Christo-Centric
When the mirror clears, you realize you were never meant to focus on yourself.
Devotional Credit: Abide Above
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s reflection from Miles Stanford reminds us of the subtle but significant battle between two spiritual focal points—self or Christ. The enemy would have us obsessed with our inner condition: how we’re doing, how we’re feeling, how others are affecting us. But the Holy Spirit beckons us into something far more freeing: to be completely occupied with the risen and glorified Lord Jesus.
The devotional insight, reinforced by J.B. Stoney’s quote, reveals that even our devotion can be self-centered when filtered through how God relates to us, instead of how we are united to Him. It's possible to love like Jonathan and follow like Ruth, but unless we know we are already one with Christ in glory, we remain subtly entangled in our own interests—trying to find God in the story of our life rather than resting in His.
Jesus emptied Himself of reputation and embraced servanthood, not for mere admiration, but to become the indwelling life of those who believe. This is the heart of true Christ-centered living: not using Him as a reference point for our journey, but losing ourselves in His. The more we are occupied with Christ Himself—His desires, His glory, His ways—the more we are liberated from the heavy burden of self-awareness.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You are not the central figure of your story—I AM. And in Me, your story finds its meaning.
I have joined you to Myself, not that you might orbit your thoughts around your own well-being, but so you might be caught up into My heart, My mind, My mission. I did not rescue you so you could become absorbed with whether you’re doing well enough—I rescued you to share in My joy and My purposes. The more you fix your gaze on yourself, the more entangled you become. But when you fix your gaze on Me, you see clearly that you are already complete in Me.
I emptied Myself of reputation to live in you—not so you could improve yourself, but so you could yield to My indwelling presence. Let My mind shape yours. Let My obedience replace your striving. Let My love move through you as your own. Do not ask where you stand in My eyes—stand instead in the truth that you are already in Me, and I in you. In this union, self-interest fades. What once enslaved you—the fear of failure, the ache for recognition, the longing to be seen—has no voice here. I have silenced it with My life.
You are free to care about what I care about, to love who I love, to live for My Father’s will. As you let go of yourself, you will discover that you are not diminished—you are released.
Scriptures referenced: Philippians 2:5–7; Romans 6:16; John 15:4–5; 2 Corinthians 5:14–17; Colossians 3:1–4
🪞 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like standing in front of a mirror in a foggy bathroom—no matter how much you stare, the reflection is distorted. But open the door, let the air circulate, and the mirror clears—not because you worked harder to see yourself, but because the focus shifted from the fog to the fresh air. Christ is that fresh air. The more your thoughts rest on Him, the more your identity becomes clear—not as a reflection of yourself, but as a reflection of Him.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I rejoice that You have joined me to Christ—not just as a follower from afar, but as one united to His very life. Thank You that I am not the center of my story. I rest in the truth that Jesus lives in me, and I in Him. I don’t need to evaluate how well I’m doing—I delight in being occupied with the One who did all things well. I trust the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to lead me, think through me, and live through me today. I gladly yield to Your interests, confident that they are now mine in Christ.