Make a Difference, Bring the Christian in You to the Fore

A Guest Post by Adrienne Carlson

There are times when I’ve compared life to a crossword puzzle because it is seemingly complex at first glance; but when you get down to the brass tacks, it is pretty easy to sort out. However, a few of my friends beg to disagree with my view of life, preferring instead to compare it to a stream that carries you along, all you have to do to survive is keep up with the ebbs and flows without getting side tracked into unknown or unchartered territory. The difference between the two views portrays how you perceive life, if you prefer to take control of your destiny or if you tend to go with the flow and let fate play its role.

If you want to make a difference though, in your life and in that of others, you must take the reins of your life and steer yourself the way you want to go. And if you’re a Christian, you must strive to help yourself and others instead of just following herd mentality and ignoring all those aspects of life that you think you cannot control.

To make a difference in your life and in that of others, you must:

• Be true to yourself and your conscience: Never say or do anything that goes against the grain of your Christian values, even if it means you lose face or stand to lose much more than your dignity. If you do succumb to temptation or your temper, find the courage to apologize and make amends for your behavior. Pride is one of the worst sins we can commit, and if we continue to hold on to it, we end up losing love, family and friendship, aspects that are precious and priceless.
• Help others as much as you can: When you give freely of your time, money and efforts, you are making a difference in other people’s lives and also enriching your own. What’s more, you must help without expecting anything in return, only then can you be truly content and satisfied in your philanthropy.
• Spread the word of God by not just preaching it, but also practicing it: It’s easier to get people to follow your example when you do something rather than when you just talk about it. Not for nothing was it said that you must be the change you want to see, only then it is possible to bring about positive change.

It’s easy to make a difference when you’re a true Christian who believes in following the words of Jesus as taught to us by the Bible, because you know that it must be a way of life rather than a one-off occurrence.

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of christian college online. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com.