Reflection...

This has been a particularly busy week as I am deep in rehearsals preparing for Chosen (my church’s women’s conference).  I love my church, I love Chosen, and I really love singing worship music so it’s been a fun week as well.  Every year, Chosen has a theme and this year the theme is Chosen Treasure. This weekend, the women who are blessed enough to be able to attend Chosen will hear again and again they are a treasure to God. I’m so excited!  I decided to blog about something that goes along with the idea that we are indeed chosen as a precious treasure to the heart of our Father. 

Often times I get my inspiration from something I’ve heard in one of my women’s ministry meetings or from someone’s testimony.  Other times, I get it from a line in a movie or even a facebook status.  This one came from devotion time with my daughter, Lexi.   Every night, we take time to read from a little devotional she has and then we all pray together as a family.  This particular evening, the devotional posed the question:

  “Do you like what you see when you look in the mirror?”

I read that question aloud and Lexi without hesitation looked up at me with a sweet little grin and nodded her head, “yes”.  That moment struck me instantly.  First of all because I loved how she responded and I decided then and there that I never want her to lose that feeling.  I want her to always be happy with what she sees when she looks in the mirror both physically and in her countenance.  I pray that when she sees her own reflection, the light in her eyes that dances with joy and love and kindness would give her the confidence in who God made her to be so that she will always be pleased with who she is and what she sees in herself.  I also pray that the Lord would help me to encourage and cultivate that in her.

After that initial and immediate feeling came upon me, I started to think about it more broadly.  I thought about how many of us can truly say we are happy with or like what we see when we look in the mirror.  I know for myself there have been many, many times when I have been displeased not only with my physical appearance but my countenance as well.  I think it is safe to assume I am not alone in that…which is why I decided to write about it.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how important it is to like what we see when we look in the mirror.  How much more powerful would we be if we truly were happy with who we are inside and out?  Imagine the power we would have if we really grasped who God says we are! Imagine the power we would have if we really understood we were fearfully and wonderfully made! Imagine the power we would have if we really, really knew we were made in the very image of God! He doesn’t make mistakes.  We were made exactly how He wanted us to be made.  We are a priceless treasure to His heart. There is power in confidence…confidence in knowing our God is working in us to do His good will and pleasure.  Insecurity, self-doubt, self-loathing, and feelings of worthlessness or unworthiness hold so many of us back from walking confidently in our God-given purposes.  How differently would we live our lives if we let go of all of that?

When the devotion time was over, I asked Lexi why she thought she was beautiful and she thought for a moment and replied, “Because I look like you, Mommy”.  Of course that made me smile from ear to ear but then I looked at it more deeply.  We are the very image of Christ and He is beautiful!  We are beautiful because we look like Him! Talk about an epiphany! Beauty is so much more…so, so much more than our outward appearance.  The most beautiful woman in the world or the most handsome man could instantly lose his or her attractiveness if they are mean or treat people badly.  The outward appearance will only get them so far.  But if we reflect the very image of Christ, the love of Jesus, the joy that is our strength…how beautiful is that? 

I, for one, have decided to be like my little girl…to look in the mirror and choose to be happy with what I see.  Shouldn’t we all? The Word says that we are the light of the world!  If that light is so hidden behind insecurities and self-doubt, how can we share it?  If the light is gone, what darkened it or hid it?  Release whatever it is or whoever it is to God and allow healing and restoration to take place…not only for your sake but for the glory of God and for the fulfilling of His purpose for you on this earth that affects those He puts in your path.  His light penetrates all darkness! Look in the mirror and see that light of joy, peace, love, faith, redemption, grace, and mercy and then go out and spread it all around!  Rejoice in your reflection…it is the beautiful image of God’s great workmanship.

Be blessed and until next time…remember…you are a chosen treasure to the heart of God!  You just need to believe it so you can live it!

 

Much love and many blessings,

Nancy