A crown, a dress, a cape, and a stethoscope can transform a little girl into a princess, a superhero, or a doctor. As a child, the game of pretending helps us explore what could be possible in our future. As an adult, many of us keep pretending because we don’t know our authentic-self, or we don’t think we are good enough as we are. The truth is, no matter what you pretend to be, you can’t change the authentic person God created you to be.
For most of my childhood, I tried being a “perfect little girl” so I would be noticed and loved by my parents. In my teens, I tried to fit into the clicks by partying. In my thirteen-year abusive marriage, I tried to be what my abusive ex-husband kept telling me to be. You see, I know first-hand how easy it is to be deceived into believing you are not enough. I bought the lie of the devil that I had to be what someone else wanted me to be to feel loved. What deceptions are you caught in right now?
Do you authentically know yourself apart from your roles, relationships, and doing what others want? What has pretending cost you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and in your relationships to try and be someone other than yourself?
3 Ways We Are Deceived About Our Identity
First, we need to realize that we don’t come into the world knowing who we are or who made us? As we grow, we discover our personality, gifts, preferences, and weaknesses. Our discoveries are all filtered through the emotions we feel from what we hear about ourselves, the experiences we have, and the beliefs we form about ourselves, others, and God. These factors become the lenses we see and understand our identity through.
Second, the examples of love we experienced from others influence our definition and understanding of how we are loved or deemed worthy to be loved.
Third, our awareness or unawareness of God’s truth in His word and Christ’s design of love determines where we will journey to discover our authentic self or true identity.
Discover Your Authentic Self
Whether you have known Jesus for most of your life, you are a new follower, or you are just exploring who he is, we all have the opportunity to discover our authentic self. Without knowing you were knit together in your mother’s womb from God’s pure love, you will keep trying new identities to find one that fits.
I know first-hand how scary it can be to look at yourself and your imperfections honestly. I was afraid that what I would find would be horrible because of guilt and shame. These emotions kept me paralyzed in fear until I chose to believe Christ still lived in me.
Through my faith and Christ’s grace, I began to look at myself through his loving eyes and heart. Seeing myself in his love sparked a desire to know the heart and character of Jesus more. As our relationship grew, I came to believe I was more than good enough right where I am because Christ lives in me.
No matter what you have been through or what you are in the middle of, you can’t change the fact that God authentically created you in your mother’s womb and breathed His life into you. You can’t change the fact that Jesus proved the person you are is worth dying for.
Your authentic identity originates from God, and it is transformed to be more like Jesus when you let him live and flow through you. Jesus wants you to seek him with your whole heart and to live in the abundance of his presence in you. In partnership with Christ, he will give you revelation and renew your mind with his love and grace. You will stand boldly in your specific God designed personality, gifts, and weaknesses that make you authentically you.
Stay in Christ’s Truth
Your relationship with Jesus will cut away the chains and lies that you believed. You are his magnificent masterpiece continually being completed in his love.
I am proof that when you live in your true authentic self in Christ, you can overcome the lies and the endless struggle to be what you are not and to live up to imperfect expectations. You can embrace your authentic self and let Christ’s blessings of love, peace, and grace fill your life.
Will you partner with Jesus to learn who you truly are as he lives in you? Will you keep using your imperfect perspective or others to “try and find yourself?” If you are ready to find your true authentic self, begin by fostering and growing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The origin of your identity designed by God is your truth. If you have not accepted Jesus into your life, click here for a prayer you can pray to him or contact me personally.
Only you can choose to discover and live in your authentic self as God created you to be, His masterpiece. What could you accomplish for Jesus and in your personal life if you lived in your truth?
Ready to learn what is keeping you from living authentically, contact me at www.livingandlovingfearlessly.com
