CYB

A good friend taught me a saying about 4 years ago, "Choose Your Battles." Its part of her everyday vocabulary, something she says without thinking that no one around her really knows what that means to her. I sure didn't; I didn't get the significance or the purpose. Did I not get a memo growing up?

Over the years, I've seen this mantra come into full swing. Not only in her life, but I've found it's importance in mine as well. As a Christian, it is important to choose your battles. What are you going to fight the world for and what are you willing to let go. That is what "CYB" means to me - letting go.

It can be letting go of bad thoughts, a frustrating situation, a friend, or just negativity in my life. It can be as simple as choosing to do the dishes for the 11th time and not complaining to my roommates, or choosing to be the one that calls even though I believe I didn't do anything wrong. It's the little things (and the not so little things) that won't matter a year from now, you won't remember them, won't care about them, and surely there are bigger fish to fry.

Recently, a friend asked me what denomination I identify with - "What are you?" they asked. Wow, what a loaded question. When I answered that I'm a non-denominational with a baptist/presbyterian past, they were a little confused. They wanted clarification so they had the ability to place me in a category of beliefs. That's a battle I don't want to fight; it's not worth fighting. If you can see Christ in my life, then does it matter what I believe as far as theology goes? This is at the simplest form - I understand that many so called Christians hold onto many unbiblical beliefs, but they want to sell themselves as Christians.

I believe in a God of mercy and grace, who sent Jesus, his pure & sinless Son to die for the sins of millions of people he would never know on this earth. I believe in a God that wipes every tear, knows every hair on my head, and every thought of my mind. I believe in a God who forgives, but who is the ultimate Judge. I fear this God, I hold Him high & mighty - the one & only righteous God. I believe that I must publicly proclaim my love and my servanthood to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And lastly, I believe that God has called me as a "little Christ" to live the same life as Jesus - Matthew 28 "Therefore, Go & make disciples of all nations..." I'm just a Christian, sinner saved by the grace of God, trying to live out His plan for me.

And this leads to my ultimate battle. I fight myself. This is a fight worth fighting - a battle I choose. I am a sinner; I have sinful thoughts and actions. The difference between me and a non-believer is that Jesus is in my heart. He fights for me when I am STILL. This means, I have to fight my sinful nature through Jesus. I choose to let go of this world and all of the desires of this world. I don't want the fortune & fame. I want the life of a foot washer / servant / peasant. I want the life of Jesus where recognition doesn't matter & "all the praise goes out to You in everything I do." And I will let God do the rest, all the planning & fighting.

CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES.