Personality

December 12th, 2012 by Dave Leave a reply »

. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . —John 17:22

Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.

Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.

Journal, DJR
Good Morning, Lord.
It is truly good to walk in that state where love has taken over and exceeded our individuality (and independence and rebellion and a lot of other terms that mean doing our own thing with our pleasure, or avoiding pain as our main objective) Why I cant stay in that state more, I dont know, I really do like myself better, and I think you do to, when I am in what Oswald is referring to as personality rather than individuality state.
It has been normal since the garden for humans to think first of themselves. I have offered you a better way to live … with your independence and individuality surrendered and allowing yourself to be led by love. It takes practice and there is some decision making involved. Surrender can be a decision … or it can be what happens when no other options are left. Surrender by decision is a higher level life skill. But I’ll take your surrender either way. And either way, you’ll have a better life. You can surrender your individuality to another person and that is good, you’ll be a team, and two is more than twice as much as one … But the highest and best surrender in the Universe it surrender to the maker of the Universe and the Lover of your soul. It’s really the best way to live and I provided it for you because I love you and want to be in relationship with you.

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