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b'\\u201cAm I fake?\\u201d Has this thought ever crossed your mind? You are not alone. When someone decides to become a Christian, they might be surprised to discover they still struggle with sin. Even if they are working hard to follow Jesus and reshape their life choices and patterns, mess-ups inevitably happen. Trials come. The old you may be tempted to join in with thoughts and actions that don\\u2019t honor God. But the new you (with Jesus at the center of your life) wants to reject your past and strive to live in God\\u2019s good ways. This can feel like an internal battle.\\nBecause the world is broken, we experience hurt every day, and it\\u2019s easy to become enraged, bitter, or apathetic. The way we react to these struggles\\u2014 whether with hatred, a fiery retort, or impatience\\u2014can leave a burning question in our heart: \\u201cAm I a fraud? Why am I so upset? I\\u2019m supposed to be a Christian.\\u201d\\nDon\\u2019t despair. This is perfectly normal. The apostles were tempted and had imperfections\\u2014think of Peter\\u2019s fiery temper and how he cut off Malchus\\u2019s ear in John 18:10\\u2014and yet they were present with Jesus. We all face temptations, and when we recognize them, we may feel discomfort, but Jesus promises He will never leave us. His Spirit is in us and working to restore us, day by day shaping us to become more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).\\nYou are not a fake Christian if you lose your temper or say something wrong\\u2014you are a human Jesus loves. Even though you are being transformed, following Jesus isn\\u2019t easy. Making changes is a lifelong choice that doesn\\u2019t happen instantaneously, but you are not alone in the process. You are on a spiritual journey with Jesus. Remember that artwork doesn\\u2019t become a masterpiece right away; it happens in stages with a few brushstrokes here and there until a beautiful picture is made. As Christians, we are all God\\u2019s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).\\nSo keep going. Persevere because through it all you have a heavenly Father who loves you dearly, the Holy Spirit who helps you in your weakness, and Jesus who took all your sins upon Himself when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. If you\\u2019ve put your trust in Jesus, you are totally forgiven, and nothing can separate you from His love. \\u2022 Cindy Lee\\n\\u2022 Do you ever feel like a fake or a fraud? \\n\\u2022 As Christians, how can we come alongside each other when we sin? (Galatians 6:1-5) \\nI press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nGen.1.27|Ps.139.14|Jer.1.5|Eph.2.10'