City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

Psalm 139:14a

Reflection

Remember what it was like to be a teenager? Super-confusing time and lots of matters to figure out, including but certainly not limited to who you were and who you wanted to be (not just career-wise). My teenage days were the first thought that came to my mind when I thought of the word authenticity. 

According to Merriam-Webster, authenticity is being true to one’s personality, spirit, or character. Who are you? Are you really you (I know I sound like a character from Alice in Wonderland)? The motivational speaker Jim Rohan said we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with (for introverts this can include social media, Netflix, and books). Outside influencers shape our personality (for better or worse). Does this mean we’re not authentic? Not always. When God is at the center of our lives, we can truly be ourselves. C.S. Lewis said:

“The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become – because He made us. He invented us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be. . .It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.” 

Who better than the Inventor to tell us our personality and purpose? 

Application

Who are your influencers? Better yet, who is your main influencer? Whoever they are shapes your personality the most. To be really you, spend time with the Inventor in prayer and reading His Instruction Manual. And when you become really you, you can help guide others to be really themselves.  

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for making me really me. Show me how to be really myself and to help others embrace their true personalities. In Your Name I pray, amen.