“Pure gold put in the fire comes out it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.” ~1 Peter 1:6-7, The Message

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year! As we counted down the last seconds of 2013, all thoughts and dreams were pinned on the hope of a new beginning and a chance to put behind the past. A New year also brings with it the promise of 365 more days to prove the “genuineness” of our faith. As Peter writes, one way we prove the genuineness and authenticity of our faith is through trials and suffering. In the crucible of difficult circumstances, often our faith is tested and strengthened.

Though it may be easier to be genuine during the tough times, how do we strive for daily authenticity? Author Brene Brown in her best-selling book, The Gifts of Imperfection defines authenticity as “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 (49).

Our daily choice to let “our true selves be seen” can be tricky, especially in an industry that celebrates performance and elevates the superficial. Brown’s admonition, however, that we have the “choice to show up and be real,” is exactly where we can ask for God’s help in being who He created us to be.

As we move forward into 2014, let’s strive to make daily choices to choose authenticity, which will also prove our faith.

Which areas of your life do you desire to move from superficial to genuine?

How will you ask God this year to infuse His authenticity into all you do?

To learn more about practical ways to cultivate your faith and authenticity, join H4H and Brene Brown for a new e-course starting January 17. Join us here.