Stand: A 5-Day Devotional for Leading & Living AuthenticallySample

Day 1: Would The Real Me Please Stand Up! 

“Eustace was a boy who was so awful and nasty that he turned into an ugly and evil dragon. Then he met Aslan, who represents Christ. And Aslan changed him from a dragon into a fine young man. At first Eustace tried to change himself by scratching and peeling off layers of his dragon skin. But for every layer that came off, another layer of wrinkled, scaly skin appeared underneath. Finally, Aslan stepped up to the job. With one painful swipe of his powerful claws, the lion cut to the heart of Eustace’s dragon flesh and peeled it away, and Eustace the boy stepped out…” (C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader). 

Do you ever feel like Eustace? I do. Quite often actually. Scripture instructs us to “set an example for the believers, in our speech and conduct” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV), and yet there exists an intense tug of war between who God says we are and the wicked, sinful version of ourselves that rears its ugly head a bit more frequently than we’d prefer. So would the real me please stand up? Am I that deflated creature who seems to be losing the battle most days? Or am I the victorious warrior who has the ability to rise to the challenge and do what makes me weak in the knees? And how on earth do I decipher between the two?

 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12) 

 With one painful swipe of his powerful claws, the lion cut to the heart of Eustace‘s dragon flesh and peeled it away, and Eustace the boy stepped out. Today God wants to peel away the layers of fear, insecurity, and egocentric hang-ups so that the real and authentic you can step out. 

 A Thought to Ponder 

I am good enough. Today, right where I am, and until I become all the beautiful things I desire to see in my future, I can still change, shift, and impact from the platform I’ve been given. Even on broken, imperfect pieces.

Today’s Prayer Challenge 

Dear God, I know it’s a painful process, but I need your Word to cut to the heart of who I am. I am tired of trying to appear perfect, and I am asking you to take me through the process of being perfected. In the name of your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

Journal Prompt

I admit that I am insecure about...