Who Are You When No-one Is Looking? by Ps Michael Podhaczky

If someone were to ask you, ‘Who are you when no one is looking?’ what would you say? Stop for a moment and think about it.

If we are completely honest, we can all fall into the trap of doing good or doing the right thing, or appearing to be good or doing the right thing. We can tend to do these things in order to get the praise of acceptance of others. This is the habit of trying to please others, which in the end can break our heart.

How would you answer these questions?

- What about when you are alone; are you a different person than who you are in public?

- Who are you, really, when no one else sees?

If we feel that we have failed here, then we may start justifying harmful habits, or simply give into sin when no one is looking. Then again, we might fall prey to the enemy’s pressure, then our guilty conscience, and feelings of shame make us feel bad or worthless. However, remember that the Holy Spirit knows exactly how we feel and the temptations at these moments. He knows our true motives to lead and help us, as we can fool ourselves.

On a practical level, I have found that there is a verse in Matthew’s gospel that has been a great help to me in this area. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that it has stopped some habits, or stopped me sinning, but it has helped me on a journey towards a better place in life. This verse is found in what have been called the Be-attitudes,

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8 ESV).

When I find myself in a situation or a time of temptation, I have given the Holy Spirit the right to bring this verse to my attention. Then I ask myself two questions;

·         Does what I’m saying, doing, thinking etc., reflect the pure heart that I have been given when I was born anew?

·         What is of more value to me both now and in the long term; is it short term gratification, or seeing God?

Now, I have been asking these two questions for so long based on this verse that they flash into my mind in an instant.

Do I always have victory, no, but I am aligning my thoughts more and more with the thoughts of the Holy Spirit. The times that I stumble, I apologise and ask for His strength to live from the pure heart that I have been given next time. Then I go on with life instead of dwelling on shame and guilt.