DOZ Issue 31 May 2018 | Page 9

S eparate the Fact from the Truth I Eturuvie Erebor f you were asked right now, this very moment, to say something about yourself, what would it be? And would it be the fact or the truth? The reason many are afraid to pursue their dreams is that they see in themselves an inability to succeed. And this is because they focus on the facts and not the truth as far as their personality and circumstances go. The truth is no human being was created small; none was created to be a mediocre and none was created to be a failure. However, we become thus because we judge ourselves based on the facts we see and not the truth. Gideon was born a deliverer of the nation Israel. His assignment was to deliver Israel from the Midianites, but he did not know this, so he hid from the Midianites. The name Gideon means mighty warrior and inside Gideon was a mighty warrior that emerged for all to see. But if he couldn’t see the true picture of the man he was, he could not become that man. Gideon, like many of us, focused on the facts and not the truth and so when he had an opportunity to describe himself, the facts rather than the truth surfaced. He said that he was the least person in his family, which was the least family in his tribe, which was the least tribe in Israel (little wonder he was hiding). Now understand that Gideon did not tell a lie, this was indeed the reality, but it was not the truth. The truth was that inside the man who was the least person, in the least family, in the least tribe, was a saviour who would deliver not just his family and his tribe, but the entire nation of Israel. And when he set his mind to it, he did deliver Israel. Like Gideon, many of us are in hiding. We fear to go out and become all we were created to be because we judge our abilities on the facts (which have to do with our past or present circumstances or failures) and not on the truth (who we really are and the power that resides inside of us and what we can do if we just set our minds to it). Learn to separate the fact from the truth if you want to maximise your full potential. Yes, it is a fact that no one in your family has ever attained greatness, but the truth is there is a seed of greatness inside of you. Yes, it is a fact that you have failed one too many times for your comfort, but the truth is you are not a failure you are a winner; dare to come out of hiding and try again. DOZ Magazine May 2018 9 «