Living Authentic - Refuge Connect Recap

Two weeks ago Mid-Way had its annual Refuge Connect Weekend for the students in our youth ministry. This weekend is all about getting students away from distractions and into God’s Word while being surrounded by a church family that loves them. This year the theme was "Authentic". Throughout the weekend students were invited to dive into topics under the umbrella of authenticity such as private integrity, public pressure to perform, and lifelong consistency.

Although I was home with my two boys most of the weekend, I was able to ask my 11th grade girls small group what they thought about the weekend. The overwhelming majority said that they felt conviction from the Lord to live authentically. Meaning that their inside matched their outside, and their love for Jesus truly lined up with how they were actually living.

I unfortunately cannot condense into this tiny email the impact these events have on our youth students. However, I will say because of our amazing God who pursues us, we did have 26 rededications to the Lord, 5 students wanting to be baptized, 7 salvations, 11 calls to ministry, and 102 students wanting to grow closer to the Lord. Thank you Jesus!

Prayer Tip: Pray to live a life of authenticity

Proverbs 10:9

One who walks in integrity walks securely,

but one who perverts his ways will be found out.

One of the things I love about youth ministry is that although these events are geared for the students, they convict me just as much, if not more than the students! Some of the questions that were asked throughout the weekend were:

- If someone saw your private life, would it strengthen or weaken your public witness?

- Are you putting on a performance so people will think you are better than you are?

- Are you more afraid of being exposed or being changed?

- Do you think God is disappointed in who you are?

These are questions that I think we all need to ask ourselves every once in a while. Because if I truly want the Lord to use ME, it has to be me. It cannot be the person I’m pretending to be online, It cannot be the person I’m trying to self-discipline myself into being, and it cannot be the person who pretends to have it all together but is secretly drowning. It has to be the real authentic me.

The Lord created you, friend. He has searched you and known you. He knows everything about you. And while this can make some of us tense up, I want to encourage you that this is a wonderful and freeing thing! We do not have to put on a show for our God or anyone else for that matter. We do not need to pretend we are better than we actually are. We truly can live a life of authenticity knowing that He still chose the cross despite ourselves. Thank you, Lord!

Prayer Points:

~ Lord, thank You for being El Roi, the God who sees me in every moment of my  life.

~ Lord, thank You for making me into a new creation. Help me to walk into who You  want me to be.

~ Jesus, convict me in areas where I haven’t been living an authentic life.

~ Lord, give me the courage to open up to my close friends about what’s really  going on in my life.

Lord, You truly have searched me and known me. You know when I rise and when I go to sleep. There isn’t a place I could go where You are not with me. Thank you Jesus that You seek after Your children, even whenever we choose to hide. Lord, would You show me the areas in my life that I am not living in the authenticity You’ve called me to. Jesus, help me to be honest with You and my close friends around me about the state of my heart. I want to trust You and honor You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Emma Staubs

Flourish Women's Ministry

Mid-Way Baptist Church