There's only one you

As you seek out God's direction for your life, it's easy to look at the lives of other strong Christians and emulate what they are doing. While it is good to learn and be mentored by the lives of others, God has created all of us in a unique way. He has given each of us our own unique talents, skills, passions, resources, and life experiences. We need to let God take our own uniqueness and allow Him to lead us down the life path He has created for us to travel.

In his book Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan states the same principle in this manner:

A Nike commercial ran years ago, featuring the first-draft pick into the NBA, Harold Miner. In the commercial, he said something like, "Some people ask if I'm going to be the next Magic Johnson, the next Larry Bird, or the next Michael Jordan. I tell them, I'm going to be the first Harold Miner." He ended up having a miserable career in the NBA, but it was still a cool commercial. And his point - to be yourself - was valid.

Oswald Chambers writes, "Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you." To that I would add, "Be careful not to turn others' lives into the mold for your own." Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us.

Have you ever said, "I was made for this moment"? Do you believe you were crafted for specific good works, things that God knew before you even existed? Or do you compare your life to others and lament what you have been given?...

... Imagine if you opened up a drawer in your kitchen and found twenty cheese graters but no other utensils. Not very helpful when you're looking for something to eat your soup with. Just as there are different utensils in the kitchen that serve diverse functions, God has created unique people to accomplish a variety of purposes throughout the world.

That is why I cannot say in this book, "Everyone is supposed to be a missionary" or "You need to sell your car and start taking public transportation." What I can say is that you must learn to listen to and obey God, especially in a society where it's easy and expected to do what is most comfortable.

So, as you live out your life this day, celebrate your own uniqueness as a child of God. Learn from the lives of other believers, but be sensitive and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit in what He has called you to do. There's only one you.