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“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” I Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

He appeared hunched over and clutching his brown bag tightly to his chest. His coat was torn, dirty and oversized. His teeth darkly stained beyond recognition and the stocking cap covering his head revealed grey stringy hair. Scary doesn’t even describe him. His feet dragging up the steps, he halted and banged on the door. Gasps, screams and fear stricken women were hovering inside. Little did they know, the one waiting outside really was one of them. Totally out of character – Goodwill clothes and all, my quiet sweet me had played quite the joke on my Bible study friends.

Ever found yourself acting out of character – not true to the real you? The person who was predictable and expected unveiling a flipside unrecognizable to those who knew them best. The punctual one all of a sudden arriving late. The quiet reserved one surprising becoming loud and showy. The devoted committed one who suddenly becomes noncommittal and unintentional.

Hate to admit it but I’ve been there before – how about you? Landing in the place where we exchange who we are for something far less. To be totally honest it’s never intentional just a gradual slipping away from the real us. Blinded by the character flip. While we are dismissive and in denial, our inner circle becomes majorly concerned. And the result never serves us well.

Sweet friends the quickest way to avoid stepping out of character is to guard our motives and the influencers in our circle. What is going on in our life that would motivate us to act contrary to who we are? Are we trying to fit into a new circle? Are we testing the waters of change because we no longer what to be who we’ve been? Or perhaps we’ve compromised on some critical points and the new reflection of us is less than we thought possible.

Note to self: stay true to self. Don’t allow the seemingly attractive lures to cause us to project a different view of us. Heed godly counsel and friends who recognize what we can’t see. Be women of steadfast integrity, unwavering in reflecting the image of our awesome Creator – simply us as God designed us.

“Father, help me to see the woman in the mirror and recognize when my character steps out of alignment with yours.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life