Identity in Crisis: Discovering Your True Northഉദാഹരണം

Liviu Floria had one of the worst work days ever.

In 2010, Floria accepted a job at a gas facility in Algeria that paid five times what he made in Romania. For three years, he settled into a routine: one month working 12-hour shifts in Algeria, one month at home in Romania.

Then came the day that changed everything. One morning, Floria and a coworker heard a commotion outside their quarters. Looking out the window, they witnessed terrorists killing the guards and taking over the facility.

Eventually, seven men came together with Floria, hiding for over a day without being discovered. Under the cover of darkness, eight men, including Floria, escaped. They followed a distant flame from another gas facility by night and used their iPhone compass app to guide them by day. Dehydrated but alive, they reached an abandoned facility and eventually a road where Algerian police rescued them.

Now, I hope you never have your workplace stormed by terrorists or have to wander through a desert with just four water bottles between eight men. But if you do, knowing true north might save your life.

True north is a concept born from the world of navigation. While magnetic north is what your compass points to (determined by the Earth's magnetic field lines), true north is defined by the Earth's axis. Magnetic north changes based on where you're standing, but true north is absolute, no matter your location.

Over time, true north has become a term we use to identify our reference point in a spinning world. When your world starts spinning, how do you get your bearings? What establishes our true north?

Jesus sets the example for us. How did Jesus navigate challenges and orient himself? Well, we get the answer from the Scriptures. As Jesus finalized his public ministry preparations, the Father equipped the Son for what lay ahead.

Before Jesus preached a message, performed a miracle, healed anyone, or died on the cross, he experienced four things. Jesus heard His identity from heaven. He was formed and tested in the desert. Jesus built a community. Then he began his mission.

In times of crisis, we need direction. Like Jesus, we need to be able to say:

• "I know who God says I am."
• "I know what God has delivered me through."
• "I know the people who are in the fight with me."
• "I know what matters most."

Mark 1:1-28 describes these four experiences of Jesus, which I will use in this reading plan and three more reading plans I'll be releasing soon.

As we begin this plan, let's focus on the first part of this passage, where John baptizes Jesus: "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

The Father spoke those powerful words over Jesus before his public ministry began. The Son heard, "You are my beloved Son, and with you I'm well pleased."

Tomorrow, we'll explore what these words meant for Jesus – and what they mean for us.

But today, ask yourself: What's your true north when life spins out of control? Where do you turn for direction? If you struggle to keep your balance during a difficult time, keep reading! I've got help for you.