This morning, my heart lingered on a quote I came across:
"I no longer look for the good in people, I search for the real… because while good is often dressed in fake clothing, real is naked and proud no matter the scars."
How true these words ring. We live in a world where appearances can deceive, where goodness can be dressed up for show, but authenticity shines even through its scars. The older I grow, the less impressed I am by polished façades, and the more drawn I am to the raw, honest, imperfect beauty of people who have stopped pretending.
📖 "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." — 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)
The "real" may carry wounds, yet it is clothed in truth. The "real" may not always look tidy, yet it bears the fragrance of grace. When we dare to be vulnerable, to let our scars show, we make space for God’s power to be revealed in our weakness. As Paul reminds us, His strength is made perfect in our frailty.
My core values remind me that integrity, love, and courage matter far more than surface-level goodness. Integrity means being the same person in private and in public. Love means choosing compassion over image. Courage means letting the real me be seen, even when it feels costly.
💡 Reflection:
Where in my life am I still trying to appear "good" rather than live authentically?🤔
How might God be inviting me to embrace being real — scars, flaws, and all?🤔
You are deeply loved, scars and all. May you walk today in the freedom of being real before God and others.
🙌 Prayer:
Lord, teach me to value authenticity over appearances. Help me to walk humbly yet boldly, willing to show my scars as testimonies of Your healing grace. Strip away the false coverings that hide my heart, and let my life be a witness of Your truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Maandag 1 September 2025
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