#SorryNotSorry
Good morning/good afternoon/good evening beautiful people. Happy Monday and I hope you've all had a good weekend and are/have had a good start to the week.
I wanted to share something I had on my heart this morning which the Holy Spirit revealed to me and that is:
*Do not apologise for having a calling on your life*
Now this may seem like a 'well duh!' moment but I came to the realisation that we sometimes try to minimise or compress what God has placed inside of us because we don't want to appear a certain way or come across as "oh my gosh, you're too holy". The Holy Spirit showed me how I did just that in the past and I thought to myself, why do I and why do we do that? It's like we know we have Christ and we are capable of doing things because of His strength and with the Holy Spirit living inside of us but we tend to sometimes 'dumb it down' especially around our fellow Christians because we fear what they think.
I can think of so many times when the Holy Spirit will reveal something to me when I'm having conversations with people and I'll share it but end it with either a 'but I don't know' or 'I'm not too sure'. And I think to myself afterwards like why did I do that?. The answer came as quickly as that thought arrived and it was the fact that I did not have confidence in what God had told me and I felt like I didn't know what I was talking about that I felt I had to retract back so I don't seem like I'm actually being used by God. And this is so sad to think about because why do I have to second guess what I know came from God?
I am sure that we've all been at this point and if you currently are at this point, I'm here to say the time to stop is now! Go back to God so your identity in Christ can be re-defined and walk in that identity of who Christ has called you to be and do not be ashamed of that.
This also shows a mind battle where your thoughts are conflicted between doubt and truth. Your Spirit is telling you truth but your flesh with a sprinkle of the enemy's lies is reminding you of who you used to be and of your insecurities. So, pray against this and meditate on God's word so you are able to combat every attack from the enemy and you're able to stand firm in your identity in Christ and your calling which God has anointed you to do.
Here are two verses that the Holy Spirit to my attention which you can meditate on:
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) - "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)- "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun".
These verses can serve as a reminder when you are doubting or when the enemy is trying to tarnish your identity. Do not cover up what God has placed in you because of fear. He has chosen you and as harsh as it might sound, it's not completely for you. It's for others.
And if the enemy, people, your mind try to remind you of your past, You can say that, yes! that is how I used to be, that was my character, I used to do those things etc, and do I still sometimes fall? Oh Yes. But I have been given a new life and a new identity when Jesus died for me and I accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour. He calls me His. We are not perfect because we are human following a perfect God but I believe and want to encourage us all that as we delve deeper into our relationship with God, allowing Him to prune us and help us grow, we are being moulded into our true self and during the whole process, we reflect Jesus.)
So, do not downplay your calling and identity. If you are being used by God, I thank God for that and if people are 'hurt' or offended by that, so what? It shows an area that they might need to still work on.
Be an unashamed follower of Christ and if people or the world say otherwise, just say: #SorryNotSorry!
Keep walking on the path! Love you guys!