Everyone has something of God in them… a seed of God that was planted the moment of their conception. Genesis reminds us that God has created us in God’s image… and that is very good. Think about that for a moment… There is something uniquely wonderful in you. A seed waiting to be cultivated and cared for. We all have it. Each of us reflect that image in a different and unique way.

4. Cultivate (verb): to prepare and
use for the raising of crops; to foster
the growth of; to improve by labor,
care, or study; to refine; to further; to
encourage.

8. Jesus leaves the wilderness with a
renewed sense of purpose and resolve
to live into and out of his true
identity as the Son of God, Savior of
the world.

11. As the dawn approaches, they are
awakened to what they are truly
capable of, the gifts and resilience
within them and often a vision that
will carry them into the future.

18. Jesus could have done all of those
things that the devil demanded of
him, but that was not his authentic
self… it was not his identity as the
beloved Son of God. And so he
chooses to cultivate authenticity and
faithfulness and let go of what others
thought of him and the easy way out.

19. “Identity. It’s always God’s first
move. Before we do anything wrong
and before we do anything right, God
has named and claimed us as God’s
own. But almost immediately, other
things try to tell us who we are and to
whom we belong: capitalism, the
weight-loss industrial complex, our
parents, kids at school- they all have
a go at telling us who we are.

20. But only God can do that. Everything
else is temptation. Maybe demons
are defined as anything other than
God that tries to tell us who we are.”
– Nadia Boltz-Weber, Patrix

23. There is something uniquely
wonderful in you. A seed waiting to
be cultivated and cared for. We all
have it. Each of us reflect that image
in a different and unique way.

25. “We cultivate love when we allow our
most vulnerable and powerful selves
to be deeply seen and known, and
when we honor the spiritual
connection that grows from that
offering with trust, respect, kindness
and affection.” – Dr. Brene Brown

27. What people, activities, things in our
lives spark joy? Bring out our truest
selves? The unique image of God in
us? What are the things in our lives or
the people in our lives that foster
authenticity?

28. What things do we need to let go of?
Are there unhealthy relationships in
your life that are causing you to
doubt yourself? To be critical? To
question your unique gifts and
abilities? Are there distractions,
worries or things in your life that are
causing you to miss out on the joy of
just being you?

30. “Authenticity is a collection of choices
that we have to make every day. It's
about the choice to show up and be
real. The choice to be honest. The
choice to let our true selves be seen.”
– Dr. Brene brown

32. Trying to be someone that we are not
is an exhausting task. But God does
not ask us that. God loves us the way
God created us and God invites us to
choose to be intentional about
cultivating that in our lives and living
that out in with integrity.