Wrapping Up Not About Me November

Not About Me November was such a challenge, which I truly believe it should be! We are naturally sinful and selfish people - making everything in life not about ourselves is going against our natural way of being. I took a challenge to ask, "What would Jesus do?" before my actions in the month of November. And there were many interesting results.

First thing I noticed is how evil my flesh can be even for the best intentions. Especially at the beginning of the challenge, the first few days were spent in responding to "What would Jesus do?" with "Well, He would do what I'm doing right now, okay?!" Then I would keep doing what I had been doing. I realized that my decisions to not put Christ on the throne were willful defiance to the God of the Universe.

Second thing I noticed is that when I made the decision at the beginning of the day to truly do what Jesus would do, I would actually follow through and do what Jesus would do! One morning, I woke up right away and made sure Christ was on the throne. I sprang out of bed after hitting my alarm only once or twice (big deal for me), made Malcolm coffee, breakfast, and lunch for the day! It's not that I never do those things, but I often forget to in the morning because I'm so focused on myself!

The third thing I noticed was that when I would put Christ on the throne and depend on Him for the day, He would completely show up! One morning I had a bad attitude and I was not super excited to go on campus. Then this question popped into my mind as I was about to leave the house, "Would Jesus have this attitude this morning?" Nope! He sure wouldn't! I put Christ on the throne, and asked for His help to have the right attitude. And sure enough, He did! I sat on campus for my first hour seeing how the awesome things God has been doing on campus in the lives of students, and then I got to spend time asking others how I could pray for them. I even cried with joy - which I don't do often!

Thinking back on my time, I realized how much I suck at making my actions what Jesus would do! I spent so much time fighting with my flesh over control for the day. Even as I write this, I'm struggling with going to coffee and sleep for my dependance over trusting on the Holy Spirit to provide for my needs. I struggle so much on my attitude, my thoughts, my sleep in the morning, my serving others - I have a LOOOOONNNNNNNG ways to go in looking like Jesus!! But the other thing that greatly encouraged me during this time is that it was one month in light of the possible years I have to come. I still have time to ask this question every day for the rest of my life. How different would my life, my ministry, my attitude, etc. look when I daily surrender to what Jesus would do over what I would do? I'm glad that Jesus promises in Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20 and Philippians 1:6 that He will continue to make me look like Him - as long as I continue to surrender control daily to Him!!

About Leah

Leah works with Master Plan Ministries at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Other than watching college students' lives change, she enjoys getting her mind blown by God and His Word, watching sci fi, baking cupcakes, and spending time with her hunky husband. 

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