REALSample

Real Authenticity

By Elaine Fisher 

I clearly remember the night I sat across the table from some family friends, who were great mentors to me. I was away from the Lord, and they shared a word from God with me they had received several years prior that confirmed my exact situation. In that moment, I heard the Lord say, “I want you!” I broke down and surrendered everything to Him. This is just a small part of my testimony that I tell often, and through it I’ve seen people give their lives to the Lord or change the way they were living because of its authenticity.

The night of that dinner I shared everything I was going through with my mentors. I was real, open, and completely honest. As soon as I finished, I told them they couldn’t help me through this situation because I was just “too bad.” Without missing a beat, they told me about the power of being authentic and bringing things to the light, which massively influenced how I tell my story.

Although there are times it’s appropriate to share lots of details, the enemy sometimes tries to tell us that if we don’t tell every detail to everyone, we aren’t being authentic. That is a lie from the enemy. The Bible tells us that we don’t need to share every detail because in doing so, we actually bring glory to the wrong thing. We only need to share enough to set the context, and then put the focus on bringing glory to Jesus.

Being authentic means being genuine. My story is unique to me, and we are each wired to share our stories. Being genuine in sharing that story will help give others hope, clarity, and awareness, but it also reminds us of what God has brought us through and that He continues to change us. When we share our stories, we remember how faithful God is, how much He loved us in a difficult season, and how He came through for us at just the right time. In remembering our stories, we remind ourselves that the same God who stood by us then will be standing by us again this time. Being authentic redeems our minds to remember who God is in our lives.

Take a moment today and remind yourself of different times God has come through for you. And in each moment of remembrance, watch your faith grow stronger. Then, I challenge you to share your story with someone and watch as their faith is strengthened by your authenticity.

Prayer

Lord, remind me today of who You are. Build my faith so I can go out and be an authentic voice for You. Thank You for being a faithful God, in whom I can continually trust, for You never change. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8