Authenticity

– Accepting and sharing who you really are because of God –

Authenticity starts with being honest with yourself about who you are.  It means looking not just at your strengths and interests but more importantly it means looking honestly at your weaknesses and insecurities.  What makes you afraid, angry, or upset – and why do those things make you feel that way?  It takes humility and courage to look at yourself in that way because it shows our ugliest side.  The good news is that God already knows all of your weaknesses, fears, and failures and He doesn’t love you any less.  We don’t have to hide our worst side from God because He already sees it.  He wants you to talk with Him and be honest about your struggles because He wants to help you.

The trust is that God knows you better than you know yourself.  In fact, He knows who you really are and what you were made to do and be because He is the one who made you.  If you have asked Him to be the God over your life, there is perfect safety in him.  It is only when we are authentic with God that we can start to really become who He created us to be.  Being authentic is living in the fullness of what God has called you to be.

Then you can be authentic in front of others and not worry about pretending to like what others like or act a way that makes people think you are cool.   You don’t have to hide your failures because you can be confident that God has forgiven you and taken away your shame and guilt. You can be authentic (real) with others because you know that God loves you the way He made you.  And in the areas that you need to grow (to be more loving, kind, generous, etc.) you can just keep coming to God authentically and let Him make you into the person He created you to be!

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” – John 8:31-32 (NLT)