Own Your Life Book Club Part 1

Oh, little girls and princesses…It just seems to be ingrained. I am not a very girly girl and for the most part my daughter is not either. But, there is just something captivating to little girls about princesses. Myla has princess everything and when we went to Disney in November out entire trip centered on attempting to meet every princess. What is it about the princesses that cause little girls to be obsessed with them? I think it’s the beauty, the adventure in each of their stories and the grandness of their lives (i.e. castles, beautiful wardrobes, handsome princes, etc.).

I’ve just finished the first three chapters of Sally Clarkson’s book, Own Your Life. She spends the first few chapters discussing the barriers to owning our lives. In chapter 3, she quotes from the book A Little Princess saying, “I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young. They’re are still princesses.”

I would say it’s the same for little boys and super heroes. As Sally’s son Nathan said, “Superman is inside me waiting to come out!” In each little girl and little boy there is a princess or a hero waiting to come out.

But, life happens. Life is hard, circumstances take place, things are done to us that are outside of our control, etc. and our lives go from the exciting to the mundane. Part of that is moving from childhood to adulthood and living life, but some of that is the world, sin and others squelching out of us who we really are and the lives we are meant to live.

As Christians, Jesus promises us, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) As Christians our lives aren’t meant to be mundane and mediocre. We are meant to live an abundant life that matters for the Kingdom!

Sally presents several barriers to owning our life such as culture and the busyness of life, but the one that hit home the most for me is the fact that I listen to too many negative voices. These negative voices, whether from within or without, keep me from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. Instead of living a life of purpose and intention and boldness, I cower as I listen to voices that spew lies and render me ineffective for the Kingdom. These voices convince me that I’m nothing special, I can’t be effective in ministry, I’m not the perfect wife, mother or friend. But, these voices are lies! And God ‘s Word is covered in the truth that God loves me and has a specific plan and purpose for each one of His children.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” Jeremiah 31:3

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”2 Corinthians 5:17

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

What barriers do you experience to owning your life, living a life of intention and purpose? 

“Remember – it’s not just possible to live a full, flourishing life; God actually designed you to live this way.” (Own Your Life, pg. xix)

“There is no single way to serve God, but the point is this: We each have only one life to live to tell a story about Him, about His ways, about His love. And if we are Christ followers, then God calls us to use our gifts, to exercise our faith, and to become salt and light right where we are.” (Own Your Life, pg. xxi)