It’s interesting how we like to focus on ourselves. One of the best ways to chitchat with someone is to ask his/her opinions about certain topics or to dwell on one of his/her favourite hobbies. All of a sudden even the shy person comes to life, talking almost non-stop.

Notice the advertisements around us. They are all geared to our ego.

What is also very interesting is that in the English language, the only pronoun that is capitalized is the “I”.

What is even more amazing is that once we die, nobody even talks about us any longer and no encyclopaedia will even think it worthwhile to mention our names.

Why do we tend to think of ourselves as being more important than we truly are?

Have you noticed that the more we focus on ourselves, the more worries abound and the more our stress level rises? How often have we heard ourselves say: “How can I handle all of this?”

Is it possible that we are focusing on the wrong person?

While I was away with my family on a month-long camping trip (This would be the last real camping experience before my oldest son would be attending university), I discovered that we began to live on a different plane of existence. Gone were the worries related to work. Gone were the pressures from everyday life. Gone were the to-do lists of not-that-important things that we think need to be done. Even the “I” didn’t seem that important any longer.

Our only task for the day was to enjoy God’s nature and the surroundings we found ourselves in. We still had to take care of basic necessities like food, shelter and bills, but they didn’t seem to be in the fore-front of our mind as when we were facing the daily grind. All that mattered to us was God’s presence, along with the beauty He created and the wonderful family He provided me with.

How quickly we forget these “unforgettable” moments once we are back to our daily routine.

It’s then that I realized that in heaven everything we went through here on earth will seem insignificant. Why did we even worry about matters that don’t really matter? Why were we so focused on satisfying the needs of our own ego?

How different out lives would be if we focused on Jesus and those He loves instead of focusing on ourselves. Look at mother Theresa. Her only worry was to answer to the needs of all the hopeless around her. She had no time to worry about herself.

There is something to what David wrote: “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Ps 25:9 NIV)

Too often we can’t hear God’s voice because we put too much importance on our own needs. How can He fill our arms if they are already filled with things we deem as important to this lives?

Did we even notice that Jesus’ exemplary prayer contains no “I”s?

The same is true with all the worshipping of angels described in God’s Word: No “I”s.

Daniel’s prayers only contained two “I”s: Once for praising God, and the second to thank Him. No wonder he led an exemplary life that transformed lives around him!

This observation doesn’t mean that individuality isn’t important to God. On the contrary, it means that all of our needs are fulfilled in Jesus the Christ, especially when we know Him on an intimate personal level.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev 4:11 NIV)

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'” (Matt 6:9-13 NIV)

The “I” isn’t what should be capitalized my friends. The “L” of Love should be, the Love that Jesus demonstrates towards all of humanity. This is how we truly can live constantly in a worshipping attitude if we start Loving like Jesus does and start minimizing our own ego.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 NKJV)

Then and only then will we acknowledge that truly “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Ps 25:9 NIV)

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “The Heart of the Matter” devotional series, please click here.)