She's Got Style

A devotional to kick off your week

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?
Galatians 1:10 NIV

---

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw my daughter come out of her room. She was on day two of the Junior Police Academy here in town; she’d been selected as one of the teenagers for the program.

On the first day, each participant received a T-shirt to wear all week. True to her personality and fashion sense, she wore that shirt with style. She didn’t only pair it with ripped jeans and pink shoes, but she wore accessories.

On top of that, she made sure that her makeup and hair were done perfectly. She didn’t care how the other kids dressed, and she noticed that the cops in charge didn’t have much style. But that didn’t stop her from being authentic, which made her quite memorable.

Strong people are true to themselves.

When we stand out or stand alone in the crowd, it takes a lot of strength. It’s also hard to feel like the “odd man out” when life’s hard for us, yet it seems easy for others.

It’s easier said than done–being authentic. Yet not only is it fulfilling, but it’s important for our relationship with God.

Faith that survives is vulnerable, it’s willing to put everything on the line.

God wants to know the real version of us, the good, bad, and the ugly. Hard times may tempt us to go with the flow, or mold ourselves into a version everyone else expects. Difficulties may challenge us to put on masks and hide our true feelings, even from God. But he loves and accepts us for who we are. There’s no hiding with him.

Sometimes it’s our style, our intelligence, our beliefs, or our faith that make us stand out. Sometimes it’s the impossible situations we face–the illness. The failure. The chaos.

The reality is that we won’t always fit in. But pray for God to give you the confidence and courage to stay true to yourself this week. He will bless your authenticity.

---

Breath Prayer

Inhale: I will stay…

Exhale: …authentic

---