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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: DISGUISE (08/12/21)
There were only a couple of actors and tech people left in the dressing room. Our church’s drama club just finished our last Easter production The Betrayal based on Pablo Picasso’s painting the Last Supper. I was meeting some of the players for dinner so I had to change out of my New Testament clothes the tunic, cloak, and sandals. As I disrobed, my mind drifted back to one of the nights I was driving home from rehearsal.

The words, “you are not you,” drifted through my head. What does that mean? I asked myself. Not sure what it meant, I let it go. Not long after that the words ran through my mind again.

That night, I prayed to God to reveal to me what these words meant and how do they apply to me? Of course I didn’t get an answer that night. The answer did come. It concerned a trait that weaved its way into my consciousness. It is a trait many people posses. Going along with the crowd.

I pulled out a notebook and began writing. I wanted to discover the reason or reasons why I always went along with the crowd even when I didn’t want to. What would happen if I didn’t go along with the guys? I did not like conflict. I saw to much of that growing up in my home. I avoided any kind of conflict. Being accepted was a priority for me. When I did something I did not want to do to please others, I ended up disgruntled. Wanting to be accepted drove me. People described me as a nice guy. I did not want to be just a nice guy. When asked how I was doing. My response would be, “I’m okay. Everything’s good.” This said with a smile. Lying to myself and the questionnaire. I did all this to be accepted. What it did was chip away at my soul and character. Words and actions such as these kept me from being the person God created.

The only way out was to surrender. I uncovered the words and actions in my heart that blocked me from deepening my relationship with God. I discovered why I said and did what I did to be accepted and liked. Now, it was time to discard those thoughts and actions. Mark writes in chapter 4 verse 22, “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” (NIV)

Residing in a self-made prison, it took some time for me to realize I held the key. I put the key in the lock and prayed to God to hold my hand to get us through this together. The key is in the lock and now I had to turn it. Turning the key was studying and living His word. Opening the door a new light shed on the world. Stepping out a new freedom enveloped me.

Slipping into my street clothes, to meet my friends for dinner two Corinthians 5:17 came to mind. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! (NIV). Now that I have discarded that disguise, I am inching closer to being the man I was created to be.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Noel Mitaxa 
08/19/21
Strong devotional approach to the topic - in line with your title.
Bea Edwards 
08/22/21
Very nicely written.
Both provocative and personal.

Thank you for your transparency.