December 1
Know Thyself
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ––Romans 12:3-5
There are times when we all need space—time to be alone with God and ourselves. No matter if you are an extrovert or introvert, alone time can be energizing. I’d go so far as to say that if you have a hard time being alone, it’s time to ask yourself why. It’s not a sin to crave alone time—in fact, it may be the way God created you. Conversely, God wants to spend time with you alone!
I’m an advocate of personality profiles that help you identify your personality make-up. Though they are not without controversy (some Christians object, claiming they are based on secular principles), I believe when we use them prayerfully, they can be a powerful tool for God’s men. I would point to psychological counseling in the same way. In both cases (therapy and personality tests/profiles), Holy Spirit-led discernment is key.
One such personality profile is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which differentiates between these four areas:
Extrovert vs Introvert – This is all about where you get your energy. I know introverts who are the life of the party, but then crash afterward and need a day or so of “alone time” to recover. Extroverts are energized by being around others, while introverts refill their tanks by themselves.
Intuitive vs Sensing – This is about how you take in information: with your gut feeling (intuitive—patterns and possibilities) vs your five senses (logic and pragmatism).
Thinker vs Feeler – How emotional are you? Some guys are emotional but rarely show it. This is about how you process the world: through emotions (feelings) or your mind (thoughts).
Judger vs Perceiver: This is how you deal with and frame your world. Judgers tend to be more concrete, and prefer set plans and clarity (A-type personalities who like structure and order), while perceivers tend to be more “go with the flow” types (B-type folks who are more flexible and adaptable) and have less trouble with ambiguity.
Of course, Myers-Briggs is not the only personality measurement tool out there; choose one that fits you. Knowing your personality type is helpful because it allows you to identify what makes you tick, and to better understand why you respond to certain situations the way you do. For example, if you hate social gatherings and feel guilty as if there’s something wrong with you, it may be that you are an introvert. Or, if you hate making plans for the weekend or being tied down by a plan, it may be that you are a perceiver.
Man of God, the more you know the “why” of who you are, the more you can discover the areas of ministry that best fit your personality. Does it mean that if you are an introvert, you will probably be a poor evangelist? Not necessarily. (We are all called to share our faith—we must be called to do it in very different ways.) It just means that after spending time with groups of people, you will probably need time afterward to decompress and recharge. Don’t confuse your personality make-up with your spiritual gifts. (That’s a topic for another conversation.)
Get to know who you are—how your mind operates, what gives you energy, how you process information, and how you view the world. When you do, you can focus that knowledge and home in on goals and dreams that align with God’s vision for your life.
Lord, as I get to know my personality better, help me to use that information to advance Your Kingdom and fulfill Your destiny for my life.
______________________________
https://www.mbtionline.com