"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Mariann Williamson
I love this quote for so many reasons, but what I love most about it is the part that she says, “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
I don't know if you have seen this before or if you have done this before...I know I have...but you're in youth service and the praise and worship music starts and nobody is singing...nobody is even paying attention. You want to sing, you want to be a part of it, but you're almost afraid that if you do, that people will see you as weird.
Or, maybe other students are singing, but you want to express your praise through raising your hands, but nobody else is and you aren't quite sure if you want to, because you don't want to be seen as weird.
But I want to encourage you to not be afraid to go first, because when you go first, you unconsciously give others permission to go, too.
Psalm 34:1-4 says, "I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears."
In these verses God is telling us that when we call out to Him, He will answer us and free us from all our fears.
You were called to be difference-makers. You were called to be world-changers. Don't be afraid to go first!
To learn more, check out this week's episode!
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