Take Off The Mask

Today we are going to look at being real and transparent, just being yourself… your real self!  In a religious environment (where it is all about pride, popularity, and self-effort), we are used to putting on our masks to look the part, but down deep inside we look nothing like the image we portray on the outside. Likewise, when we are trying to be successful in our business or field of expertise, we also have certain performance standards to meet. We have to check all the boxes, so others approve of us. It is all about being the best in our field and being better than everyone else to get noticed. We are constantly trying to outdo the other person as we climb the corporate ladder.

We think we have to be something we’re not, so we try to be who everyone else thinks we are, or who they want us to be. We exhaust ourselves trying to keep up the performance act because it is never ending. That is a “perfectionist spirit” by the way, that you need to kick to the curb! It would be so much easier to just “be me” instead of having to “be perfect” and try to keep up the act. At least that’s what we tell ourselves.

We just want to blend in and be accepted. We just want to be able to let our hair down and relax, to find a place to call home, a place to belong. We are so tired of keeping up appearances or wandering and searching for what’s real. When we do let people in or try to step closer, we find that they have lied to us and are not who they said they are. It seems everyone is wearing their “best suit and mask,” but they are anything but that!

God is all about full transparency and authenticity. He is not trying to cover anything up or sneak in the fine print. With God, you know exactly what you’re getting. He is the real deal, not a fake copy-cat. He is what He is. He changes not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s why we can trust Him. We should also live our lives up front for all to see. We are not hiding anything or merely a fake version of ourselves. We are who we are!

We also find that this filters over into our relationship with God. But we don’t have to worry about putting our best foot forward, He knows our worst foot too and still loves us… thank God! Finally, someone who really loves us for who we are! It is so refreshing. We can just be ourselves without reservation or hesitation. We have finally found our “Home Sweet Home.” My first date with my husband, that is exactly how I felt. I was shocked to find that I could just be “me.” He was so easy to be around, like hanging out with your brothers and sisters, there was no sweat or apprehension. I was head-over-heels on day one!

Peer Pressure

 Society also shows us a perfect model of how we should look and how we should live the “high life.” But looking like a model or having $1,000,000 in your bank account is not what the average life looks like. Most of us cannot relate to that and so we spin our wheels reaching for a dream that we never attain. It does not mean that we can’t attain it, but that we are here and not there and do not know how to get there. We feel like we are on a treadmill just going through the motions trying to keep up with the Joneses, running ourselves ragged trying to look the part. When will it ever stop? The result is we go deeper in debt trying to keep up and feel worse about ourselves and our own identity.

I remember when I started working at 18 years old, I was intimidated having to serve men and women who were in their 40’s and 50’s. I felt so insecure, and they were very vocal about what they wanted or didn’t want. I have always been a people-pleaser, wanting to keep the peace and make everyone happy, so I was always non-confrontational and gave them whatever they wanted. As I aged and got comfortable in my own skin as we say, I became one of those “mature people” and they didn’t intimidate me anymore. I could easily say what I needed to say and stand my ground.

Some of us need to learn how to say “No” and not let others run over us because of our easy-going personality or take advantage of our gift of helps. Yes, we want to make people happy, but we have to live our life, and they have to live theirs. We need to enjoy our experience here on earth, not just be a slave to everybody else. Yes, we do “serve” people out of God’s heart of love, but it is the spirit behind what we do that is the issue. Remember God’s Word tells us that the thief (devil) comes to steal, kill, and destroy our lives, but Jesus came to rebuild them so we could live a great abundant life (John 10:10). A spirit of witchcraft uses manipulation, intimidation, and domination to “control” others to get what they want. That is not of God, so do not give the devil an inch! (Ephesians 4:27) You are not his servant. You serve the Most High God, who loves you and treats you with mercy, and tender love and care. Never forget that!

Choked Out By Worries and Worldly Pleasures

Mark 4:18-20

¹⁸ And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, ¹⁹ but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].”

This is what the Bible describes as the 4^th soil where we get caught up in the worries and cares of life, deceitfulness of chasing riches, fortune, and fame.  Only as we learn to let go of our old caterpillar (old nature of selfishness) which prevents us from going through the thorns and thistles, keeping us on this side of the fence, can we cross over to the other side of living in abundance.

We will be able to go through the veil supernaturally with God’s power, like the high priest did once a year going into the holy of holies in intimacy with God. There we find our true self, our new beautiful butterfly selfless spirit man. We have joined as one with God. Just like it takes man and wife to reproduce and multiply, we are finally able to be fruitful and productive because we have come into union with God for His purposes and will, building His Kingdom, not ours.

We have chosen to come under his leadership by serving Him and serving His people, loving and helping them live a better life. He is the best thing that has ever happened to us, and we will never go back to our old lives. What an upgrade living in the palace as the queen of the king (the Bride of Christ). We enjoy loving and serving. We love putting a smile on a face and transforming someone else’s world, because it also puts a smile on our face and joy in our heart. We understand pain, abuse, grief, sorrow, accidents, and trauma, because we too were on the side of the road and God came and rescued us. Like the Good Samaritan, He nursed us back to health and gave us new life again and a whole new beginning. We will be forever grateful and absolutely love helping others and doing unto them and God has done for us. Freely we have received, freely we give back! (Matthew 10:8)

The World Needs You!

Sometimes we tend to think that we are not needed, that there are so many other people who are more qualified and smarter than we are. We discount ourselves because we are too young or too old, too ignorant or poor, or have physical conditions that hinder us. Like Moses, we want to make excuses and cop out on God asking us for help.

Even though some of that may be true, the bottom line is “the world needs YOU, the Real You!” Even if someone else is doing what your gifting is or feels called to do, there is absolutely no-one on earth that can do it quite like you. You have a way about you… the way you say it, the words you use, the smile or laugh that goes along with it help people swallow the hard stuff. You have so much love, they just want to do things for you and don’t know why they are doing them. Whatever your unique voice, magnetic personality, ability, talent, or niche… there is no-one like YOU! Even identical twins or triplets are not the same… even though we call them “identical.” God made you for a specific time, to go in a specific place in His Body and made a new place for you on His team. No-one can fill your shoes. If you never come out of your shell, we all lose!

So, take a leap of faith and step out. You just might be surprised that other people will love you and can’t get enough of you! We all need each other and will not be complete until All of us use our time, talents, and abilities saving lives from the devil’s destruction and rebuilding God’s kingdom… until it looks like heaven-on-earth! 😉

This is the Wonderful Life… Loving God and Serving People!

Focus:

1.) Are there any masks that you are hiding behind that you need to take off? Sit with God the Holy Spirit and let Him reveal any areas that need changed in your life.

2.) Are you letting other people push you around? What are some areas you might need to learn to say “No” to?

3.) Have you gotten trapped on the treadmill of life, stuck in worries and working for worldly pleasures and comfort? Do you feel so tired and exhausted, and may have made some of these “comforts” your Go-To, instead of God the Holy Spirit, our Comforter? Is your god your belly, making your mind be on earthly things? (Philippians 3:19)

4.) Have you come out of your shell, either afraid to come out, or all wrapped up in your own little world that you do not see the needs of others, or simply don’t want to be involved? How can you look passed yourself and reach out to help others… be God’s hands and feet on earth?

5.) Look up the scripture references below and similar Bible verses. Read them out loud to remind yourself of Who you really are… Who God, your Father, says you are! Meditate on them until the reality gets down in your spirit man and you realize just how much He really loves you. You will find YOUR true identity when you find your FATHER, because you came from Him (just like biological children take after their parents). Find God and Find Yourself!

Scripture References:

Helpful Resources:

Andrew Wommack – Identity in Christ

https://www.awmi.net/browse-teachings/?e-filter-012d6dd-browse-teaching-catagory=identity-in-christ