“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, my soul knows this fully well” (Psalm 139:14)

“But Daniel made up his mind [purposed in his heart, decided, resolved] that he would not defile (taint, dishonour) himself with the king’s finest food or with the wine which the king drank; so he asked the commander of the officials that he might [be excused so that he would] not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8)

Welcome to the month of September! God indeed has been faithful. I believe that we are all experiencing new beginnings in all aspects of our lives, connecting with God and walking in the centre of His plans for our lives. May we continue to grow closer to Him, knowing Him as He really is.

So what is the Holy Spirit saying to us this time? We know that it is back-to-school season, the time of the year where there are mixed feelings: feelings of joy from parents to have their children back to school, the feeling of anxiety by those who have to return to school. There is also the anxiety that comes with the burden of tuition and all the financial responsibilities. Or maybe you are resuming a new job or vocation. Do not worry, in all these things, you are MORE than a conqueror. Therefore, the theme for this month is BACK TO SCHOOL - CONNECTING WITH SELF. This time, the Holy Spirit wants us to look inwards, to be true to ourselves. 

I am reminded of the story of Daniel in the first chapter of Daniel. The story is told of Judean captives, four of which we got to meet by name (vs 6). However we see Daniel step up in verse 8; he made up his mind to not defile himself with the worldly pleasures of the strange land where he was. In simple terms, he knew who he was, and where he was coming from. He did not lose his identity to the society he found himself. Unlike the other Judean captives, he remained true to himself, his faith, and his God. His three friends joined his stance, but they were just the only four that stood for the truth in a world of lies. How does this apply to us?

• As a student, you owe it to yourself, to God, and to your parents to stay true to yourself. Do not lose your identity to society; do not conform to the world because you want to belong (Romans 12:2). You have to dare to be different. Do not compromise your faith in a bid to be socially acceptable; do not search for acceptance in the wrong crowds. Stay connected to your roots; stay planted in God’s house; be submissive to the authorities over you (Hebrews 13:17). Also, like Paul admonished Timothy, study to get God’s approval. God does not sponsor laziness, so you have to put in the work for Him to crown your efforts with success.

Looking inwards also means retrospecting. What this implies is that if there were habits and patterns that were unproductive in your former academic term, or in your former job, you will have to drop them. Remember, you have a new beginning; you cannot keep on doing things the old way and expect new results. You have to re-strategize.

• As a parent or a guardian, do not shirk your duty. You have a responsibility to yourself, to God, and to those entrusted to your care to fulfil your duties faithfully. Advise your children, be involved in their lives and academics; be observant and open to having conversations; listen. Be gentle yet not permissive; firm yet lenient. Be approachable, non-confrontational or judgmental. Pray for your children, teach them the Word of God; instil in them godly values. The Bible says to train children in the way they should go, and they would not depart from it when they grow.

In addition to all of the above and more, connecting with self also means embracing our authenticity and identity in Christ. David is a man that exemplified self discovery and he embraced his authentic self. In Psalm  139:13, he says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, my soul knows this fully well.” This was a knowledge that was settled in the core of his being. David really connected with and accepted himself as penned in the story of his life (1 Samuel 16-31). Knowing the truth about who you are will keep you from doing things that you should not, from compromising. Let the truth of your identity in Christ be established firmly in your heart. You are God’s masterpiece, a work of divine art, special to God, ordained to show forth His glory (Eph 2:10; Isa 43:4; 1 Pet 2:9). Embrace your uniqueness and individuality. This means no comparison (2 Corinth 10:12). Spend time with God’s word discovering who you are in Him. Connecting with self also means understanding our individual strengths and weaknesses. The Bible says that the one who thinks he stands better take heed, lest he falls. Do not overestimate your strength, or downplay your weakness. Connecting with self involves being mindful of your state of being, that is, your holistic self.

Once again I welcome you to the beginning of the Fall season. In the series, we shall consider Embracing authenticity and identity,  Self-discovery and understanding strengths and weaknesses, Developing a positive self-image and confidence and Embracing individuality and uniqueness. Ensure not to miss any of these. Shalom!