"The Deep Devos" are notes and references from any or all of the topics discussed on Wednesday night's "Dive". In case you missed out on some important details of Pastor Damon's message, here ya go! And, feel free to share the Devos and discussions with your friends as an instrument to help them in areas they may be struggling with in their lives.
Trust Your True Self To God & Others We are all like "ONIONS". One way to think about being transparent with God and others is to consider an onion. How are you like an onion? What are the layers that contribute to your composition as a person? What layers do most people see on the first observation? What parts are buried in the deeper layers that you allow few or no one to see? Psalm 139:1-6 1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Take the time to help peel other's layers back so they can trust you as they reveal the "real" them. Also, be sure that you allow God to peel back some of the protective layers you've built up between you and God because you are ashamed of certain areas of your life, or maybe you're living in guilt for other decisions. Reveal the "real" you to God since He already knows everything about you! Did you forget that He was the one who made you:)
John 12:44-46 Then Jesus cried out,
“Whoever TRUST in me does not TRUST in me only, but also God who sent me.The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
Stop attempting to go through life with layers of happiness on the outside and on the inside you're truly hurt and miserable. Ask God to remove the hurt as you open up to Him and allow Jesus to heal those areas of your life. As an attempt to be like those whom you choose to follow, you wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, etc. While on the inside you feel like a caged animal restrained from being the "real" you. Step out in faith, asking God to reveal to YOU, who HE"S created YOU to BE:)
