Get Naked: Part 2

In part 1, we dealt with getting naked before God. Today, I want to discuss the power that comes with getting naked before others. I once read a quote by Steven Furtick that said, “Don’t compare your behind the scenes with someone else’s highlight reel”. While pondering this quote, I thought about how our timelines are flooded with images of everyone living their “best” life. We only see what people choose to show us and if we aren’t careful, we will begin to covet what others have or compare their lives to ours. Imagine if we were honest and showed the imperfect parts of our lives. What if we shared our real struggles? What if we really kept it real? It isn’t an easy thing to do especially in a society that is quick to troll and comment. Yet, I can’t help but think about all of the healing that could take place.

James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed”. When we share our faults and mistakes with other believers, we initiate own spiritual growth and healing. Why? Because we allow our brothers and sisters in Christ to really see us. Also, it reminds us of how much we need God and each other. It also keeps us accountable because we have alerted someone else about what is going on with us. Then, they can pray for us and help us stay on track.

However, being able to share your vulnerabilities require wisdom and discernment. We can’t tell everyone everything. Everyone is not a safe place to share the most intimate parts of ourselves. Therefore, we have to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have to pray for the Lord to place people in our lives who desire the same spiritual growth as we do. Then, we will all grow together.

This has been a great source of power in my life. I have been blessed with people whom I can share my soul with and text in a heartbeat to pray for me. People who are grounded in the word and seek to walk in God’s truth. We need people around us who will tell us the truth in love. We need people who aren’t afraid to speak up if they see us headed in the wrong direction. We need those who are willing to snatch us out of the hand of the enemy and stand with us in the fiery furnace. Those who hold you up and walk with you until you become strong enough to walk on your own again.

I do feel that this is something that is lacking in the body of Christ. We want people to see the product but not the reactants. The reactants are those ugly, raw parts of us that we brought to God and He used His power to produce a new creature. We often want people to see the product but fail to share the process. When we are transparent before others as believers, we become light in the darkness. We show them that if God can heal, deliver, and set us free, He can surely do it for them. In turn, we show people the transformative power of God is real and working.

Nevertheless, no one profits from covering their sins. What we expose within the confines of community, God will transpose. In other words, He can remove our sin and transplant His truth. He will cause our sinful, stony hearts to shift into hearts that are malleable. The enemy is aware of this. That’s why he fights godly connection and communion so much.

Where are you when it comes to your spiritual vulnerability? Are you comfortable with being naked in front of others? Are you willing to bare your shortcomings so that others may be strengthened and healed?

Get Naked! Take Your Freedom! Help Others Get Their Freedom!