This morning, I opened my book, Jesus Calling , to read the devotion for July 28th. As usual God was speaking to me. I listened and absorbed the truth in these words:
"Let My Love seep into the inner recesses of your being. Do not close
off any part of yourself from Me. I know you inside and out, so do not try
to present a 'cleaned-up' self to Me. Wounds that you shut away from the
Light of My Love will fester and become wormy. Secret sins that you 'hide'
from Me can split off and develop lives of their own, controlling you without
your realizing it.Open yourself fully to My transforming Presence. Let My brilliant
Love-Light search out and destroy hidden fears. This process requires time
alone with Me, as My Love soaks into your innermost being. Enjoy My
perfect Love, which expels every trace of fear."
I love how God's perfect love is stronger than all my fears...."expels every trace of fear". But in order for that to happen, I have to open my whole self to Him. That's what the verses in Psalm 139:23-24 are all about:
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
I know for a long time, I used to ask God to fix me, but I never asked Him to search me or examine me...I guess I was afraid of what He would find! But I didn't need to be afraid, He loves me NO MATTER WHAT! And He loves you too.
And 1 John 4:18:
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
God's love can quiet your fears and give you confidence.
This may sound petty, but I am feeling less than beautiful and less than confident in my body size. As I've mentioned before, I gained lots of weight over the past year! Like 30 pounds! I was healthy and in shape and now I'm not. "Failure" "Loser" (really gainer) "undisciplined"...these are all names I've called myself. Today I even called myself a cow and said "Rattle rattle here comes the cattle"..and I was referring to myself. I laughed about it, but I'm really ashamed that I would talk of myself that way. I know my Creator would NEVER say that about me.
That's one of the many reasons I need the Lord each and every moment of every day. Because I too quickly begin to ridicule myself. That's so wrong.
Here's my challenge to myself and to you this week: Only speak positively of yourself. Don't cut yourself down to yourself or anyone else. I'll agree to it, if you will? What do you say?
Let's ask God to examine us and know our thoughts and motives and remove any offensive thoughts or ways.
Feeling Beautiful? Well, not really. But I know I am. Thank You Lord that I AM NOT what my feelings are. I am Yours. I am Beautiful. And you are too:)
Love ya sweet sistas,
Melissa
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6 comments:
I'll join with you my friend!
WOW - I just read this after sending you that last message. It has spoken to me deeply! "Enjoy My perfect Love, which expels every trace of fear." "Secret sins that you 'hide' from Me can split off and develop lives of their own, controlling you without your realizing it". Powerful statements. Truths!
OK...no negative self talk this week!
Love ya too,
Joy
Those words are very comforting!! Yes, search me Lord and know my heart.
I am with you! No negative speech to myself this week. If God says I am beautiful than so it is!
God bless,
Bernadette
Melissa,
God has answered my prayer by sending me to your blog. I have been reading it for quit sometime now and you are helping so much to work through some of the things God is trying to work out in my life.
Your message today was what I truly needed to get me a jump start in getting rid of the bad self talk and have more good self talk. It really opened my eyes to how that stuff is really lies and God does not see my in that way at all. It is hard to shut the tapes down but I know that with God I will get through it.
God bless you and I thank God for you daily.
Sandy
It always makes me feel refreshed and resistant to ugliness after reading your blog posts! :)
I needed to hear this. Just today I was mulling over in my mind the recent news that our church youth group from the '60's (yes...I was a teenager in the '60's I hate to admit, howbeit the late '60's!ha) is going to have a reunion the last of August. Immediately I started to think whether or not they would snicker when they see me or worse yet, shun me! And then I decided that surely they have grown up now! And even if not, I hope that I have! I want to know about them.....what they have done with their lives....what great "God-moments" they have had along the way, etc., etc. And I've ask the Lord to help me remember that HE loves me just the way I am.
Melissa....I hope you have a BEAUTIFUL week!
Marilyn in Mississippi
Wow,
Until I read this, I didn't realize just how much negative talk I was hearing in my head, even if I didn't say it out loud...
So, I suppose the stuff in our heads counts too, huh?
Sigh.
Ok, I am with you on this. And I just have to pray that God will keep me from forgetting.
Thank you for the reminder...
God bless,
Heather
today's devotional reads like my diary, your blog is amazing. The negative feelings and thoughts I have about myself consume me daily. As much as I know God loves me just the way I am and I tell my children it daily I don't seem to be able to get it from my head to my heart. With the Agape love of my saviour I pray that this week I will deny all of those thoughts and allow only God's Truth into my life. God Bless
Bridget far off in Scotland.
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