Authentic You

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is

—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Your authentic self is who you are before any changes you make because you feel that you have to. This is who you are designed, created, born to be. This is who He created you to be. This is also who He wants you to be. This is you before the influences from the world. This is you before the influences of social media, friends, family, school, etc. These influences are based on experiences that create a desire to change because you feel you have to, not because you want to. You might be wondering: all these things influence you. And to an extent they do. And when it keeps you from being who you are supposed to be it can have an impact on self-esteem and how you view yourself. It has become easy for external influences to create changes to become someone else.

He knows the authentic you. He loves the authentic you. He desires a relationship with the authentic you. The world may keep you from a relationship with Him because of how it influences you. Depression and anxiety symptoms may keep you from a relationship with Him. No influences of the world can keep Him from wanting a relationship with you. The desire He has for a personal relationship with you never changes. The distance between you and Him does not change His desire to have a relationship with you, the distance changes the amount of time you spend with Him.

Experiencing depression and anxiety may influence the thoughts you have about your authentic self. It may make you believe that you are your authentic self when you are depressed or anxious. It may make you believe that you are being your authentic self when you are reacting to the symptoms of depression and anxiety. These thoughts that you are your authentic self when you are depressed and anxious only lead to more feelings of low self-esteem. This only validates those thoughts, but those thoughts are depression and anxiety. He created you in His image and with a purpose. The act of having depression and anxiety does not define your authentic self. Who you are before that, before you had to do something about those feelings, that defines your authentic self.

Often times people think that authentic self does not change. It does change, it changes because you choose to change, grow, and make progress in a direction that reflects you. Change is constant. Change is part of life. You can be your authentic self in every season of life, in each of those seasons you might have experienced change. The question comes down to: did you change because it was something that was part of your growth? Or did you change because you thought you had to change for others?

Romans 12:2 reads: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Conforming to the pattern of the world would be choosing something for others. Deciding that the world knows better or has better to offer than the creator's purpose and intent for your life. He knew you before you were born, "before you were formed in the womb I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5. How much more authentic can that be? That the creator chose you, knitted you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)? Luke 12:7 reminds you that even your hairs are numbered, and that you are more precious than sparrows. "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than sparrows." All this to say that He loves the you that He created you to be. He has set you up to be worthy and loved. You are authentic in His eyes, before you even knew the world and before the world knew you. Do not conform to the teachings of this world (another version of Romans 12:2). Do not give into the influences of the world that separate you from Him and your authentic self.

Be who He has created, not who the world has created.

Scripture:

Romans 12:2

Jeremiah 1:5

Psalm 139:13

Psalm 139:13-18

Luke 12:7

Questions:

What are the things you are doing now that are a reflection of your authentic self?

What are the thing that you are doing now that are a reflection of you choosing something because others have chosen it?

What do you need to take the first step in being more like your authentic self?

What keeps you from being your authentic self?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come before you seeking to know the me that you created me to be. I ask for guidance in knowing the authentic self that I am created in your image to be in this season of my life. I know that you desire a relationship with me, that you knew me before I was born, and that you know me personally and deeply. I pray that I can come to know that me, and through that come to know you more. Father God, I pray for others that are making changes in their lives because of the influences around them. I seek to remind them in my own authenticity that they too can be authentic and loved. Father, give me the strength to be authentic, so that I might model to others your plans and design for my life. I pray this in your son's name, Amen.