According to Him
Question: What rock 'n' roll chica has the rare combination of one of the most unique names in musical history and *mad* guitar skills?
If the name Miley Cyrus came to mind, please dismiss that thought immediately…you're fired.
Ladies and Gentlemen, her name is Orianthi Panagaris, her eco-friendly guitar is named "Pepper," and you probably know her as "that blond chick that sings 'According to You.'"
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According to you
I'm stupid
I'm useless
I can't do anything right
According to you
I'm difficult
hard to please
forever changing my mind
I'm a mess in a dress
can't show up on time
even if it would save my life
According to you, according to you
Who is "you"? Apparently it's the guy she was dating who obviously didn't have a lot of good things to say to her:
According to you
I'm boring
I'm moody
and you can't take me any place
Can anyone out there relate to Orianthi and her unhealthy relationship? I would bet that there are a few voices in your world that would fall under the category of "According to You"…that cause you to feel "stupid" and "useless," and any other number of things, making you wonder if you mean anything to anyone.
Sometimes it's our parents, teachers, coaches, or even the images and expectations we get from the media that make us feel worthless. But ultimately, those messages come from the one that the Bible calls the enemy of our souls, "the accuser" Satan.
Satan accuses you of being worthless, unlovable, incompetent, and hopeless…why? Because if you have trusted Christ, you are God's child, which means Satan wants nothing more than to steal the joy out of your life, kill your dreams, and destroy your hope of finding God's amazing plan for your life.
In the song "According to You," Orianthi discovers another voice which she refers to as "According to him":
But according to him
I'm beautiful
incredible
he can't get me out of his head
According to him
I'm funny
irresistible
everything he ever wanted
Aren't those the words we all want to hear? Wouldn't it be amazing if we had a person in our lives who believed in us and saw the best in us even through our flaws?
You do have Someone like that. There is a heavenly song playing for all believers in Jesus Christ that started even before the universe existed called "According to Him" - and here are just a few of the lyrics:
According to Him*
I love you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
According to Him
I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
According to Him
No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what He has prepared
for those who love him.
According to Him
His unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
According to Him
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
He is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
Are you picking up on how God feels about His children? In Christ, we are way beyond "beautiful, incredible"…in fact, according to Him, He chose to die rather than live without us.
So now, like Orianthi, you have a choice between two voices. Don't listen to the accusations of the devil and the world. Instead, tune your soul into the melody of heaven that assures you for eternity that you have the unfailing love of your Father, the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
And just like you would pass along a link to an amazing video on YouTube to your friends, get the word out about the Bible's version of "According to Him." You have friends that are trapped in the world of negative messages but you have the voice of the gospel that will allow them to choose a different perspective – that they are loved by God the Father when they put their faith and trust in Christ.
According to Him… He made you, He loves you, He died for you.
*Jeremiah 31:3; 29:11; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Psalm 103:11-13
Flashpoint: Ignite Into Action
Isn't it great to know that the Creator God of the universe has forgiven us and loves us unconditionally because of Christ? That's why it is so critical that we get the word out to our friends and families that are only hearing the "according to you" messages. Send your friends the link to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu1aQvm5MrU) and then bring up a conversation with them about the different voices in their lives and how they impact them. Pray for an opportunity to share the true "according to Him" message.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands (Deuteronomy 7:9).
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1).
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
