We have just witnessed a day when adults and children dressed up to be something or someone they were not. A costume that covered their real identity. We have watched commercials and tv programs and wondered why they used a particular person to be part of the program other than their looks. We have seen the decorations start to be displayed in stores of Christmas trees with beautifully wrapped boxes underneath, complete with fancy bows and ribbons. If you opened those beautifully wrapped boxes they would be empty. The truth is that the world we live in now is full of empty, decorated, people pretending to be what they are not. It is called “Eye Candy.” It is make believe. We don’t want people to know what is on the inside. My Bible reading this morning talked about a princess in her chamber with a gown woven with gold. Her life was full. She has value. (Psalm 45:13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.) The importance of the inner life cannot be overstated. God puts the Holy Spirit in us to develop value in our lives. The Spirit reveals to us the value our lives are to God. We develop a life with real meaning. Our attitudes, our motivation, priorities, and confidence rises to a new level. We can remove the eye candy decorations from the outside of our lives and show the world who we really are. We no longer have to cover up what is missing because the Spirit has filled our life with new value and meaning. Don’t stay trapped in your cover up prison. Let the freedom that comes through the work of the Holy Spirit remove your fake identity and show the world you are a child of God. Pastor Don