Who I am and where my loyalty is ... and giving God more space.

1."Show your true colors"

The expression goes back to the days of fighting sail when ship captains would disguise the nationality of their vessels by flying a false flag. Once in range of their enemy, they would strike the false flag and hoist their own country's flag (their true colors).

While one could say that it means to "show who you really are", the connotations of the expression refer more exactly to showing what your loyalties are.

In the Age of Pirates a pirate ship would fly the flag of a friendly ship until it was up close, and then it would run up the Jolly Rodger when it was too close to escape from.
So the Jolly Rodger was their true colors instead of the false flag they usually sailed

2. “Nail your colors to the mast”

To defiantly display one's opinions and beliefs.

Also, to show one's intention to hold on to those beliefs until the end.

When a ship’s captain ‘nailed his colors to the mast’ he did two things.

1/ First, it was to state clearly the identity of the ship and who she served.

2/ Second, it also made surrender virtually impossible. It was a bold act of defiance, saying, in effect, that we will sink rather than admit defeat.

3. … and give God more space.

This Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent. Fasting means to abstain from something ... by tradition usually food; but one can also be fasting by giving God more time/space by refraining from activities that occupies most of our leisure time. I can take an activity that occupies my time every day and give that time to God.

In these days when mixing religions and beliefs has become a popular delusion and nowhere is Jesus to be found in that mix it is important to show what the Gospel is all about.  To “show my true colors and nail my colors to the mast” is more important than ever. Christians all over the world are suffering persecution for holding on to their faith in Jesus Christ and Christians are killed because they are simply Christians. It is time to stop playing religion and "live Christ".

Take a moment and think about what this would mean to you and if it will change the life you live today. 

Sincerely yours

Ida