Finding Your Genuine Self: A Journey Through the Bible
In a world constantly pulling us in different directions, the idea of finding our "genuine self" can seem elusive. I often grapple with questions like, "Who am I really?" or "What is my true purpose?" The Bible offers profound insights and guidance on this very personal journey of self-discovery.
Created in God's Image
The foundation of understanding our genuine self begins with recognizing our origin. Genesis 1:27 states: "And God went on to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them." 
This verse highlights that we possess qualities that reflect our Creator—love, justice, wisdom, and power, among others. Our genuine self is inherently designed to manifest these divine attributes. When we live in harmony with these qualities, we are closer to who we were truly meant to be.
The Heart:
The Real You
Proverbs 4:23 advises: "More than anything else that guards your heart, because out of it are the sources of life." .png "More than anything else that guards your heart, because out of it are the sources of life.")
In biblical terms, the "heart" doesn't just refer to the physical organ, but to the entire inner person—our desires, emotions, affections, and motives. It's the seat of our personality. To find our genuine self, we must examine and guard our hearts. What influences it? What drives our decisions? By cultivating a heart that reflects godly principles, we nurture our true identity.
.png "More than anything else that guards your heart, because out of it are the sources of life.")
Renewing Your Mind
Romans 12:2 encourages us: "And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." .png "And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.")
.png "And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.")
The world often dictates what is "normal" or "acceptable," which can lead us away from our genuine selves. The scripture urges us to transform our thinking. This involves carefully considering what we allow into our minds and actively pursuing knowledge and understanding of God's perspective. As our minds are renewed, our actions and personality will naturally align with our genuine, God-given identity.
Cultivating New Personality Traits
Colossians 3:12-14 provides a beautiful blueprint for our genuine self: "Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely, even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union." .png "Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely, even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.")
This passage describes the new personality that a genuine Christian strives to cultivate. It's a personality characterized by profound love and a host of other compassionate traits. Embracing these qualities helps us shed any inauthentic facades and truly become the person God intended.
.png "Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely, even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. But besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.")
This passage describes the new personality that a genuine Christian strives to cultivate. It's a personality characterized by profound love and a host of other compassionate traits. Embracing these qualities helps us shed any inauthentic facades and truly become the person God intended.
Journey Continues:
Finding our genuine self is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey. It involves consistently looking to God's Word, prayerfully seeking his guidance, and actively working to reflect his qualities in our lives. We'll discover a deeper sense of purpose, contentment, and a true understanding of who we really are in God's eyes.
As we continue on your journey of self-discovery, remember that finding our genuine self is not about conforming to the world's standards, but about transforming our mind and heart to reflect the loving qualities of our Creator. As Colossians 3:10 states, "clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it."
As also James 1:22-25 reminds us: "However, become doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, and he goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he is. But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does."
By embracing these principles, we are on the path to discovering the beautiful, unique, and genuine person that we were designed to be.
All the best,
Lea ❤
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