Whether you realise it or not, people are watching you and tagging you with an identity. The tag they give you is dependent on their observations about what you do regularly.

If the people around you are to be honest with you, there is something in particular that they know you for and you need to know what it is because that thing is likely a reflection of who you are. You may not like what they call you, but if everyone agrees that a tag or identity fits you, rather than fight them for tagging you that way, you can just take it as feedback and change your character.

It could be offensive when you can remember your positive attributes, but people seem to only pick out your negative attributes and tag you with it. Don’t be offended; God is only using them to sharpen you and make you a better person. Rather than complain, saying, “Can’t you see all my positive behaviours?” take the feedback and use it to improve yourself. Don’t mind the fact that they are not commenting on the things you thought were good about yourself; you just take whatever negative thing they say and turn it to positive so that you can be a better person.

Now, since people will most likely notice the negative traits of a person before the positives, if you want to be known for the latter, you have to do it so much that it will be impossible for them not to notice it. Improve on your strengths. I have always wanted to be known as the man constantly winning souls for God, so I do that at every opportunity and today, people know that if you give Pastor Adeboye the microphone just to greet the people, he is likely to tell them to give their lives to Christ. I love to praise God and I want people to know me for that, so I am not ashamed to carry my tambourine around with me everywhere I go.

Begin to repeatedly exhibit those good behaviours that you desire people to identify you with. Do it so much that if anybody mentions your name, that is the trait that will come to mind immediately.

The people mentioned in Hebrews 11:4-11 were known for their faith in God. What are you known for?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.