That is one of the questions we’ve been asking at Global Trellis, an online ministry for cross cultural workers to tend their soul and expand their skill set.
One value of our culture is that we love to mark our achievements, set goals to see our progress, see our success through accolades, incomes, numbers, and ‘likes.’ In some ways we feel it gives us worth, or import in society and life. Whether we notice or not, we each have developed internal measurements in our lives that determine our feeling like we are making it in life. We use these markers to feel purposeful, loved, valued and we often unknowingly let it define our identity.
Together with Global Trellis I’ve written an examen of conscious focused on the ways we define success in ministry, but I encourage you to visit the site and check out the free download and use this examen to reflect on ways you’ve been defining yourself and your value through the work you do rather than resting in God’s love for you. We all do this, myself included, which is why I was inspired to write this piece and share it with you. I hope you will check it out below. You don’t have to be a cross cultural worker to be prone to serving lesser gods in this way. As Christ’s heir and priesthood, you are a minister in all you do, and God’s beloved with whom he desires to form into his image. We no longer live conformed to the world’s standard because Christ is renewing our minds.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Romans 12: 2-3
Click on the Article to Get the EXAMEN DOWNLOADS—
If examing success in your life is an area in which you would like to grow by defining it in God’s terms, I encourage you to check out this new book: Becoming More Fruitful in Cross-Cultural Work: How to Be Free in Christ and Rooted in Reality as you Fulfill Your Call by Amy Young.
Remember to subscribe below and share with a friend. Perhaps you know a cross-cultural worker or friend in full-time ministry and this Examen, book, or even the work at Global Trellis might be a refreshment to their soul.
