Stature

When I was seventeen to about twenty, I was in a 9 month discipleship program called Masters Commission. A part of the program we would travel and host youth conferences. For the conferences we had an icebreaker called bus stop some of us tried out for. I somehow won the approval of both my leaders to be the main character. The theme that year was "Identity". I would come out to the bus stop singing a song, minding my own business. Another person would come along singing their song. Before I knew it, I was singing and dancing along with them, forgetting my song. This happened several times before I got overwhelmed and confused with who I was that I would shake uncontrolably and fall on the floor. As I laid there numb, afraid and confused, Jesus comes and says. "Remember who you are, in me." 

During this time I didn't understand the impact of this icebreaker. It was hilarious! One of my leaders would come out in a one piece outfit and we would sing and dance to Michael Jackson and we would do the kid and play. The guy who played Jesus would call me Cletus to get my attention and we both would laugh a little before he said his line. We did the ice breaker so often it just became entertaining and I was never able to hear how my pastor would tie it into the message. 

When I was 25 I realized the character I played in years ago was now my reality. Everything about me was someone else's song. I was caught up in entertaining the lies and false identity created, that behind closed doors I found myself lying there numb, afarid, confused and voiceless.  Masters was my best and worst times of my life. I finally felt comfortable enough to use my voice, but because I didn't know my voice I disrespected my leaders and misused my leadership. I ended up being dismissed from the program. Yet it was there for the first time that when I got up to speak I was confident and courageous! 

Although I know my identity, and know my voice and helping others to know there voice, my identity isn't just about the knowledge and wisdom that comes out of my mouth, it's also about my stature. At the end of Luke chapter 2 it says, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature. Stature is the degree of development of a person: the stature of a champion. Or the quality or status gained by growth, development, or achievement. A persons natural height in an upright position. Jesus was a great man of wisdom and of stature.

I realize that it is impossible for me to bring people into whom they are created to be without fully being who I am created to be in both wisdom and stature. It's not just knowing your voice, it's knowing yourself. Therefore, however my weight needs to be perceived. It needs to be dealt with. I need to live out Luke 2:52; it's time I get back to my natural upright position, by building and developing, a good quality of health, of stature, by growth and achievement! I know who I am in godly wisdom, it's time to get to know the true Liz in stature! 

Our authentic self

To be our authentic self and experience authentic relationships we must come out of the dark and live in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. However, in God's light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are. 

The first step is to acknowledge we are in the dark, hiding, to ourselves, and that we are in need of a savior. When we can be real with ourselves it will help us speak out and be real with others. For too long we have been waiting for some person to come rescue us from our darkness when we have been the ones keeping ourselves in the dark. God has already sent his son to rescue us, he has given us light and freedom. We just don't think we deserve it. We can't see ourselves outside of our situation. 

It is time for you to get out of your darkness, speak out and know your voice so you can know your worth. God has said, before I formed you in the womb I knew you. I set you apart. I know the plans I have for you, to give you a future and a hope. Are you ready to be the authentic you and experience authentic relationships? Are you ready to admit who you really are so you can start living out the plans God has for you? 

If you answered yes, confess to God, to yourself and to someone else your hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. Pray, pray for each other so that you may be healed. For the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

(James 5:16 NLT)