Today’s world is full of compliments. Full of instagram followers, hearts and stories. Full of compliments on perfectly styler hair and beautifully applied make up. People are praising others that “act nice”, “do good things” and “say nice things”.
Besides all the hearts, likes, views, shares and don’t forget the swipes right, todays world is lonely, insecure and sad.
Why is that?
Well personally, I think to because people can’t fully receive, accept or feel those compliments. Because those compliments are directed towards a mask, or a shield, or a performance or an act. Some of the compliments shared today are actually meant towards things that are really not a part of that person.
Picture this with me — its as if I invited you over to dinner. In the hopes of seeming like the perfect host and cook, I order Olive Gardens take out and serve it to you on a plate off my shelf as if I had cooked it myself. You go on and on about the flavors, you compliment me on the sauce and the garlic aroma. You crave more bread and say how good it all wast. I smile for a second, but the compliment bounces right off of me, without it being able to reach my heart at all.
Because it wasn’t meant for me. It was not about me or for me.
So those words don’t uplift, encourage me or fill me . They just bounce off and leave me empty.
And that is exactly what is happening in our world. Some compliments are bouncing right off the people receiving them because they are directed towards masks, misplaced identities, performance, etc.
They are not spoken about our true self.
Go with me here for a second friends —
When you put on masks you are not only shielding off true and meaningful compliments, but you also shield off God’s blessings, gifts and purpose for you. Blessings/gifts/tasks He has the person He carefully and fearfully made. But He can’t get them to you because of this masks. I believe that this mask is currently robbing you from receiving certain things that God has in His hands and plans for you! Everything God has intentionally thought out for you!
So friends, today I challenge us to take off the masks and the shields and performance. I challenge us to be real. To be, say and paint the story of who we actually are. Be vulnerable and raw with someone. Follow the passions of your heart. Listen to the Holy Spirit guiding you. Let your hair be natural. Be excited about the things you geek out about. Dance. Jump. Read. Slow down for enough time to figure out your OWN heartbeat. Be the person God so lovingly, carefully and intentionally crafted!
And even more than that — I pray that we are able to do that with God. That we are comfortable and ready to be real, raw, vulnerable and genuine with God. That we allow our conversations with our loving Father to be full of truth, for our prayer life to reflect the current condition of our heart and for our actions to be from a pure heart. To be the masterpiece, the broken vessel, the child of God you are created to be. And at the beginning it will a little confusing, a little new and odd. But stick with it, because it becomes ok, it starts to feel normal and actually it becomes natural. It actually produces fruit and it brings upon FREEDOM! (I love FREEDOM!!!)
You realize the real path to joy and contentment. And then from there you realize there is more, that there is meaning and calling and life and love, all in and through Christ!
PS: Do not worry. I love OG. Continue enjoying the buttery-ness of the breadsticks and the unending soup and salads, cause I will do the same the moment I am home.
