Take off the mask -: No more secrets

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In church on Sunday, while dancing to the very nourishing music from the praise team during praise time, a lady tapped me from behind and told me to minimise my dancing that it was too much.

Here I was, totally immersed in the song, dancing to God and you disrupt my moment to tell me this?

For a minute, it seemed like a wave of cold washed over me bringing along with it, feelings of sadness and uncertainty. I almost did stop.

But something ignited within me and I calmly responded that it is was not nice to talk to strangers rudely.

Normally, I will ignore but this, I couldn’t.

I was still trying to be nice in my response but she kept going on about it so I whispered to her about the cleavage-baring outfit she had on and in spite of which I never said anything to her about.

I knew I hit a nerve then because she kept mute. I continued my joyful movements, this time, higher than the first.

The shackle was broken. I didn’t care about the thoughts or actions of others as much as I did before. Of course, my dance was decent, mostly jumping (she actually was standing like a log of wood throughout the praise). Was she expecting me to act that way too?

Does this hit home? How many times have we crawled into a mental and social cave so we are not perceived as awkward or unfit? Having to constantly tone down your voice so as not to be labelled too loud?

People will like to tell us what we should do, wear. How we should act and speak. We become less daring to show our true selves because we live in fear of what will people say. We struggle daily, stepping out of our zone in a bid to win the validation and approval of others.

It is true we all crave acceptance and appraisal but at what point do we place these desires above our own inner calling and peace?

Guess what?

This life was given to us by God Almighty. He is the primary person we should seek to please. In Him, we find our purpose, identity and approval. Every other opinion can be washed away.

Now, I am not saying we should go about misbehaving or acting inappropriately as godly living is non-negotiable but your dreams, the ones you have been made to give up on because someone said you shouldn’t do it and the places you couldn’t go because according to them, you won’t fit in.

The words you couldn’t speak, your authenticity you are trying to dilute as it may seem out of the ordinary or weird to people who basically don’t care about you or false public opinions.

I cannot be myself and exercise all my gifts and talents if I constantly try to do what every other person wants or thinks is okay for me. It is the same as placing a fish on land and expecting it to thrive.

The opinions come in variations. From hairstyle to composure. There was a time someone told me I smile too much and I should try not to do much. I won’t lie, at that time, I took the advice. When I hear something funny, I pretend I wasn’t amused and keep a straight face so I don’t smile. Until one day, I got tired of stressing my facial muscles (have you ever tried holding in laughter?) and released all the joy I had in me.

Years later, this person told me she could not understand why I was happy all the time and easily amused. Can you imagine this?

At a point in my life, I became more self-aware.

I desperately needed to be me. No facades, just me.

I got tired of the suppression and jumped off the train of public acceptance. Yes, it might have come with a few scratches and bruises but it was nothing compared to the freedom to walk on my life path without forced intrusion.

On this path, the consciousness of what people will think has greatly diminished. Pleasing God became my sole aim.

So dear friends, You are uniquely You! The world will adjust. Please, don’t fix yourself into the box placed in front of you.

The expression in you that may look stupid to others can be the very quality God wants to use to show His glory in you.

We can’t keep trying to fit into groups that do not appreciate us for who we are or sit at tables we don’t feel welcomed just to look like one of them.

Make a bold step even when you feel fear

Stepping out from our usual to a place of vulnerability and true expression can be scary at times, but take the step anyway. You can do it!. Bear in mind, I am not encouraging people to be real with displaying toxic behaviours but to let the light within you shine.

There will always be people who will love You for You and also people who will detest you no matter what you do. It is OK. Everyone didn’t love Jesus despite all the good He did. Some people even sought to persecute Him for performing a miracle.

Feel free to rebel against the status quo. Be true to yourself.

Tune up your voice!

Increase the intensity of your passion.

C’mon! You have got an abundance of petals in you. Don’t let the world rob you of your value. God made you a masterpiece.

It is the only way we can fully bloom into the beautiful flower we should be.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

Psalms‬ ‭139:13-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

if you choose this path, Years from now, you will confidently say you are living the life God chose for you and not what others thought was good.

Finally, aside from godly counsel and redirection from well-meaning persons, next time someone dishes you an opinion of how they think you should be or whatnots, ask them to file their submissions properly and leave it in the trash bin on their way out.

I pray we find the courage in Christ Jesus to walk in freedom. Amen!

We are transcending!

Stay blessed

You are loved 💙💚💜

Angel