In times where filters and photoshop are the #1 go to options. The society and the world around us wants us to be a reflection of what others think we should be. We need to be careful not to make the mistake of becoming people pleasers, and instead we ought to be true to God and true to our selves.
What is to be authentic: Authentic is an accurate representation of the facts; trustworthy; and reliable. It is what it says it is. It is to be real!
An authentic woman of God is real! She is not fake, she doesn’t pretend to be someone else in order to be accepted by others. She is true to God and true to herself. As I like to say; what I think about you is not important, what really matters is what God thinks about you. Many people are worried about pleasing others, or pleasing their selves in their selfish desires; but neither of those matter if God is not pleased with us!
A great example of not being conformed to this world and being authentic is the life of Esther;
“Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” Esther 2:15-17 NKJV
Esther did not pretend to be some she wasn’t but instead honored God in her walk and in her choices and testimony.
There is a quote by Jim Rohn that ministers to me every time I listen to it. “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. If the people you spend the most time with are carnal, are not driven and pull you away from God’s plans and purposes; perhaps you need to find other people to surround yourself with.
Here are four questions to ask ourselves in order to know if we are being authentic women of God:
- I’m I being true to God? Does my actions align with the Word of God? At times God will do things in our life that will make us feel uncomfortable, things that we won’t like; but it is his will therefore we should be doing them wether we like them or not?
- I’m I doing this to please somebody? What is the true motive behind my actions; God or people pleasing?
- Does this align with my values and my beliefs?
- Will this bring joy to my life or render fruit in the long run?
God will always guide us to his perfect will; but he will never delight in our actions if they do not flow from a pure heart! Therefor we must be true to God and true to ourselves.