Initially, I thought reGROUP would be a place for me to serve at the church, but from my first night there it's been so much more. It's been a place for my own spiritual growth and recognizing my own brokenness. More on that at another time, but I wanted to share with you a little about what I learned tonight.
The FALSE-self: {my actions}- compulsive, need for affirmation, fear of failing, obsessive
If we are honest, we can probably identify with having a second face. Maybe it's to please others, or to be right, to make peace, or for success and fame.
What's wrong with having two faces?
- Divides us from experiencing true love and being vulnerable. If we are protecting face, how can we share the beauty of the Gospel?
- It's downright exhausting. Period.
- Separates us from God. It's like saying, God I do not trust you to be in charge of my life, to have my best interest, to know what's best for me
In our culture it's hard to escape the realness of "building YOURSELF" for your success. This harsh reality is what we must identify and be willing to break out of denial. We must call out our second face, daily, minute by minute and surrender it to God, 'cause the truth is, we cannot make it on our own and need redemption. Whatever is denied cannot be healed.
My REAL-self {my feelings/beliefs}: afraid, insecure, fearing rejection, control freak, people pleaser
Through reGROUP, I've realized that my beliefs about myself and others have shaped my false-self or my actions.
The good news! I'm not perfect, and I know others aren't either, expecting perfection is only denying reality and perpetuating the cycle.
My TRUE-self is beautiful, loved, cherished, and saved by grace. In Christ is where I'll draw my TRUE identity. To daily take up my crosses, desires, false-self, and give it over to God for my salvation and for His Glory!
Question: Do you have 2 faces? What does your false-self look like?
