Four Versions

Oh man I have really been struggling with life lately - at least in my head. I think on a surface level I look as if I've got everything figured out, how could I not? A beautiful wife and family, a good job, a nice place i'm living and now a fit body to boot. Mastering this external expression of decency and social responsibility is honestly the easy part for me, the hard part is dealing with the narratives about what it all means. I have been compartmentalizing this into the understanding that at any given time we are dealing with four different narratives in our relationships. God's story about us. Our story about ourselves. Others stories about us. The adversaries story about us. There is a constant struggle in our minds as we deal with these different narratives and how they effect our lives and the decisions we make. The narratives can influence one another, and the changing understandings of one can spill over into the other. For some people - may God help them - the lines become so blurred or their own narrative becomes so suppressed / oppressed they are dominated by another narrative. To the degree that we can see from the perspective of God - especially in regards to our innate worth and value, we are going to be doing better. In fact, our story is free to flourish if its aligning well with God's story. Getting the first two solidly in sync is the backbone of healthy relationships and whole living. In fact, and especially as a man called to lead his family, it is critical to being able to manage the suppositions and stories of the world and our adversaries throw at us. Without having our story be engulfed by God's story, we will be swept away by everything else, the narratives of others or even worse, the narrative of the enemy - whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy.a What are some practical things that can be started today to get my story in sync with Gods? Have an honest faith that loves God. You can't love what you don't believe exists. Read his word consistently and seek to believe / obey it. Be Comprehensive with Context - always weight scriptural ideals against the sum-total of scripture. Love God - Love Others