YOU DON’T NEED TO LOOK LIKE SOMEONE ELSE 

«For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day» (2 Timothy 1:12). 

THE PURSUIT of originality is a challenge for many. They strive to be original, to have different ideas, to do things differently and to express themselves in a unique way. However, what we do sometimes masks what we are looking for. It’s enough to stop at any pedestrian crossing to realize that most people dress in very similar ways. Originality often ends when a fashion trend is widely accepted. The problem arises when we renounce our values and beliefs to gain approval.

The most powerful force to overcome for those who want to be original is social pressure. It’s a force that drags us along as we assume ideas and ways of being, passing over the originality we seek. It’s inevitable that our group of friends will influence who we are and become a determining factor in our way of being and thinking, even without our realizing it. We all need acceptance: to be esteemed and taken into account. When this need isn’t met, we can fall into denial of who we really are, endangering dignity and free will, two rights given to every human being at creation.

You may think: «Life, circumstances, customs, and the way of doing things change.» The Bible says, however: «The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever» (Isaiah 40:8). God’s words are eternal and His «no’s» are not arbitrary, much less punitive. They are there to safeguard human life, and without them, we would be adrift on a sea of relativism.

Walking through life with «thus says the Lord» ringing in your ears keeps you safe and gives you the security of knowing you are going in the right direction. You can adapt your hairstyle and dress to the fashion of the day, but without throwing overboard what: good and holy within you, as God created you. Before accepting other people’s proposals, review your beliefs, trust God and yourself, and dare to reject the attempts of others to get you to do what you think is wrong. Don’t silence the voice of the Holy Spirit, who always warns you when you are in a danger zone.

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Take From: Daily Devotions for Women’s 2021
«BRUSHSTROKES OF GOD’S LOVE»
BY: Erna Alvarado Poblete
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Alejandra Zavala