Authenticity

You were born an original. Don't die a copy. ~ John Mason

Learn to... be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not. ~ Henri Frederic Amiel


I attended a conference earlier this summer where an overwhelming sense of "I'll never be what these people are!" began to take residence in my mind. Not that I didn't agree with the messages or heart of the conference; just that overwhelming sense of inadequacy. I found myself trying to be what I thought others might want for me to be or try to learn their "voice" instead of my own.

I have taken hold of that sense of inadequacy and asked the Lord to transform it into a healthy humbling, but not to allow it to hold me back from fulfilling the call that He has placed in my heart. It is a gradual process for me. One that I am still growing in. These are some of the Scriptures that He has given me to hold onto when I find my voice attempting to be one only of harmony and not that of the lead I know that He is calling me to personally:

Psalm 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

I Corinthians 12:18 "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

True peace and joy are found when we walk in the purposes that God has for our lives. If you are not yet certain what God has called you to, pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal it to your heart. Once it is revealed to you, hold onto it - write it down- and ask God to give you Scriptures to encourage your heart when you are questioning.

It is also sometimes difficult for me to follow carefully the steps that He is laying out before me. He has to remind me often not to strive, but to simply follow. We do not have to fight frantically to be what He has designed us to be, we just need to allow ourselves to gradually become as we know the Lord more intimately. We, as Christians, are all called to be like Christ, but not cookie cutter replications of each other. Allow yourself to authentically be who God has created you to be.

Many Blessings!