Bible Verse: Psalms 139:1-3

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Beyond clichés:

Although we hide our true feelings behind masks and social pleasantries most of the time, one of the greatest desires of the human heart is to be known and ultimately valued. We inherently desire for someone to see beyond the clichés and fake smiles to who we truly are -- to look deeper than the surface, past the perpetual front to a heart waiting to be understood. We have no idea how much our lives would be enriched if we opened up. Still, we try so many ineffective other ways to fill the void.

However, if we want people to know the reality of who we are, we need first to be authentic and real with ourselves. We must overcome our fear and nurture the desire for a true connection that God has placed in all of us. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion, but also respect the opinions of others. Get out of your comfort zone and show kindness not indifference – not just to those in your circle, but also those on the fringes. And most of all, we need to practice acceptance and give the Holy Spirit room to foster change and growth.

There is definite risk in allowing our truth to be “out there” for the world to see and to judge, however the rewards far outweigh the fear and discomfort as we learn to let go and let others in. In order to touch the world with what the Lord has placed in us, we must go beyond the clichés to share Him with everyone.