Extreme Personality Makeover Introduction (continued...)
It seems that people are having expensive beauty treatments, reconstructive surgeries or home makeovers in record numbers today. It is a nationwide trend that seems to indicate something significant about why we do what we do.
We have gone from simply remodeling homes or having minor surgeries, to major overhauls of ourselves and our homes. We have gone from makeovers to now having “extreme” makeovers. What is it about our society that we are not satisfied with a simple fix-it? Why do we now insist on monumental measures?
Extreme makeovers have become an obsession, as well as fascinating human interest stories. What if you could have an extreme personality makeover? Would you like to have a winning personality — a personality that everyone relates to?
How about having a personality that can respond best in every difficult situation? Even if you already have a pleasing personality, would you like to improve it and make it even better? An “extreme personality makeover” may be just what you need and / or want.
First of all, I must stress I am not saying there is anything wrong with your personality that requires changing. No one has a "bad" personality. It is what you do with your personality that is good or bad.
We can all improve our strengths and avoid our “uniqueness.” We can also learn from the personalities of others to increase our effectiveness. A personality makeover will not hurt us and it may even help, especially with our relationships and ministries.
The word, "extreme" may seem radical to some people, but it may be just what they have been searching for. Others may require minor adjustments rather than major overhauls. Regardless, we can all benefit from the understanding of how our personalities must become more flexible. It can especially help us improve our task and / or people skills!
It is really all about controlling, not changing, our personalities!
Unfortunately, it may seem very self-centered, but it is not. We should first recognize how God made us perfect, but we chose to determine our own destinies and rebel against Him. When humankind turned its back on God, our personalities began to be infected with all the little twists that cause the problems we have with people.
Christ, the greatest teacher, is seen in the Holy Scriptures standing at the door of our lives inviting us to learn from Him. He wants to show us the way to forgiveness and happiness. He desires to enter our lives and become our Savior and Counselor.
We were originally created with personalities, but we went astray. Our once perfect personalities have since developed weaknesses and “uniqueness” that clash with other personality types. God never intended us to conflict with others. He desired harmony and happiness in our lives.
This may seem like an unusual concept. It is actually a spiritual approach to a psychological or personal problem everyone has — getting along with others. This understanding developed from my years as a "Human Behavior Consultant" and seeing how people have been impacted by adapting their personalities to “become all things to all people.”
Concern is for those people who have the attitude — "That’s just the way I am!" They do not want a makeover, or even think they need one. They limit the divine power of God to "finish" His work in their lives. They have not understood the reality of how God wants to control their personalities so all the good traits are evident in their lives. It is a human drama played out in their everyday experiences and it clamors for a solution
Television Drama
Today’s "reality shows" are on the rise because people enjoy seeing changes from one extreme to the other. They dream of the day when they could have their makeover. The reality is we are actually where we are right now, because that is what we have chosen. We may often dream about having a more effective personality. A makeover could be our dream come true.
Having an extreme personality makeover can change your life. It can help you relate and work with people on a higher plane. You do not have to be limited by your personality’s shortcomings or weaknesses ("uniqueness"). You can be liberated to be free of your limitations. You can experience freedom to be more than just being yourself.
You can become anyone you want to. If you are quiet and shy, you can learn how to be expressive and influencing. If you are dominant to a fault, you can learn to be so kind that people enjoy you, rather than endure you.
This is not about manipulation! It is more about understanding the Holy Scriptures and the "Science of Human Behavior." It is about why people do what they do. It is about learning from others so you can be what they need you to be. It is not about being unnatural, but rather, being supernatural. It is about learning the biblical principles that will allow you to be what God has designed you to be, with all the good traits and none of the bad traits.
If you act in ways that seem irritating or ineffective with others, then you are a perfect candidate for an extreme personality makeover. If you desire to be more than what you are on the surface, then get ready for new and revolutionary insights that will impact your life.
Some people may think this is ridiculous!
They immediately conclude it is nothing but an attempt to boost our self-worth or image. However, it is not an ego trip. It is very serious, because it relates to how we see ourselves and how people see God in us. It is paramount, because it represents who and Whose we are. What people see in us is how our lives count in this seemingly purposeless existence.
We want others to think of more than our images; we want them to see a reflection of God "working in us both to will and do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). Having an extreme personality makeover is actually letting God make us over so that we reflect and shine for Him.
Being "conformed to the image of God" (Rom. 8:29) will be an extraordinary experience for most people. It begins with understanding how He wants to be more than just an invited "guest" in our lives. He wants to be the "Head" of our lives. He wants to make us over from our feet to our face, from our attitudes to our actions.
It all begins with the recognition that we need a power greater than ourselves if we are going to be better than what we have made of ourselves. This means we must humble ourselves and recognize we are incomplete without God. His divine makeover begins with you coming to Him by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8,9.)
Many people call this a "salvation experience." Others refer to it as being "born again." More people recognize it as having a “personal relationship with God.” Regardless of how it is referred to, no one can really know God without coming to Him by faith. Scripture teaches, "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). It is absolutely essential before we can experience our divine makeover.
Once we acknowledge our need of a Savior from ourselves and the error of our ways (sin), we are ready to understand how God can give us new life and direction. We cannot have a makeover until we recognize that the work we have done with ourselves is insufficient. Otherwise, we would not need an extreme makeover.
Some people will stop here and think: "I don’t think I need a makeover. I’m okay just the way I am. I don’t want anyone telling me to trust in anyone other than myself!" That is a sure indication that those people definitely need an “extreme“ encounter with the One Who originally made them.
God made us pure and perfect
He also gave us the will to choose our own path in life. Any direction apart from His way is the wrong way. It leads to frustration and failure. God’s way leads to forgiveness, peace, and assurance.
The question now is, do you really think you can handle the trials and troubles of life better than God can? Do you actually feel He knows what is best for you? Your makeover must begin with the reality that you need Him to solve the difficult challenges of life and to make you all you can be.
Once you decide to let Him be your Savior and extreme life-planner, you can experience a makeover for the rest of your life here on earth and for all eternity. Acknowledge your need for Him and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Jesus did what you could not do for yourself: He lived a perfect life. He paid the sin-debt on Calvary’s cross necessary for your forgiveness. He also wants to give you a spiritual makeover while you live, as well as eternal life when you die.
Your self-dependence to get to heaven by your good works has separated you from God. That self-sufficiency has to be reconciled with Him in order to have a relationship with God. His makeover begins with you coming to Him in childlike faith.
What He did on the cross was the payment you could never afford to pay. He literally gave His life for you to have His life. He bore your blame. He suffered your shame -— all because He loved you (John 3:16) and wanted to have a personal relationship with you. (John 10:10) He literally paid for everything you have ever done wrong. All you can do is to totally believe He died and rose again for you to be forgiven and personally know Him. This is the gospel truth, the good news that sets people free! (John 8:32)
This is not about having a religious experience.
Religions are man-made. True Christianity is God coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, living a sinless life, and dying on the cross to become your Savior. But you must trust Him alone, and biblically and personally believe in Him. It is not believing in Him intellectually. Christ died, that is history, but Christ died for me, that is salvation.
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, God desires for you to let Him live His life in you and to conform you into the image of His dear Son. If you have not come to faith in Christ, you now have the opportunity to settle it once and for all. Simply take God at His Word and "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31).
On the authority of God’s Word (1 John 5:13), you can know — not hope, guess, or wish you have eternal life. Then you are ready to have a divine and extreme personality makeover. The most exciting thing about all this is God will do the makeover in you. It is actually something He will do, if you just learn the principles and truths that will set you free. He wants to live His life in and through you. (Gal 2:20)
He will do all the work if you will just do all the trusting and obeying (1 Thess. 5:24). There is no better way to be happy in Jesus and throughout your everyday life than to "just trust and obey." He will not only save your soul from eternal separation from God, but He will also save you from yourself here on earth. He will make you over to become the person He intended you to be. You can have an extreme personality makeover for His glory and your good!
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