Centre
By Geok ChengTAN
The Quiet Shift of the Heart
In the journey of personal growth and ministry, one of the most formative lessons I have learned is the importance of what we centre our lives on.
“Centre” is not merely a concept; it is the inner reference point from which we think, feel, decide, and act. It shapes how we interpret circumstances, respond to people, and understand God’s work in our lives. Through this learning process, I have come to see that centring is not static—it shifts, often subtly—and requires ongoing awareness and intentional realignment.
Why Who or What We Centre On Impacts Us
What we centre on becomes the lens through which we interpret life.
• If achievement is our centre, we measure our worth by success and productivity.
• If relationships are our centre, our emotional stability rises and falls based on how others respond to us.
• If self-protection is our centre, fear and control begin to shape our decisions and responses.
a. Identity and Worth
Our centre answers the question, “Who am I?”
When it is anchored in performance, approval, or control, our identity becomes fragile. But when centred on God, our identity rests on being known, loved, and called by Him.
b. Emotional Responses
Our centre influences what triggers us. When something threatens what we centre on, anxiety, defensiveness, or discouragement quickly surface.
For example, when I centred on being competent, any mistake felt like a personal failure rather than a learning opportunity. When I centre on self- protection or preservation, any circumstance or response from others that threatens my sense of safety can trigger strong negative reactions or an inner tendency to judge and criticise.
c. Decision-Making
We often assume our decisions are rational, but they are frequently shaped by what we seek to protect most.
• If comfort is the centre, we avoid challenges.
• If recognition is the centre, we seek visible roles.
• If life satisfaction is the centre, we devote most of our time and resources—such as finances—to sustaining it.
• A God-centred posture, however, asks, “What honours Him?” rather than “What benefits me most?”
d. Spiritual Sensitivity
When God is not at the centre, spiritual practices can become functional or routine. Prayer becomes task-oriented. Scripture reading becomes informational rather than transformational.
But when God is the centre, these practices become relational. We develop a habit of returning to Him. Our listening to His whispers—especially during our “off-centred” moments—remains sensitive and clear.
Centring is therefore not abstract; it quietly governs both our inner world and outward life.
The 5Cs of Singapore—Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium, and Country Club—represented the ultimate materialistic “Singaporean Dream” of the 1970s to 1990s. They drove many Singaporeans to work hard in pursuit of achieving most, if not all, of these markers of success.
Today, in my observation, Comfort seems to have replaced Club as the fifth C. Owning a club membership feels outdated. Instead, lifestyle and travel have become central aspirations.
Singaporeans today are known to travel frequently. The mindset is to enjoy life after working hard. Travel fairs are crowded as families book packages in advance to secure better prices. For some individuals and families, travelling twice or more a year is common. Working harder becomes the means to travel better and more often.
Without realising it, comfort and lifestyle can quietly become our centre.
When Are We Skewed in Our Centre?
Often, we do not realise our centre has shifted until we pause to reflect. A skewed centre rarely announces itself; it shows up in patterns—higher frequency reactions, fixated approaches, or a “must-have” mentality. We may even be willing to stretch our time and finances beyond our means to sustain it.
Some indicators include:
a. Emotional Overreactions
When a situation evokes a disproportionate emotional response—deep frustration, insecurity, defensiveness—it often reveals that something we centre on is being threatened.
Jumping to conclusions or overreacting to what others say may also point to this.
b. Repetitive Inner Narratives
The thoughts we replay reveal our centre:
“I must not fail.”
“People must appreciate me.”
“I need to stay in control.”
“I need to protect myself.”
These inner scripts show what we rely on for stability.
c. A Drained Spiritual Life
When God feels distant, it is not always due to busyness. Sometimes it is because something else has quietly taken His place as our anchor.
d. Patterns in Decisions
Recurring choices—avoiding conflict, seeking affirmation, overworking, withdrawing, or gravitating toward certain lifestyles—help reveal what truly drives us.
We often do not notice our blind spots. Gentle observations from trusted people can uncover what we unconsciously centre on.Through reflection, journaling, prayer, and guided conversations, I have learned to pay attention not only to what I do, but why I do it.
My Centre
Work used to be my centre for most of my life, especially in my early working years. It seemed natural and acceptable as a young adult to work hard in order to pursue a better career path and greater responsibilities.
Work became my identity. Performance determined my worth.
By God’s grace, I eventually realised that I had become a workaholic. Workaholism was only the outward manifestation. What truly drove me was my need to perform and meet the standards I had set for myself. This drive was shaped by my upbringing and by belief systems formed through painful childhood experiences. Achievement became both my shield and my measure of worth.
Ways to Reorient to a God-Centred Life
Reorientation is not a one-time event; it is a rhythm. It begins with recognising that something other than God has taken the centre. It requires a conscious desire to surrender and time to “re-wire” our inner patterns.
a. Practising Intentional Pause
Before reacting or deciding, I pause and ask:
• What is driving me now?
• Am I responding from fear, expectation, or trust?
This practice slows automatic reactions and creates space to return to God.
b. Naming What Has Taken the Centre
Honesty is crucial. Whether it is approval, control, comfort, or achievement, naming it before God reduces its hold. Confession becomes not condemnation, but realignment.
c. Returning to Scripture Relationally
Instead of reading for information, I ask:
• What is God revealing about Himself?
• How does this reshape my perspective?
This shifts the focus from self-effort to God’s character.
d. Prayer as Surrender, Not Only Request
I am learning to pray:
“Lord, re-centre my heart on You.”
This posture acknowledges dependence rather than competence.
e. Community Reflection and Accountability
Sharing struggles honestly with trusted companions and receiving their feedback allows gentle correction and growth.
f. Practising Small Acts of Trust
Reorientation happens through daily choices—letting go of control, choosing truth over approval, resting instead of striving. These small moments train the heart to rely on God.
g. Remembering God’s Initiative
Ultimately, re-centring is not solely our effort. God continually draws us back. His grace precedes our awareness. Recognising this prevents discouragement and fosters humility.
My tendency to overwork due to performance-driven patterns may remain a lifelong vulnerability. Yet God has been gracious in granting me awareness and self-control to regulate my pace. He has guided me to slow down, to rest, and to make space for myself.
Most of all, His truth has renewed my thought patterns. It is often our acceptance of and obedience to His truth that breaks unhealthy beliefs and patterns.
It is about trusting His ways more than our own.
Conclusion
Transformation does not begin with behaviour change, but with what—or whom—we orient our lives around.
What we centre on shapes our identity, emotions, and decisions. A skewed centre reveals itself through patterns, reactions, and inner narratives.
Through reflection, I discovered how easily my centre shifts toward work and performance. Yet I have also experienced the peace and clarity that come when I return to God as my centre and anchor.
Reorientation is an ongoing journey marked by pause, honesty, prayer, Scripture, and community. It is not about striving to be perfectly God-centred, but about repeatedly returning to Him—acknowledging our fallen tendencies and letting go of whatever has taken the driver’s seat of our lives.
Oswald Chambers said ““The centre cannot hold unless Christ is Lord of all.” Being God-centred means holding tightly to Him and His truth, while allowing Him to hold and realign us. As we learn to live from this centre, our responses become less reactive, our identity more secure, and our lives more aligned with His purposes.
It’s all about His lordship in our life!