An eye-opening, paradigm shifting, mind boggling reality that I marinated in this morning:

I own NOTHING.

Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom… Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength… Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! —1 Chronicles 29:11-14 (edited)

Reading this today, I’m powerfully reminded that I don’t own anything in my life.

I may speak of things as if I “own” them… as if they are “mine”—my wife, my kids, my money, my work, my vacation, my time, my life…

But in truth, everything in heaven, on earth and in my entire freaking life belongs to you. It’s all simply loaned to me for a time, and I am to be the best steward I can of these things while they’re in my care.

And to always remember that they can be required of me at any time.

I am also reminded that even success is yours for the giving and for the taking.

“Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.”

As I make plans and pursue things in my life… As I dream big dreams and endeavor to accomplish whatever’s in my Vision, may I always be mindful of this: It’s not mine. Not even remotely. And believing that it is, is maybe even kinda dumb.

God, if you see fit to entrust me with any measure of greatness or strength at any time, then let me always be mindful that it comes only from you. Please give me the insight and integrity to steward it well, and to not let myself become deluded, self-absorbed or self-reliant in it.

—Memento Mori, Memento Aeternum.