What Are You Hiding From?

​Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.  Titus 2:15

I wish I could say I grew up brave, bold and bewitching, but scared, shy and simple would probably fit better. In an era of Marsha Brady straight hair, a Bionic Woman and Charlie's Angels, I had the wild locks of Medusa, the social graces of Scout Finch, and the confidence of Piglet. Needless to say, much of my life has been spent fighting against my insecurities. Some of them are innate (introversion), while others are self imposed (never quite measuring up) or culture driven (straight hair is better than curly). Regardless of where it comes from, insecurity has a way of worming its way deep in your heart. It paralyzes you. It causes you to question and over think and withdrawal. It builds strong roots of fear and doubt. It grows into a towering tree of falsehood that casts a shadow over the truth of God's word. 
It causes you to doubt truth that says:
I am chosen.
I am accepted.
I am beautiful.
I am bold.
I am brave.
I am enough.
I am not alone.

Titus 2:11-15 offers bold encouraging words for reticent girls like me. Titus reassures us that we are not in this thing called life alone. God's grace has been given to us for salvation, training, living, and waiting- until he comes back. God says I am secure. I am redeemed. I have value. I have purpose. This is the truth that needs to grow deep in my heart. This needs to become my tree of truth. Who I am is not determined by my innate character or outside cultural forces. It is determined by who God says I am. He says I am his child with great value and purpose. These are things that I am to irrefutably declare to myself and others until my untruths are uprooted and replaced by God's truth.  

I will never be Marsha Brady, Jaime Sommers, Sabrina, Kelly or Jill, but I can be a bold, brave,beautiful me by the grace of God. You can too.

Lord,
I don't want to continue to disregard what you say about me. Uproot the untruths I believe about myself. Replace them with your truth. Make me zealous for good works because of what you have done in my life. Fill me so full of your love that there is no room left for insecurity and fear. 

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