Recognition – Part 1

“Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.”
– Abraham Lincoln

The Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines Recognition as, the act of recognizing, or the state of being recognized; acknowledgment; declaration; knowledge confessed or noticed.

When people acknowledge or Recognize your faith, growth, walk, passion, and love for God, is that a good thing?

It is natural to wonder if the people who know us well think differently about us when we undertake a major change in our lives. Do they think of us as the same person, or do they view us with a new perspective? It’s also worth considering if they believe that our lives have been transformed through Jesus Christ and that we have become a new creation in Him. Are they confident that we have improved and that we are no longer the person we used to be? These are all important questions to have answers to, as they can help us to understand how those closest to us view us in our new life. Ultimately, the answer to this question will be unique to each individual. Some may find that their friends and family are accepting and supportive of their faith, while others may find that there is resistance and discord. However, no matter the response, it is important to remain steadfast in our faith and to continue to spread love and understanding to those around us.

It is so easy for us to become so concerned about how others view us, rather than how God sees us. We focus so much on trying to make a good impression on those around us that we forget that the most important opinion of us is God’s. 

When it comes to being judged by my friends, it can be hard to know if they are judging me based on my past, for my current state, or who I am now becoming. Do they truly understand my faith and its importance to me? Are they judging me based on their misunderstanding or lack of agreement with my beliefs?

It can be difficult to distinguish between gossiping, mimicking, or laughing at me because of my religious beliefs and practices. It can be hard to take criticism from people who do not understand or accept my values. In a way, it can be liberating to not be surrounded by those that do not understand me, as it allows me to focus on those that are supportive and understanding. 

“Luke 6:37 – The Message
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.”

My family has had mixed feelings about my Christian life. On one hand, they are proud of me for taking the bold step to turn my life around and embrace a new lifestyle centered around my faith. They Recognize the effort I have put into living a life of faith and the commitment I have made to staying true to my beliefs. On the other hand, they understand how hard it was for me to make such a drastic change, coming from my past life as a non-believer. 

I understand the feeling of being in transition and how it can feel like it won’t pass. I have been through times of struggle before and know how hard it can be to stay true to my faith. But I am determined to continue my journey and remain strong in my beliefs. I am confident that I will rise above this period and come out the other side with a better understanding of myself and my faith, it can be hard to understand why my family and friends might be so hesitant to accept my decision to live a more faith-filled life. I can sense their judgment and doubt, but I also know that it takes time to prove to them that I am sincere in my faith. I understand that it may take patience and understanding on both sides to form a consensus, and I am ready for the challenge. My family members have been filled with doubts about my Christian faith, but I remain hopeful that they will eventually come to Recognize the good that God is working in me. 

There is no need to feel embarrassed for being a Christian or a “Jesus Freak”. Everyone has the right to choose what they believe in and how they express it. Despite the fact that some may consider it to be an extreme lifestyle choice, ultimately it is up to you to decide what you are passionate about and how you choose to live your life. As Christians, it is important to remember that we have the right to practice our faith without fear of judgement or ridicule. It is up to us to stay true to our beliefs and stand firm in our faith. As long as we are not harming anyone, we should be proud of our faith and our convictions. We are all unique and have the right to express our beliefs in whatever way we choose.

John 3:30 – in the English Standard Version speaks to this very concept, 
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

This is a clear call to humility, that we as humans must take a step back and accept that we are not the center of the universe. We are to give up our pride and concede that there is something greater than ourselves. This is a hard pill to swallow, and it can be difficult to put our own desires aside, but it is a necessary step to leading a life of humility and true servitude to God. Today, we as a people, have become so focused on demanding Recognition and attention that we are unwilling to share or give them away to anyone else. This is a great shame, as it often leads to us taking away the focus and attention that should be given to God. We must strive to remember that all the Recognition and attention we receive should be shared and used to glorify the Lord, rather than just ourselves. Only then can we truly understand the importance of being thankful for what we have and being willing to share it with others.

Pride, boastfulness, and seeking Recognition and acceptance are all too common in our society today. We are often driven by the need to be accepted and admired by our peers, to be seen as successful or important in the eyes of others. We often fail to remember that the most important approval and acceptance we can seek is not from our fellow man, but from God. 

Remind yourself that it is not your own Recognition or accomplishment that matters, but rather that you are a vessel for Him who deserves to be Recognized. Let go of the pride, for it is not yours to take. Instead, focus on how to best lead others to acknowledge and accept Him in their lives. Show them the same compassion and love that He has shown to you and actively lead them towards Him. Help them to understand their need for Him and the peace and joy that comes from His grace. Allow them to experience for themselves the extraordinary power of His presence. Let them know that when we Recognize Him and His glory, we are Recognizing our own destiny. Without Jesus, we are lost in the darkness. We need Him to guide us and shine a light on our path. He is the match that lights us up, like a stove waiting to be lit. We must turn to Him for guidance and knowledge, for only He can provide the light that we seek. Once we turn to Him, He will ignite us and provide us with the light we need to find our way. “We are the candle waiting to be lit, and Jesus is the match that will light us up.“

When we surrender to Jesus, we flip the switch, and our lives are filled with light, joy, and peace. We no longer walk in darkness and are free from the chains of sin. We are offered forgiveness and grace, and a relationship with our Heavenly Father. We are no longer bound by our own selfishness and idolatry, but instead, seek to serve Him. “When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we flip the switch and are able to live in the light of His love and grace.” We can experience true joy, happiness, and peace, and can live a life free from the sin and darkness that held us captive before. We can now surrender to God and walk in the light of His love and grace.

When the on switch is flipped, it is an acknowledgement of repentance, forgiveness, and loving those who are the hardest to love. In this moment, we call out to the Lord, asking for His guidance and light. In response, He will create a new and pure heart within us, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. He will never abandon or forsake us, and when we accept Him as our Lord and repent, He will light up our life with His presence. We Recognize that this act of repentance, forgiveness, and love is what truly brings us closer to our Lord.

John 8:31-32 – Good News Translation – (GNT) – The Truth Will Set You Free
31 So Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; 32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Our primary goal in life should be to Love the Lord and serve Him. We are called to be faithful to our families, and to love even those who may treat us with hostility or persecution. We are not here to please the world, but to seek and speak the Truth.

The person I used to be was not always the best version of myself. I made mistakes, I was selfish and misguided, and I took the wrong path. But I was still the person my family and friends knew and grew up with. Even though I cannot change my past, I can learn from it and strive to not repeat the same errors. No matter what I have done in the past, I cannot change it; not even God can change it, as it is already done. All I can do is demonstrate the incredible work God is doing in my life. He is helping me to move on from the choices I have made, and those choices no longer define me. Instead, I am looking to the future and to the goodness of God in my life. I can trust in Him to bring me to the place I need to be and to guide me on my journey. I am no longer bound by the mistakes of the past, and I am free to walk in the light of His love.

I Recognize that my actions are no longer a reflection of just myself, but of my God as well. If I can do something good for others or myself, I know that it is only through His grace. I am thankful for His guidance and presence in my life, and I give Him all the glory and praise. 

The need to be accepted, noticed, or Recognized by the world has faded in comparison to the greater goal of being one with God and reaching salvation. To glorify His Holy Name and to enjoy Him forever is the ultimate goal. To share His gospel with others, to evangelize, and to be with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven is the Recognition and focus that should be pursued. To share the gospel with others, to evangelize and to be with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven; that is where the Recognition and focus must be. It is not about boasting or being crowned as a royal priest or king, it is not for people to know me and follow me or kiss my ring, for I am but a servant, and a low one at that.

Romans 3:7 – New International Version 
Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”

Am I a sinner, did I sin, is it possible for me to continue to sin? Are there any sins I will commit today, tomorrow, next week, or next month? The answer to these questions and statements is yes, yes, and yes. We all sin and we all fall short of the Glory of God. 

I am not perfect, and I am aware of that. I am a human being and I make mistakes. Just because I follow Jesus Christ does not mean that I am perfect, and I accept that. I may attend church in person or watch it online, but that doesn’t make me perfect either. Posting religious posts and scriptures on social media doesn’t make me a perfect person either. Even though I read the Bible and pray regularly, it doesn’t make me perfect either. If I share the word of God on Facebook, Instagram, my podcast channel, or on YouTube, that neither does make me perfect. We will never be perfect, and dare I say, I have never and will never claim to be perfect. Growing and following Jesus is an important part of our lives. It is a journey that leads us to become more like Him and to have full trust and faith in Him, understanding that perfection is not attainable. While we strive to do our best and to live in a way that reflects our faith, we also Recognize that God’s plans are perfect. We strive to cooperate and work with God’s plan, understanding that it is the best possible way for our lives to be guided. We may not always understand why God has chosen certain paths for us, but we trust that He knows what is best for us. 

Psalm 86:2 – New King James Version – (NKJV)
Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You!

We all carry baggage, imperfections, fears, insecurities, burdens, doubts, pain, sorrows, and sins with us every day. Yet, our Lord desires us to surrender all of these things to Him and no longer carry them around with us. He also calls us to surrender our need to be seen, Recognized, and acknowledged by people. To do this, we must trust in the Lord and allow Him to protect us, even when it feels like we are vulnerable and exposed. He will provide guidance and strength to help us through our struggles and provide the peace of mind that we seek. 

We can draw our strength and our hope from Him, for He is the way, the truth, and the life. His plans for us are perfect and when the time comes for His Glory to be revealed, we will be blessed and receive the fullness of His love. Our focus must be on Him and His plans for us for us to grow in faith. Let us not focus on ourselves and our own wants and desires, but on Him and His ways. Let me say it again: Focusing on Him, not on ourselves, helps us to grow in Faith.

We must strive to put Him first in our lives and put our trust in Him. By putting Him first, we can be assured that His plans for us are perfect and will lead to His ultimate glory being revealed.

Jeremiah 10:23 – New International Version – (NIV)
LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

We all know that judgment awaits us at the end of our lives, but we may not realize that judgment can come even sooner. The moment we surrender ourselves to God, we open ourselves up to His judgment. But with that judgment comes a great blessing – His care and protection. In times of trouble and despair, God will always be there to provide us with comfort and support. 

We should all be aware of the enemy who wants to separate us from the relationships we have with our friends, families, and most importantly, God. We are not strong enough to fight the enemy on our own, mentally, physically, or spiritually. Our strength must come from God if we want to be able to fight against our enemies and protect ourselves. Do not try to fight them on your own, as it is not possible to do so. With God by our side, we can be strong enough to overcome any obstacle that the enemy throws our way. So, let us not be afraid, but rather turn to God and ask Him for help in our struggles. Trust me when I say that they will come and attack you. But it is not our responsibility to fight them ourselves; that is God’s responsibility. He has defeated enemies before, and He will do so again. We can take steps to protect ourselves, such as praying, believing, having faith, and building relationships. But we must do these things for the Lord, not for our own Recognition or benefit. It is God who will ultimately defeat our enemies. We just need to trust Him and have faith that He will do so.

Deuteronomy 31:8 – New International Version
“The Lord himself goes before you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

It is easy to understand why people who look down upon us would judge and criticize us. After all, who we were in the past reflects of who we are now, and if we have made a drastic change, it can be difficult for them to accept. In some cases, their criticism may even be due to envy, but I cannot blame my friends and family for doubting my newfound faith in Christ. After all, I have failed them many times, but I have failed myself far more often.

I have always been on a journey to search for a place where I can call my own; a place where I can be someone, be noticed, and be Recognized. I have gone through numerous phases in my life, and I have taken many people with me on these journeys. My reasoning for this was that I thought it would benefit them in some way, or that I wanted to share my experiences with them. There were those who faithfully followed me and those who did not. I was judged by some, and I could not help but despise them for it. Conversely, I judged others and they in turn despised me. I felt the sting of their judgment and I could not help but feel the burden of the same upon me.

We all want to be proud of ourselves and have other people show their admiration and appreciation. That’s why when children play sports, they often take-home trophies or awards at the end of the season to show their parents, family, and friends. These trophies or awards often become a prominent fixture in the child’s bedroom or family room, proudly displayed for all to see. It’s a way for us to demonstrate to the world that we have achieved something. But it’s also a way for us to Recognize and honor our own accomplishments and hard work. We should all take pride in what we achieve, no matter how small or how large it may seem. Our reward for striving and fighting hard is the sweet satisfaction of achieving something meaningful. There is a special kind of joy that comes with the accomplishment of a goal we have worked so hard to reach.

The trophy is seen as a symbol of our hard work and dedication to our goals. We are taught to give it our all and never give up, and that by persevering and putting in the work, our efforts will be rewarded. We are not told that faith and prayer are prerequisites to success, but rather that we must act and never stop pushing ourselves to reach our goals. We are encouraged to fight, to train, to exercise and to work hard, and to never give up. That is how we will achieve success, not by simply praying for it. The trophy is a reminder that our efforts have paid off, and that we are capable of achieving great things when we put our minds to it. It is not blessed or displayed in church, because we have the mentality that if we work hard, we will succeed.

Since I was saved back in 2017, I have been blessed by the Lord with a special gift: the ability to communicate with Him and to put my conversations with Him into writing. My hope is that by continuing to write and create YouTube videos, I can continue to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and encourage others to turn to Him and seek His guidance. I pray that the Lord will bless me and use me as a vessel for His will.

I have always tried to share my story with everyone, but it is one that is broken into three parts. The first part of me is overwhelmed with the outcome of the story written. I am amazed by the power of words, and the way they can come together to form a story. I feel proud of my writing, and I’m excited to see what the reaction will be.

The second part of me wonders if it’s really good enough. I worry that I have not done enough to make the story truly great, that I may have missed something or made mistakes. I worry about the reception my work will get and if it will be well-received.

The third part of me wants to be Recognized for the writing. I want to feel proud of my work, and I want to know that it has been appreciated. I want to feel a sense of accomplishment, and to know that my work has made a difference. I want to be rewarded for my hard work, and to feel like my effort has been noticed.

The third part of the story seeks self-Recognition: how many people have commented on the story, and what kind of feedback have they left? Are the comments and feedback positive? Does anyone think this story should be published? Will someone want to publish this? Will other people want to share this story in their own groups or websites?

Truth be told, I don’t necessarily want to show-off, but I do crave Recognition. But instead of making this all about me, I should be reminding the readers and listeners that I’m simply sharing what the Lord has placed in my heart. It’s not about me, but about the Lord’s message. It’s important to take a moment to reflect on what I am doing, and to remember that it’s not about me, but about the Lord’s will and message. By taking a moment to remind myself of this, I can better share the Lord’s message with others. I am so thankful to God for giving me the strength to carry out His work and share His words. I strive to always give Him the praise and glory He deserves for all that He has done for me. I am proud of the hard work I have put in and the accomplishments I have made, and I want to take a moment to Recognize and show off my own trophy of success. With each step I take and each milestone I reach, I am reminded of the power of God and His blessings in my life.

To Be Continued ….