to him. He could have easily lived his life upset, negative, and bitter, but he didn’t. He simply embraced the place where he was and made the best of a bad situation. His attitude was "God, this is where You have me right now. I may not like it. I may not understand it. I don’t think it’s fair, but I’m not dwelling on any of that. I’m going to keep doing my best, knowing that in the end, You are going to use this to my advantage."

Unanswered Prayers

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up. Daniel 3:17–18

Some things, like unanswered prayers, you may never understand this side of heaven. If you are always trying to figure them out, they will only bring frustration and confusion. Learn to trust God, and know that as long as you’re doing your best, as long as you’re keeping your heart pure before God, you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. It may not be easy, but in the end, God is going to use it to your advantage.

One of the most important aspects of faith is trusting God even when we don’t understand. . . Even in your times of greatest difficulty, even if the bottom falls out, you don’t have to be distraught and let yourself get all worked up… remaining at rest, remaining in peace, keeping your joy, keeping a smile on your face, that’s all part of fighting the good fight of faith as well.

Remember to Remember

I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

Psalm 143:5

When we learn to recall the good things God has done, it helps us to stay in an attitude of faith and to remain grateful. It’s hard to go around complaining when you are constantly thinking about how good God has been to you. It’s hard to get negative and veer off into unbelief when you are always talking about God’s blessings and favor in your life.

Too often we forget God is the giver of all good things. God is the one who caused us to get that "lucky break." He’s the one who caused us to be at the right place at the right time... Understand that there’s no such thing as a coincidence when your life is directed by God. When something good happens to you, be sensitive, recognize the work of God, and learn to recall it often.

Daring to Trust

God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:5

Dare to trust God today. Dare to believe that even in your disappointments, heartaches, and pains, God is right there with you. He said He would never leave you nor forsake you.

You don’t have to figure everything out. You may not know what your future holds. But as long as you know who holds your future, you’re going to be okay. God has been working behind the scenes in your life over the years.

I don’t know what He has in store for my future, but I know I’m excited about it. It puts a spring in my step to think that the God who created heaven and earth and flung the stars into space cares so much about you and me that He is constantly working for our good. To know that God is bigger than anything you will ever face, and to know that He is already lining up answers for problems that you may not even encounter for ten or twenty years should give you incredible confidence as you enjoy your life today.