For many years, I played a role.  I tried to be the person people wanted me to be and pretty much, did what they wanted me to do.  I realize that I was always trying to please other people.  The mistake in that is that I was not pleasing the One who needed to be pleased and He wasn’t happy. 

 

    It took years for me to come to that realization.  It also took a separation from family and very close friends to see a lot of things I was blinded by because of the masks I wore.  I had to move away from home . . . the familiar place. 

 

    I’m at a place now where I don’t overly concern myself with trying to please other people.  I just try my best to live right and please God.  By doing so, God is pleased and I’m a much better person for it.  My life has been drastically changed just by being myself.  That’s the only role I want to play now.  Several people have commented on how I like to “keep it real”.  I say, “What other way is there to be?”  When you see me, you get the real me.  Thanks to God, I can be ”real” and do it with grace.  This freedom has allowed God to move through me in ways I never would have imagined. 

 

    Make a move to remove the masks you may be wearing today.  You may be wearing the masks because of things you’ve encountered in your life and you felt the masks could shield you from some things.  The enemy’s greatest weapon is deception.  He not only deceives you, but causes you to deceive others.  I challenge you to stand against him today . . . take off the mask and show the real you.  Watch him flee as you step out in boldness and free yourself!

© 2009 Francina I. Jamison