The Diva Inside, Devotional #8

            The true meaning of a Diva is a successful female performer or a distinguished female singer, usually a distinguished Opera singer.  Today this word is used to also describe a woman who thinks very highly of herself and therefore has a flair about her that says I’m better than you, more good looking than you, more successful than you or dress better than you…or in one word conceited.  There’s even a song about being a diva!  In my opinion I think we all have some kind of a Diva inside.  I know I do!  For those of you that barely know me hear me out.  I’m far from a Diva, you can ask anyone. But, there are those days that she (the Diva) wants to come out!  That attitude, that flair of “divaness” if you will, is in there somewhere.  She tends to want to come out when I’m trying too hard to get noticed.

            When I was a teenager I used to let the Diva out when I was trying to fit in to a group that I thought was where I should be but then the Lord would convict me of not being myself and I would put her away and be myself.  Usually being myself wasn’t good enough for these people but the Lord was faithful.  He gave me the gift of friendship with many wonderful people.

            At other times in my adult life the Diva came out when I wanted to get a promotion and was competing with my peers.  The Diva inside is not humble in any way.  She believes she deserves whatever it is at any cost just because!  So, I said what I thought I had to say (I embellished the truth…yes, I lied a little, ok a lie is a lie, it is also a sin).  I behaved like the management that were interviewing and evaluating who was best for the position.  In the end do you think I got the position?  Of course not.  I wasn’t being myself and they knew that.  I’m an honest person by nature and when I’m not being honest you can see right through me.

            Not too long ago I worked from home in sales.  In order to be successful one had to have the “divaness” flair but it had to come off in a very subtle way so that customers would not be turned off and therefore not buy anything from me.  Did I lie to my customers, never! I did learn my lesson, lying didn’t get me anywhere but in the hot seat.  But I did approach my sales with way too much confidence and believed that I had to act like a Diva in order to succeed.  Did I like having to do that, no, but did I do it because I felt I had no choice because we were in a tight financial situation, you bet I did.  In the end do you think I was successful and made lots of money?  No way!  God wasn’t going to allow that for me.  My sales were always low.  Success seemed to always be around the bend but I never got there.

            You see, I gave my life to the Lord when I was seventeen years old and when I did I gave Him everything.  I asked Him and still do, to lead me and when I’m going the wrong way to please make it crystal clear that I’m going the wrong way.  I’ve shared with you before how stubborn I can be and so even though He has always been faithful in being crystal clear I haven’t always seen it because I didn’t want to.  When you want to do what you want to do and not what God wants you to do you’ll do what you want and believe me, you’ll suffer the consequences later.  Consequences whether they are good or bad always accompany any and every decision one makes in their life.

            In Proverbs 16:5 it says, “The LORD detests all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”  Proverbs 8:13 says, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”   Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”  In Romans 12:16 it says, “Live in harmony with one another, Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.”  1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (All verses are from the NIV)

            That last one, from 1 Corinthians 13:4, really hit home with me.  How can I say that I love my neighbors and not be honest, and instead be boastful and proud.  No, my dear friend, God’s conviction was loud and crystal clear and when I finally buried that Diva inside I was able to see and accept that conviction.  It’s okay to be strong, self-assured, and confident.  But once boastfulness, envy, and or conceitedness gets blended in with that confidence, self-assuredness or strength, it’s ugly.  It leads to sin which leads to disharmony with God, and your loved ones and even with you.

            So when that Diva wants to come out stop it and say to yourself that you don’t need to act that way in order to be noticed, successful, loved or accepted.  I know that sometimes it’s easier said than done but in the end it’s the best way.  I know it is for me.  

            God bless you and thank you for reading this devotional.  I am praying for you my dear friend.