With Women’s Month starting today, I thought it would be a good time to get real. Let’s remove the masks we often hide behind when things get tough. I want to share who I am with you who the Gwen is beneath the masks, and what I have overcome to stand in God’s authority healed and forgiven. Many times I’ve asked God this question: Who am I, Lord? Just a heads-up—these are the reflections of a woman sharing her truth as it is. Life isn’t always pretty, but it is real. So, throughout this month, what you read may not always be perfectly polished, but it will be genuine.
So many times putting on the mask is just so much easier, in our relationships with our husbands, families, friends, and even strangers it seems as if the only time the mask can come off is with God. That moment when you plant your weary soul into His lap and wait to hear Him say Gwen you are mine, loved, cherished, and forgiven. God has released me of all the times I offended someone with my wrong face, tone, and words. All the times I said it wrong, did it too slow or too fast, for all the times I became offended.
I can’t tell you how many times I have gone before the throne of the Great I Am, asking the Lord for a new day of forgiveness. “Lord, please forgive me for not answering the phone, for feeling inadequate, for crying over past mistakes I can never change, and for mourning time I can never get back. Forgive me for the forgiveness I didn’t accept and the forgiveness I never gave, for holding on too tightly, or for not letting go when the burden was no longer mine to carry.” Every heartfelt plea before my Father always ends with His whisper: “Gwen, you are forgiven.”
“Lord, forgive me for the times I have hated who You have made me to be.” So often, I forget that this woman, this daughter, was created perfect. You, Lord, made me in Your image for Your purpose. Many times, I claim, “I don’t blaspheme God’s name,” yet I blaspheme His image every time I look at myself with disdain and fail to see anything worthy of love. “Lord, I am so sorry for blaspheming Your image every time I put on that mask, hiding behind the world’s opinions so I don’t have to face the truth that I don’t need to look like the world to be loved and used by You.”
Breathe, Gwen. Remember, you are not chosen for this world; you are chosen by God, for God. That is why you don’t look like this world, and that is why you don’t sound like this world—you were set apart by the One who set the world in motion.
Don’t let who you are be just another story!!
– Woman Anchored In Hope
This is me Gwen keeping it real, I can tell you in all honesty I don’t have it all worked out even now, I haven’t figured out life and my walk with God 100%. But as I grow in my faith and grow in my relationship with Jesus, it becomes less about me. I find myself praising and worshipping God all day. As my relationship with God becomes more intimate, my expectations; are less of who I am, and who I want to be, and more of WHO I AM IN CHRIST JESUS.
The weight of the world is not weighing me down, not because of who I am, but because of Who God is within me. His peace, His love, and His Kindness. He has set me free, free from the need to be pleasing to anyone else but God. Free of the need to have everything perfect, free of my weight, free of not remembering, free of not getting healed, free of these seizures and what it will look like to strangers, free of my expectations of myself, and finally free of the opinions of others of who and what I should be.
Give me strength Jesus to take up my cross and follow You wherever you may lead.
Today I want to ask you do you have the strength ‘to keep it real with me?’ do you have the strength to ask the question? Lord, Who am I? If you are standing at the precipice of change, take this challenge with me this women’s month. Put your name in this post – get real with the Saviour of the world.
Stop Jesus now, crawl if you have to but don’t let Him pass you by – become your ambassador, fight for who you are in Christ and give Him all of YOU because He is worth it, and you deserve it. You deserve to stand Tall.
He wants you just the way you are – With you Jesus broke the mould! You are beautiful, every bit of you God chose first, He created you, He loves you and He died for you.
Lord Who Am I – the whispers that echoed into the depths of my soul are now shouting I am Gwen:
- I am a Child of God
- “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
- You are a beloved child of God, adopted into His family through faith in Jesus Christ.
- “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
- I am Wonderfully Made
- “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14
- You are uniquely created by God, designed with purpose and intentionality.
- “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14
- I am Chosen and Loved
- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
- You are chosen by God, set apart to declare His praises and live in His light.
- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
- I am Redeemed and Forgiven
- “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” – Ephesians 1:7
- Through Jesus’ sacrifice, you are redeemed and your sins are forgiven, demonstrating God’s abundant grace.
- “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” – Ephesians 1:7
- I am A New Creation
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- In Christ, you are a new creation, transformed by His love and grace.
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- I am God’s Masterpiece
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
- You are God’s masterpiece, created to fulfill the good works He has planned for you.
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
- I am A Temple of the Holy Spirit
- “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19
- The Holy Spirit dwells within you, making you a living temple of God’s presence.
- “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19
- I am Heir with Christ
- “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – Romans 8:17
- As God’s child, you are an heir, sharing in the inheritance of Christ’s glory.
- “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – Romans 8:17
- I am the Light of the World
- “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14
- You are called to be a light in the world, reflecting God’s love and truth to those around you.
- “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14
- I am More Than a Conqueror
- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
- Through Christ’s love, you are more than a conqueror, able to overcome any obstacle.
- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
- I am Free from all Condemnation
- “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
- In Christ, you are free from condemnation, living in the freedom of His grace.
- “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
- I am an Ambassador for Christ
- “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20
- You are an ambassador for Christ, representing Him and sharing His message of reconciliation.
- “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20
- I am Victorious
- “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57
- You have victory in Jesus, overcoming sin and death through His resurrection.
- “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57
- I am the Salt of the Earth
- “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” – Matthew 5:13
- You are called to be the salt of the earth, preserving and enhancing the world with God’s truth and love.
- “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” – Matthew 5:13
- I am a Friend of God
- “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:15
- Jesus calls you His friend, sharing His heart and mission with you.
- “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:15
- I am Justified and Righteous in Christ Jesus
- “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1
- You are justified by faith and made righteous in God’s sight through Jesus.
- “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1
- I am God’s Workmanship
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
- You are God’s workmanship, intricately designed for a unique purpose.
- “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
- I am your Beloved
- “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1
- You are deeply loved by the Father, cherished as His precious child.
- “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1
- I am a Citizen of Heaven
- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20
- You are a citizen of heaven, awaiting the return of your Savior, Jesus Christ.
- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20
- I am Redeemed from the Curse
- “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'” – Galatians 3:13
- You are redeemed from the curse of the law, set free by Jesus’ sacrifice.
- “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'” – Galatians 3:13
- I am Complete in Christ Jesus
- “And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” – Colossians 2:10
- In Christ, you are complete, lacking nothing because He is your fullness.
- “And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” – Colossians 2:10
- I am Set Free
- “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
- You are set free by Jesus, liberated to live in the freedom of His grace.
- “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
- I am Holy and Blameless
- “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” – Ephesians 1:4
- You are chosen to be holy and blameless before God, covered by Christ’s righteousness.
- “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” – Ephesians 1:4
- I am Alive with Christ
- “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5
- You are made alive with Christ, saved by His grace and love.
- “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5
This month, we will share weekly posts as we open our hearts to God. Through confession, forgiveness, and restoration, we aim to stop pouring out all we have to others, leaving ourselves with only crumbs. Crumbs that we would never offer to anyone else, yet accept for ourselves. It’s time to move beyond merely surviving and start thriving as chosen women of the Most High King.
He has set me free, free from the need to be pleasing to anyone else but God.
– Gwennie (keeping it real)
If you’re ready to keep it real and turn your life around, join me in this prayer. In my walk with Christ, I’ve brought myself to the altar of mercy countless times, overwhelmed by pain, and God has never left me in that broken mess. It’s only through Him that I can say today, “Gwen, you are still standing, and you will stand tomorrow and the day after that.”
Dear Lord, here I stand, feeling empty, overwhelmed, undernourished, and exhausted. I long to remove the mask that hides my true self, for when I am not genuine, I feel the decay of insincerity within my soul. I am weary of pretending to be someone I am not. Here I am, Jesus, reaching for Your hand—please don’t let me go. I am buckling under this weight, having sought help in all the wrong places for so long. Today, I acknowledge that only You can save me. I surrender my will to Yours, holding nothing back. I want to be real with You, knowing that I can finally face all the broken pieces, trusting that You are the One who mends me. I am no longer the woman I was before Your blood was shed for me; I am Gwen, washed in Your blood, renewed by Your Spirit, and embraced in Your glory. I no longer walk alone but walk with You within me. I no longer merely survive but thrive in the Spirit You have given me. Amen.
