Stay 100

  One of my favorite phrases to say to people “Stay 100.”  Many wonder what it means.  100 is a substitution for full or complete.  I would ask myself over and over “What would change in your life if you are 100% you vs 50%?  As a Christian, I’ve had to dig deep about what it means to stay 100 in a less than 100 world.  Many of us had the same goal growing up which was to fit in.   Then one might think “What does it mean to fit in?” 

        In our society, it contains certain things that are considered normal and some that are weird.  Normal In society’s terms means something that is common in a lot of people such as: Socializing, participating in sports, etc.  The moment we come across someone who does the opposite, we tend to stay away from them and call it weird.  Our minds are wired to categorize everything in life so when it comes to something we don’t know how to process, we deem it weird.  What if those parts of that person that make them weird are actually their strengths? I love the verses 4-6 in 1 John which states “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.  Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.  But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception (NLT).”

        These verses are key to the voice John referencing God and how God is above all and not the world.  God created the world, created everything about this universe.  For those of you who do not know me already, I’m African American and I was talking to a girl and she brought up that she needed to tan.  I asked her “Why do you tan or why do you feel the need to tan?” this girl responds “Because I feel like society deems you ugly if you don’t have some kind of tan.”  Many of us want to change who we are to fit in, but to insult the supplier would be insulting the manufacturer. 

        Changing an aspect of you that was created specifically for you can be dangerous.  Imagine changing that certain quality and you found out that that quality is the key to the next step toward your calling, would you still change it? We have to think, how can we fulfill our calling or even begin it if we can’t be 100 with ourselves?  And many of us think that just includes our physical actions or how we speak to others but it also includes being vulnerable.  This is the most important one because many of us are so good at talking about good things in our lives that we neglect the bad, not recognizing both play a part in our lives.  So how does it look to be vulnerable with someone?

        I believe what prevents many from moving forward in authenticity is their past.  There’s always that one thing or multiple that we don’t want anyone to find out about out of fear of judgment and rejection.  When you can accept the past, you can move forward for the future.  God still called you, God knew all your qualities before you were even thought of.  God’s use of you doesn’t depend on other people’s approval.  You must never compromise your integrity to fit in with those without any.  Be the person that creates something with those qualities and others criticize you than to do nothing and criticize others.  You should never have to water yourself down because someone can’t handle you at 100 proof.  Jeremiah 1:5 says “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations (NLT).” And in Jeremiah 29:11 it says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (NLT).”  Each of you has such a unique path full of your own unique traits.  You’ve come too far to let a standard or rejection keep you from the blessings God has specifically for you.  The journey starts with you, so embrace who you are to the fullest.  Stay obedient even in times of confusion and watch him work beyond your imagination.