It’s the last week of the Summer Sizzle Series. Let me tell you that I enjoyed sharing the best posts from my fellow bloggers with you for the last 7 weeks. I hope you were able to join me each week to be inspired and uplifted along with me. 

Today’s amazing post is by Marva from SunSparkleShine who loves the Lord and her Island life. She and her family had to experience the brutal effects of the Hurricanes that wrecked their Island home last year.  

Two bloggers who grew up in two different continents formed a friendship and the Lord allowed us to meet last year. Marva is the sweetest and one of the most honest gal you would meet. Here is her post on embracing the real you and how to reject Satan’s lies.

Have you ever felt as if you don’t know the real you?

Like maybe, the girl inside you has been hiding for some time?

Could it be that you’ve been hiding behind a mask? Afraid to show the real you.

Afraid of what others might think if they really got to know you.

What mask have you been hiding behind, my friend?

Here are the three deceptive masks that we tend to hide behind

1. Self-confidence

This is a very popular and well-sought-after mask. It’s in high demand. Wearing this mask makes us feel powerful, confident and in control. And that’s just what we want, right?

2. Self-reliance

This is another highly desirable mask. When you wear this one, you don’t need anyone else. You are self-sufficient and independent. When difficulties come, you don’t have to turn to anyone else. You can figure things out on your own. Or can you?

3. Self-deception

This mask is probably one of the hardest masks to take off.  In fact, we may not even know that we’re wearing it at all. When wearing this mask, we become so blind that we don’t even see ourselves clearly and sometimes we even forget who we were before the mask.

When I think of the mask of self-deception, it reminds me of the character Haman in the book of Esther.  Haman had lofty goals. He wanted to be king. He was so busy trying to swindle his way to the top that he didn’t see his downfall happening right before him.

As a result, the trap Haman set for his enemy was used for him instead. Ouch. What a fall!

Why should we reject Satan’s lies?

You might be thinking, ‘except for that last one, these masks don’t sound so bad after all’. Well here’s the problem: The Father of Lies has tricked you into believing that no one will truly love you if you take off your mask. This is so far from the truth.

The more you believe this lie, the further you alienate yourself from others, the happier Satan is. He wants you to feel all alone. He doesn’t want you to embrace the real you.

These three masks also trick me into believing that:

o   I don’t need God

o   I don’t need others

o   Others don’t need me 

Do you want to know how to reject Satan’s lies and embrace what God created you to be?

How can you finally stop hiding behind a mask?

I think about Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. When He was tempted, Jesus combated and rejected Satan’s lies with the Word of God.

He found the strength to stand amidst very real temptations by relying on God’s word. That’s exactly what we must do to take off our deceptive masks and reject Satan’s lies. 

To help us keep the masks off, here are some scriptures we can trust and apply in our lives: 

Jeremiah 1:5 

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” 

The good news is that we have a Savior who not only made us exactly the way we are, but He also loves us just the way we are. Knowing that He has a purpose that only I can fulfill makes me feel special and no longer like I need to be someone else.

It’s wonderful to know that God loves me unconditionally! With all of my flaws, all of my weaknesses, all of my shortcomings. He simply loves me! And because He does, I can be free to be the wonderful me He created. No more masks required!

2 Corinthians 3: 16-18. KJV “

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

When we turn to God, we are free to be ourselves. By taking the mask off we can truly reflect God’s glory. Plus, He helps by transforming us daily, so we feel less and less tempted to put the mask back on.

Romans 8:37-39, KJV

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing that we do can separate us from God’s love. No matter how we might try to run away, He is still there loving us. It’s so amazing knowing that He gives us the power to overcome anything, including our insecurities.

Matthew 11: 28, KJV 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Let’s face it, wearing a mask is burdensome. Pretending to be someone or something we’re not, is quite tiring. We can find rest for our souls when we lay our masks before Christ.

This freedom allows us to be ourselves around others and build deep and meaningful relationship where we can thrive.

So, what are you waiting for? Won’t you join me in taking off the masks? I’m ready to let the real me shine through! What about you?

How about you?

–What holds you back from being the real you?

–How can we help each other feel free to be ourselves?

–What scriptures have encouraged you to  reject Satan’s lies and help you take off the mask?

Let me know in the comments below.

Wishing you life’s best blessings!

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About Marva

Marva is an island-living, sun-loving Christian wife and mother. As a business owner, management consultant, trainer and coach, she’s no stranger to busy but chooses the full life Christ offers instead (John 10:10). She finds joy in encouraging women to slow down and shine in the light of God’s goodness. You can find her writing about her life and faith on her website SunSparkleShine and here on Facebook , Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram,.  Get a free copy of her e-book YOU WERE MADE TO SPARKLE  here

Feel free to share this post if it blessed you today. You can find links to the previous Summer Sizzle posts  here.

Diana 

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