Jesus was the most self-aware human being who ever lived. This was the most important source of strength for him, second only to his connection to the Father. I believe that much of his time in the wilderness was spent with the Father elaborating on “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). That’s why Jesus so loved going into the wilderness! His wilderness experience was the time when God filled him with affirmations about who he was and how much he loved him. It was also a time when his self-awareness was tested and strengthened.
Our Lives as a Journey of Self-Discovery
We should all see our lives as a journey of self-discovery. That self-discovery begins with knowing and understanding God. This is an ancient idea.
The Psalmist saw the Holy Spirit within him as the effective presence of God in his life when he said, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11).
The wise man of Proverbs said, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10).
Jesus also taught us that the Holy Spirit dwells within. It is there – the inward journey to the Spirit of God living inside of us – that we find the connection to the Father.
Jesus experienced it – “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Lk. 4:1).
Jesus proclaimed it for his own disciples – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8).
The apostle Paul taught it – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19).
So, the journey inward – the journey of self-discovery – is a journey to the beautiful whispers of the Holy Spirit living within us. It is a journey that brings refreshment, encouragement, and power for living.
Jesus and Self-Awareness
Jesus was very self-aware. He understood who he was, what he came to earth to do, and how he was going to accomplish the mission (Mark 1:52; Mt. 28:29-30).
Jesus said, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:48). He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus had a strong and confident self-awareness.
Here are five questions to help you on your journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.
Five Self-Discovery Questions
- If I could be remembered for three things after I die, what would they be?
- If I could make one change in the world, what would it be?
- Do I fit my personal definition of a good friend? How so? If not, how can I alter my habits so that I conform to my ideal best friend?
- What are my top 5 most deeply held, core values? How does my life currently align with these values? Which ones am I ignoring?
- What value do I bring to the world? (Hint: the answer is not “nothing.”)
Dig deep into the Word of God and the life of Jesus as you reflect on the beautiful child of God HE created you to be!
