When God calls us to a new life, He promises to change us from our old way of thinking and acting into Spirit-driven, on-fire, Beloved sons and daughters. And He's not just asking us to be religious and do it ourselves. If that were true, then everybody could change their bad habits. The truth is, we can't live this new life without the power of God. John the Baptist is writing, here in Matthew 3, about the One who does that, and He is none other than Jesus. He's going to ignite a kingdom life inside of you: a new way of thinking, a new way of loving people, and a new way of doing everything. He does that by filling us with the Holy Spirit and changing us from the inside-out. Not the other way around. Religious people are always worrying about what they look like on the outside, making themselves feel (or at least look) superior. On the other hand, the ones who are filled with the fire of God live out of a place of gratitude. They know that without Him, they would be just like the most broken person on the earth. 
 
Are there places in your life today that you are "dressing up" so that when others see you, they think you're doing great? Ask Jesus into those places, the places where you feel a need to pretend. Aren't those the places that take the most energy to maintain? Isn’t this what is keep you from living as the Beloved? The more we surrender our weaknesses to God, the more He promises to fill us with His strength. 
 
Father, I don't want to pretend anymore. I confess to You those hurting places in my heart. I have held back because I'm afraid of what others might think. Heal me from the inside-out. Holy Spirit, come and fill me again so that I can be more like You. In Jesus' name, Amen!