Hey guys! Just take a few seconds to read over these lyrics from Phantom of the Opera.

Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade

Masquerade!
Seething shadows
breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
any friend who
ever knew you!

Masquerade!
Run and hide -
but a face will
still pursue you!

Many of us find ourselves following this song and putting on a different Mask to cover up God in our day to day lives. Why do we do it? Why do we hide God? Why can we be a great Christian at Youth Group and church but not when we are around our friends and family, or at work, and school many of us can find ourselves losing God and putting on a Mask.

This song really gives us an idea of what is going on with ourselves and other Christians. Hide your face so the world will never see you, every face a different shade, seething shadows breathing lies, these are some examples of what we may do cover up the fact that we are Christians. Why are we so willing to change ourselves for the people around us by acting differently, lying, and changing the real you.

If you find yourself changing for your friends or people at school it can really have an effect on your relationship with God. Your friends are a really big part in your life and they have a very large influence on your actions and you can find yourself pushing away from God. But you always have to remember that God should be the most important part in your life and if your friends are getting in the way of him or not supporting your beliefs you maybe need to find some other friends who will. When being a Christian it really helps to have Christian friends to talk to about God and your faith. Find some friends to be your Support Group and that you can really communicate with. If you find that there are no Christians you can talk to just try to explain to your friends the pressure they are putting on you. If they are truly a good friend they will listen and try to support you.

It is really hard being a Christian in a family that is not religious. But you may over come it by just talking to your family and letting them know about your beliefs. I know it is really hard sometimes to speak to someone so close to you about it but in the end it will really help out your relationship with god. Having your family on your side is always a bonus! And my advice to you about bringing God to work is to just let God shine through you. You don't have to preach Gods word to get the message across. Sometimes just letting him shine through you does a better job.

As a Christian, God knows about all the trouble we have and he just wants us to talk to Him. Just pray to God and ask Him for the guidance and help to talk to your friends, and pray for the strength to be the same person you are without the Mask. And by speaking out about your beliefs you may be helping out another person who is struggling with their Masks. Do not let your desires get in the way of God because they will soon start to take over and you will not be able to find Him.

So get rid of all of your Masks and live everyday for god.

But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.

(Isaiah 59:2)

(Isaiah 53:5-6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

--Kathryn Brooks