“Authenticity occurs when real people say real things about real issues
with real feelings. When you’re authentic you live what you are.” (Charles
Swindoll)
Are you living who you were created to be or who society told
you to be? I think that many of us are afraid of being “different” and not
being accepted by those around us; we are more comfortable blending in rather
than standing out. We would rather fit in than dare to be different and unique;
we live our lives as the world tells us to live by following the media on how
to dress, what to eat, where to go, and who to associate with. We are subject
to a lot of peer pressure from the minute we are born starting with our
families and friends, then school, government, church, and our work place. I
often wonder why so many of us spend our lives denying who we really are,
hiding our differences so we can fit in with the crowd? I think the trouble
with living our lives as society dictates is that we lose our identity and authenticity
and just become like everyone else!
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying
to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant
of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)
To dare to be different means to stand out! Rather than
following what society believes us to be, we need to make it a point to live
our lives as the bible directs and look to Jesus as our role model. We all have
a different personal will from God which He created Himself, and He didn’t anoint
us to be anyone other than who we are. Going along with the crowd when we feel
like God is leading us in a different direction will drain us of the energy we
need to pursue the things that are important and significant to us. We are
simply wearing a mask when we pretend to be someone that we really aren’t. Having
a strong self-image allows us to be the type of person God planned us to be; He
planned in each of us a unique and special personality to fulfill His purpose
for our life. When we see ourselves the way God does we learn to embrace who we
are and stand out in the crowd with our own personal characteristics that build
up other people and benefit God’s kingdom.
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it”
(Ephesians 4:7)
We need to respond to the grace that we have been given and
react to our calling by being authentic and becoming aware of the deep need
to follow our hearts and stop living by other people’s rules. We have to
realize and embrace our distinctive set of personal characteristics and become
all God created us to be. Now is the time to go forward and stop trying to be
someone we’re not; God is proud of who He made us to be. Rather than “fitting
in”, we need to dare to be different and stand out!
“Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.” (Psalm 119:73)
Linking up this week with Spiritual Sundays, Sharing His Beauty, Winsome Wednesday, and A Sheltering Tree
I think that when we are afraid of standing out from the crowd, we are really saying to God, that we don't trust Him...how he made us is a mistake. I have learned not only to be true to the Lord, by being authentic as the individual that He made me to be...but I have learned not to take myself too seriously either...God does have a sense of humor, and we can be proof of that sometimes!
ReplyDeleteA friend shared with me recently, that she didn't believe she quite measured up to the expectations of other people. I told her that we all measure up to the same yardstick (the cross of Christ) A perfect fit for every sinner...But Jesus gives us a new life and new garment to wear..himself!
~God bless you, dear Denise~ Lisa
Perfect words shared with your friend Lisa. :) Oh yes; love what you had to say about not taking ourselves too seriously~ha!
DeleteBlessings and love to you Lisa~
Your blogs always fit very well with who I am. I am surprised about it every time.
ReplyDeleteBig hug: Your Dutch sister in Christ.
Aw, love it Jedidja! We may very well have a lot in common! Big hugs back to you Sister. :)
DeleteHi Denise, wow, very good. I have never been one to conform, but I have also never been one to look to stand out of the crowd. Great motivation to stand up and stand out, and be counted for the Lord.
ReplyDeleteGod bless my friend
Tracy
You definitely stand out in my book Tracy! Thanks for your loving words! :)
DeleteGood Morning Denise I love your post today the question brings lots of things to my mind. One which I will share today. Ever since I was a young little girl I was always different not sure why, but I was I had plenty of friends to play with I was not as popular in middle school but high school I was but even when I did things that the crowd did they all would say to me. you are not like us, at the time I never knew what they was thinking or what it meant. I even asked my mother am I weird? She said no dear you are not weird you just be you and those who love you will accept you for who you are. But sad thing was I never like being different I wanted to be like everyone else and so I did allot of bad things like other people did, but what turned around for me was I guess I woke up and I saw I did not like who I was becoming and I did not recognize that woman. I went back to being me and I started to learn all about who this me was, and later on in life I saw I love me and I won't change nothing about who I am. Even to this day when I minister or have conversations with people me always comes out. I had a pastor one time who did not like my personality and he never hid it from me he would tell my mother all the time does she have to be so loud and I said to him one day no disrespect but I am who God made me to me. If we all was the person who God made us to be we wouldn't have time to go around and try to change others. AMEN
ReplyDeleteLove this story Desiray, and love who God made in you! :) blessings!
DeleteLove what you wrote Denise. Love how you use such interesting artwork in your blog which reflects the things you love... You reflect your message beautifully through your blog.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Wendy! I feel the same about yours too! Hugs!
DeleteThat is what I am all about these days, being the real me. Thank you Denise for sharing. Wonderful encouragement. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks JBR, love the real you and the lovely posts you share from your heart! :)
DeleteHugs.......
Delete((((Denise))))
DeleteHi Denise,
ReplyDeleteReading this brings back a memory when I was a kid, probably 11 or 12 years old. I wanted to grow my hair long like many other guys at that time. However, my parents kept saying "No!"
One day I was standing in line with my parents at a pizza parlor, I saw some teenagers there also with long hair. Here I am trying to pull my hair over my ears so I could be cool just like them.
You are so right, we try to fit in and be someone not ourselves. It is so important to realize God made each of us the way He did with a purpose. Thank you for this reminder.
God bless,
Ken
Oh, love this story Ken and I can just imagine your situation! haha! I can certainly remember similar times in my younger years, and I am so thankful to be comfortable and confident now knowing that God loves me just the way I am! :)
DeleteOh yes, I do believe it's so important to be authentic. After all, God has created each one of us with different abilities and ways of interacting with others. I think it would be boring if we were all cookie cutter people. There were years when I was much younger when it seemed so very important to fit in. But I've given up on that for the most part. It is freeing!
ReplyDeleteBlessings and love,
Debbie
Oh yes it is Debbie; what a blessing to be free to be who God created us to be and only be accountable to serving Him!
DeleteOh Denise, I so needed this reminder and I totally agree with Lisa's statement. Much of my life I've been considered different because I'm quiet and other's reaction led me to believe that being me wasn't right.
ReplyDeleteOther people's reactions and attitudes can be such an influence in our lives; until we can truly accept and value ourselves, we will continue to look to others for our sense of value and approval. God’s view of us is so much more important than the world’s view of us!!
DeleteBlessings Wanda!
Hi Denise,what a blessing this is, oh God help us to live it and take the mask off.
ReplyDeleteLove you :-)
Thanks Pat; agreed! Love to you too! :)
DeleteYou write: "When we see ourselves the way God does we learn to embrace who we are and stand out in the crowd with our own personal characteristics that build up other people and benefit God’s kingdom."
ReplyDeleteThat is the kind of person I desire to be.
My desire as well Deb, and one I try to live up to! :)
DeleteBlessings and love!
Hi Denise! Dropping by from "Sharing the Shelter' blog hop! Ah, a girl after my own heart! Great post! There's nothing more beautiful than someone walking in and being who God called THEM to be. I write for and about women...to do themselves well. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit Michell...excited to hop over and check yours out! :)
DeleteA beautiful post, Denise!
ReplyDeleteI love these little drawings Denise and your post encourages so much. To stand up and stand out takes a lot of courage.
ReplyDelete