The Sunday Mail
Leandrah Chimombe
Midlands State University
Being our truest selves is something that is rare in our society today. We speak and act in a certain manner because it pleases the next person. We do not present our honest opinions for fear of being disliked.
As for some Christians, we tolerate immoral behaviour for fear of being rejected by the world. We fear being left alone. Well, it’s high time we denounced immoral behaviour and not sweet talk each other to hell. It’s either our behaviour is good or bad, there is no in-between. That in-between state is synonymous to mediocrity and it doesn’t match God’s standard of excellence.
Several times we obscure our authentic identity for the buy-in of the world to share a persona commonality with everyone. In the process, we miss out on experiencing the satisfaction that comes with being our true selves, the person that was created by God to be unique and different.
Well, I think it’s time to take a firm stance and strongly resolve to be different and be the AUTHENTIC YOU! Most of us have been and are leaving for people and believe men’s traditions and opinions and take them to be truth. We never take time to really study the word of God and find out the truth for ourselves.
We never scrutinise what we are told by others or subject it to analysis. We were created by God to put this brain to the good use of fruitful thinking and not just chew and swallow every cheap and invalid opinion presented to us. We esteem popular opinion with a regard for the truth.
We have skewed the trust for our opinion further from self. That’s not how we were created to be by God. Each and every one is unique and we have to celebrate this distinctiveness with vast volition. Esteem your different opinion and unsparingly celebrate the incoherence of your perspective with the world because that’s YOU.
In simple terms, popular opinion and men’s traditions are not necessarily the truth and neither should they become your OWN opinion or standard. Being different doesn’t amortise you. After all, we shall be accountable to God and not men so liberate yourself and exude your authenticity.
Truth of the matter is whether you do good or bad, your likeable ambiance will never be unanimously embraced. So over the years I have been learning that we need to quit trying to have a perfect record with everyone because we wear ourselves beyond a justifiable necessity. Be truthful and honest about how you view life. Have your own opinion. Remember you don’t have to justify being different because you were created unique and different.
I am challenging you today to not always go with the flow like dead fish. I will reiterate the golden phrase of this communiqué, have your own views, I don’t mean any unreasonable views of course, but your own views supported by the word of God which is life (John 6:63).
Dare to be you. God is not going to help you to be someone else but He will help you to be you so you better start embracing who you are, your gifts, talents and abilities and be sure to leave your own unique set of footprints in the sand.
Most of us will be so liberated if we just boldly decide to be who God has designed us to be. When you choose not to go with the flow like dead fish, criticism will come but learn to separate constructive criticism from demeaning criticism.
There is criticism that shapes you for the better whilst some critics are just there to discourage you. You should eat the hay and spit the sticks, take what you know is relevant to you and leave the rest.
Some people who criticise you are usually doing nothing to make the world a better place, at least you are doing something so never stop. Live to please God. At the end you shall give an account of your life to God and not men (Romans 14:12) therefore have your own attitude about yourself, don’t be defeated by criticism.
We live in a world that has laid expectations on us that we truly know we cannot meet. Hey, it’s okay to say NO and not approve things that you don’t like. God holds you accountable for being true to yourself. When you don’t like something, just simply say No and there is no need to put yourself under pressure to explain why you said no.
I find it really unfair that even in the Christian circles for you to be said you are a “real Christian”, you should be a very serious person who walks and talks in a certain manner according to men’s beliefs and not God’s word. Ever since I discovered that I am not accountable to men but to God, that has been liberating. Refuse to pretend.
A resolute person can say no when he or she needs to. He or she can endure people’s displeasure and is able to reason that if the disappointed person truly wants their relationship with them they will get over the disappointment (borrowed quote).
We waste so much time living in lies and dishonesty. Someone has to vow to not being afraid to be themselves. Be the person that you were created to be – bold and daring. I don’t mind who will not like you or who will, your goal is not to keep everyone happy but it’s to be true to yourself, to be happy and to please God, Him alone should be your only audience that you live for.
For feedback and comments email [email protected]. More articles on my blog abovemediocrity05.WordPress.com
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