Take off the Mask

There's a mask each of us wears. It's a mask that we wear around people, the mask we think other's would like to see. Maybe yours is one of courage, maybe it's one of joy or contentment. Today we're taking off the mask and we're going to stare full on in the mirror. We're going to learn how to be happy with ourselves, our true selves. The person that God created, the person that God sees. Don't be ashamed, don't be shy...look at yourself full on in the mirror, no mask.

Have you ever read Psalm 139?

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways. 
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely. 
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain......

God knows you, not the you that is perceived to the world but you...the real you the deep down sometimes out of control you. Is that scary for you? Sometimes it is for me, but then again I've been taken on some wild ride's latley so I keep wondering what God sees in me, what He created in me to keep going through all these things. I keep wondering what He sees that I don't? I minister to people, I've lead worship a time or two at my Church, I've opened my mouth and the words that come out shock even me, where does this come from? Sometimes when I speak there's an inner strength that comes bubbling to the surface and spills out of my mouth. When I sit down to write, there's an electricity that comes out of my fingers and I can feel God's hand on me...where does it come from, Jesus is living in my heart and He's put something in me, it's time I started looking for it instead of hiding from it. 

This looking in the mirror without a mask isn't to be taken lightly, it's not a one time 5 minute thing...it's going to take some studying, it's going to take some praying and it's going to take some time. Read psalm 139. You are known fully by God. You are protected by Him, following by Him, blessed, guided, strengthened, supported, carefully created and led by God. Maybe you don't feel it right now but it's right there in black and white, in God's Word, His breath is all over those pages of your Bible, His heart for you dear sister is written throughout scripture so it's time to start being happy with yourself. It's time to find out who you are, the you that God created, not the world created.

Tear open those labels you've put on yourself, peel off the lables other's have put on you and forgive. Open wide the wounds you've thought were healed and open wide your heart, God wants you to know who you are. You can't do this on your own though...your assignment for this time is to get to know yourself, accept yourself and treasure the value He's placed within you...it's there, I promise.

Ask a close friend or sister to meet with you and begin to ask questions about what this person sees in you. Record it in a notebook, which of these surprise you?

Record then how you can be intentional about using and celebrating these characteristics.

How would the dynamics of your family, your office or your relationships benefit from your doing this?

I don't see myself as anything special, maybe that's why God is having us go through this resolution together, take some time to dig deep and begin to see the you that God created you to be...without the mask.