Joel Osteen Devotional February 14 2021 – No Blessing in Pretending

1 Timothy 1:5, NIV

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

It’s easy to go through life wearing masks, acting one way for our boss, one way for our friends, and another way for our spouse. Because we’re not secure in who we are, we feel a need to impress, to prove something to people, so we pretend and hide behind personal masks. Oftentimes it’s the mask of pride. I don’t have any issues. I don’t need any help. But God will not bless who you pretend to be. God blesses people who are real, people who are honest enough to say, God, I have this bad habit. I’m struggling with my temper. I need Your help, so I’m taking off the mask. When you’re honest, you open the door for God to come in and change things. The apostle Paul said that love flows from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. It’s time to take off that mask and be honest. When you get down to the real you, that’s when God can turn things around.

Father, thank You that I don’t have to hide my weaknesses or mask my shortcomings. Search my heart and show me where my motives are wrong and where I’m pretending. I humbly admit that I don’t have it all together, and I’m glad You’re still working on me. In Jesus Name, Amen.