Uncut: The Importance of Unfiltered Encounters with Jesus
Written By: Alexandria King
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
So picture this. You’re scrolling through the 20- 50 pictures you just took on your phone prepared to favorite all the ones you like. You pick the top ones from your favorites and then proceed to edit and filter them until they’re absolutely perfect. Now you’re ready to share yourself with the people on your favorite app. It’s not like that with God. We don’t have to crop and filter ourselves in order to present ourselves before him. In fact, it’s better that we don’t. The Father’s presence will always be a safe space. A space where we can be completely genuine, show who we are and grow into who we’re made to be. We’re going to discuss three reasons why you can be uncut and unfiltered with Christ.
1. Filters lead to a distorted View
1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
When we put on an act or edit ourselves before going into an encounter or conversation with the Father, we are distorting our view of ourselves. We are deciding to look in the mirror and see an altered picture. Meanwhile, God is looking in that same mirror and seeing the unaltered reflection. So while we may sometimes think that in editing ourselves we are hiding something from the Father, the reality is He already knows. Therefore, the only person we really end up deceiving is ourselves.
2. Peeling back layers brings freedom
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “
When we present ourselves to God in our truest forms (the form He already knows so well and loves), we can experience true freedom. In going to God unedited, we acknowledge the ways we’ve missed the mark. Upon this being done, God can wash us from those thoughts and experiences, and we can be made completely new and not attached to our mistakes but to God’s love. There’s a freedom in not being held to past mistakes and knowing that in us coming in truth to God, He forgives us. There is also freedom in showing God every portion of our being and still experiencing His full love and acceptance.
3. Openness leads to more intimacy
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”
There’s a closeness that comes between two beings when one decides to reveal more of who they are to the other. We can experience this between us and God as we pour out our hearts to Him. Even as we pour out our hearts to Him, He fills us back up with His love and peace. It’s a beautiful exchange that builds a strong and necessary bond between us and our creator.
Hopefully, in reading this piece you were able to find some reasons to be real with God. I pray that you are able to cast all of your cares on the Father and experience the intimacy and freedom that comes when we have unfiltered encounters with God.
