Are You Pursuing Your Worth With Great Diligence?

03/31/2010

Lifestyle

I was having dinner with a few friends a couple of weeks ago. One of the women in our group was talking about a dear friend of hers who had passed away.

She said…

“my only wish for my friend was I wish she had pursued her worth with great diligence.”

I just can’t get over what a heavy and needed statement that is to hear.

It’s a statement that makes me check myself to make sure I’m pursuing my worth with great diligence and living my life in a full and redeeming way… as I have written about here on Justin and Trisha Davis’ blog, Refine Us.

My question is what does this statement mean to you? What do you think it means to pursue your worth with great diligence?

Answer away… I’d really like to know what you think.

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  • http://www.deanaohara.com Deana OHara

    Great question — at 45 years old, you'd think I'd know that answer, but right now I don't. I feel at times like the world's largest scardy cat… so, I have over the years intentionally done things that terrify me and in doing so, I learn that I won't die in the process. To write about those adventures would almost read like Dr Seuss and "Oh the places you will go." — Because of that I get to sing in production of Handel's Messiah every year. I get to meet facinating people today that my fears would not have allowed me to just a few years ago. And I became a stand up comic – soley to get over my fear of public speaking. Doing that, I discovered I'm funny, and people are actually willing to pay me to tell jokes — okay so that one floors me a little.

    Maybe for this season – living with diligence means feeling my fears and doing it anyway.

  • http://www.deanaohara.com Deana OHara

    I also read your guest post. Made me cry. Beautifully written — I didn't know those things about you. I'm glad that I do now. Your honesty is refreshing Spence. There is a lot there to chew on and digest and it's all good. What is great about our lives is knowing there is nothing, no thing, beyond the redemptive power of Christ. He uses all things for good in one way or another if we let him. — Blessings, Deana

  • Trudy

    Interesting timing on that question… I have spent several weeks writing about what it means to be 'free'. I started the process by looking at the lies I believed about myself since childhood, up until about 9 years ago. One of the lies was "I have no value. I am worthless." This inspired me to look at what truth was revealed to me to break the power of that lie. From I 'faith girl' perspective I turned to God to ask, "What do you think about me? What do you feel when you look at me?" among many other questions. Embracing the incredible love of God is one of the first ways I pursue my true worth. If God not only loves me, but actually delights in me, I have value.

  • http://www.facebook.com/fourfecta Mitch Ebie

    I am reminded of the lyrics by Switchfoot, "This is your life, are you who you want to be?" I would add to this lyric by asking are you also who you were designed to be?

    I do not think that all little boys need to grow up to be professional athletes and astronauts to have worth, and all little girls do not need to grow up to be princesses and famous singers to have worth. But, Some of us are gifted in certain areas for a reason and we should pursue that. Our ultimate worth is found in God and it has already been established, and with that said whatever we do big or small it needs to glorify Him. We simply need to believe that we have been given worth.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      i completely agree… whats to hold us back from living life to the fullest .

    • Lucy Frost

      As a child I was taught that "man's chief end is to glorify God." For years I didn't understand what that meant. Now, however, I believe it means becoming the best version of ourselves that we can be and giving credit to God for our achievements. Our best, of course, will vary with the circumstances. My best in the middle of divorce will not be as good as my best at a time when I'm in love, or fully employed, etc. We are human after all. The important thing is to keep striving. And when we are doing well and someone asks "how do you do that?" then we glorify God (or your Higher Power) by replying that it's by the grace of God. I also believe that as parents, our job is to give our children every opportunity to become the best version of themselves they can be. We can't make them fulfill their potential, or their "worth." We can only give them the opportunities to do so that are within our grasp.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    This is going to sound bad but I don't think I know my worth.

    I think I know what it MIGHT be and I admit I don't chase it down like I could likely do it. I'm working harder at it than I ever did until now but I'm sure I could find a way to do more with it.

    You're right that this is heavy. I need to bat this around in my head today.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      yep… it's a big one to wrap the ole brain around for sure…

  • http://www.sweetieberry.com Sweetie Berry

    And the valuing of pursuing our worth in due diligence? At 45 for me its completely changing what is considered valuable…refocusing on what and who I am in God's valueing, not the worlds….accepting an identity I find hard to swallow…that I am the one He loved…that I am the one worth dying on a cross for…that my life was created purposefully….and my pursuits are not my own..but a desire of His….
    So many of us spend our entire lives not stopping and truly accepting who God says we are…
    and instead pursue some other value, some other identity that will somehow validate what we thought we should be.
    I appreciate your writing….and am pondering your lines….each time I read them…for days.
    What a blessing.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      Thanks Sweetie.. you are kind and i think you are right. isn't it great that God gives us the the ability to live life in small ways and big ways… great ways or not… we are given it as a gift to explore with all we have. thank you again.

  • Trudy

    Secondly I pursue my worth by believing in the dreams and the potential that lie inside of me. I take the vision of my heart and share it with the people around me, believing that I have the strength, the courage and the character to be a 'world changer'. I live this with passion with or without support because I don't want my tombstone to say, 'her dreams died with her'. I want it to say, "she lived life with passion. She changed the world around her with her heart." I'm in the process of pursuing my true worth and embracing the 'me' that God created me to be and it is empowering me to do just that!
    Bless you! Trudy

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      thats powerful trudy… thanks!

  • Mary West

    Im 55 with a numer of handicaps. To pursue your worth with great diligence means to look at what Christ did on the cross for you. He saw what we often cant. A beautiful creation made for Him. Though sin got in the way, He broke it off of us at the cross so that we are seen as like him without a trace of sin. Now that we are made a new creation, why see the flaws of the old nature. Strive for what He died for. It doesnt get any better than that.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      thanks for your comment Mary:)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/patriciazell patriciazell

    Early last year, after working hard through extensive schooling and testing to become a highly qualified English teacher, I realised it was time for me to pick up my dream of writing a book. The first thing the Lord had to do was put me in position where I had to throw everything I had worked on before. With the Write to Publish conference last June as a starting point of my new journey, I can say I am almost done with my book which I have been writing online through my blog. So, yes, I am pursuing my worth with great diligence.

    I read your guest post on your former marriage–God does work everything out for our good as we seek Him. God's love is greater than the curveballs that life throws us!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      wow!!! thats awesome… i have a couple of book ideas myself and have never gotten up the courage to actually walk them out. I'm proud of you! and thanks for reading my other post:)

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/mndunn26 mndunn26

    I can relate to Jason– I don't know my worth. I think I get glimpses every now and again in various ways or through random compliments. I'm always a little hesitant to take those things to heart though. Recently, I have really been praying and asking for a unique and specific passion; a vision of not only who I am in the Lord, but what He has equipped me to do and where He has called me to go. It's become clear in the last month or so. But I get caught up in my fear of failure or being called ridiculous. Ironically enough, someone decided to tell me just how they felt about this new prayer and passion of mine and as it turns out, that they did in fact think that it was ridiculous, crazy, and a slew of other adjectives that were anything but encouraging. In the midst of that, I feel more compelled to accomplish this thing; to believe and pray it into fruition not for the sake of proving anyone wrong, but for the sake of overcoming the idea that I ca not; that I am not. Does that make sense?
    Thanks for this post, Spence. It's truly encouraging:)

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      i could only guess what it is you want to do:) i will tell you this my friend. if you don't go for it you will always wish you had. listen to your gut and go for it. i believe you can do it… so go!

      • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/mndunn26 mndunn26

        Huh. I guess I'm not as vague as I thought. HA! Thank you though:)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/klreed189 Kyle Reed

    I feel like for me right now motivation is a big factor in everything I do. When the crappy things come along that I really do not want to do or see important motivation is far away from me. But when something big and great comes along I have all the motivation in the world. I think that is human nature obviously.
    For me to pursue my worth with great diligence is seeing happiness and joy not in circumstance but in Gods love for me. That gives me motivation to move forward, to continue to pursue and work with great diligence and motivation for the future.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      motivation is such a key for me as well… i find myself setting up a motivating environment around myself so i can do what i really want to do… saw your other comment as well… i'll email you on your blog with my deets!

  • Makeda

    This is such a timely question for me because God is putting His finger on the fact that I do not believe that I am worthy. I struggle with feeling worthy even of God's love and yet He offers it so freely to me. He is slowly delivering me from this lie and I'm expectant of walking in the full freedom of owning who He has made me to be. I think I am going to journal about this question tonight. Thank you for asking it.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      Makeda… getting know you online has been such a pleasure… i can tell you are taking big steps in your life. God has your back… just step on out. You have a lit going for you my friend!

      • Makeda

        Thanks Spence. You have the heart of an encourager and your encouragement always strengthen my heart.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/gritandglory alece

    woah. that is a loaded and weighty statement for sure. i know i miss the mark in a huge way when it comes to even comprehending, never mind pursuing, my own worth. i feel very unworthy in so many ways.

    for me, pursuing my worth with great diligence means pursuing Him with great diligence. my worth is only found in His heart, in my reflection in His eyes. to see me for who i am, i must first see Him for who He is…

    i can't say that i've very pursued Him "with great diligence" very well or very consistently in my life. i want to want that more than i do…

  • http://www.transformedbywords.com alexsandra

    I love that phrase. Those are powerful words and they hit me hard because I know I could do better in this direction. In a world filled with distractions I know I am called to go deeper, not just skim the surface. That is what these words remind me: to delve into my own talent and gifts and "with diligence" celebrate and share.
    What a wonderful expression.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/SpenceSmith SpenceSmith

      Thanks Alex. When I first heard my friend say it, I was taken back by what she was really saying. It's amazing how some phrases can stop you in your tracks.

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