Reveal the Real

YOUNG GIRL HOLDING A MIRROR
© Ramona Smiers | Dreamstime.com

I know God accepts me just as I am, but I have a hard time accepting myself just as I am. As a matter of fact, I’d have to say that this is my BIGGEST struggle in my walk with the Lord. I always feel like I have to be perfect… or at least closer than I am. In my eyes, I have believed the lie that I am not good enough. Just knowing that God accepts me doesn’t change me. I know it, but do I believe it? I have to change the way I believe about myself and so do you!

I find myself thinking on this more and more lately. I’m sure it’s God trying to get me to deal with it. I know that once I stop rejecting His image of me and start embracing it everyday, then what I am in God’s eyes will start to manifest in my life. In my eyes, I’ve wanted to see myself as perfect. In His eyes, I can see myself as loved.

We have really over-rated perfection as Christians. I just read a statement recently that said, “I don’t think it bothers the world that we Christians sin; It bothers the world that we act like we don’t!” We have all painted a picture in our minds how a Christian should behave or look when, in fact, all God wants is for us to just be real. No matter what we look like or what mistake we just made today, we can keep on going because He accepts and loves us just as we are.

I may still struggle with this today, but I am starting to change. Because I know that God accepts me, it helps me know that I still have a chance. He will not give up on me no matter how hard-headed I may seem in this area of my life! If I say or do something to put myself down, then I have to recognize that and give it to God RIGHT THEN, asking Him to help me see myself the way He sees me. One step at a time, one day at a time is how change takes place. We have to be willing to give our insecurities, fears and self-doubt to God everyday…everyday!!

You know, WE are our biggest enemy. If we can ever get past US, then God can really use us in so many areas. I accept myself more today than I did five years ago or even a year ago. It’s a process that I am willing to walk out because I want all God has for me in His Kingdom!! I am definitely learning not to seek perfection, but to just seek being real. That’s all God is asking for from both you and me!!!

~ Michelle Parrish

No Strings Attached

As the worship music began playing, I was surprised to see a little boy standing in front of me with outstretched arms. I didn’t think this little guy even knew me, but here he was, wanting to give me a hug. His eyes never wandered. He wasn’t looking for a way out of it; he had initiated this hug, and he was waiting patiently for me to accept it. I smiled and opened my arms to welcome his little arms. When we hugged, it was like I instantly felt better. We never exchanged any words; his outpouring of love was enough. This spontaneous act of kindness brought with it a feeling of wonder and awe. That little boy didn’t look at me as just some girl in a wheelchair. He saw me for who I am…no strings attached.

This sweet interaction reminded me of Jesus when He was on the cross. He had love to give, and He was waiting for us to accept it. While He endured excruciating pain, He never wavered in His purpose. He looked at each human as a person who needed His love. His arms were outstretched, waiting for all who would embrace Him.

How many of us could use a little more love in our lives? How many times do we reject love from a friend or child just because of the “package” or appearance? If you open your heart, you’ll find that you have more love to give than you ever thought possible. You’ll also realize how much you need others, because whether you like it or not, you can’t travel this journey called life alone. You need others to encourage you, to challenge you, and to lean on. Love is in many places; you just have to be open to it.

What does love look like to you?

~by Madison Sanders

Facing The Man in the Mirror

I’ve got a dear friend who is really struggling with self-acceptance. He’s one of those people who embodies that tragic combination of “perfectionist” and “realist”… in other words, he strives to be the “perfect” person he thinks he should be, while being realistic enough to know it will never really happen. Hence, the dilemma… how does one accept oneself, knowing perfection is unattainable?

I’ll give you more of my thoughts on this tomorrow. In the meantime, how do YOU cope with this dilemma?

~Linda

Fight to the Finish

Endure.

I just feel burnt out. I feel stretched thin. I need some time. I’m overextended right now. Work’s not going well. My family is making me crazy. I can’t do all of these things that are being asked of me. The list goes on.

Hey, we all make mistakes and say foolish things. To further complicate our lives, we often don’t know when to say yes and when to say no; we confuse good for God and end up doing too much. While these things may be true, we also need to remind ourselves that we must learn to endure. In fact, it could be that our inability or unwillingness to endure is what draws out all of our complaints and murmurings in the first place.

It is safe to assume that endure is not a buzzword in society today. It’s certainly not a popular catch phrase. Can you imagine a prophet of God standing up on New Year’s Eve and proclaiming, “The word of the Lord for 2009 is Endure!” He would be called a false prophet immediately! Especially since it doesn’t even rhyme!

Webster defines endure like this : 1. to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in 2. to regard with acceptance or tolerance 3. to continue in the same state 4. to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” – 2 Tim 2:2-4

Paul was writing his last letter to his spiritual son Timothy. He was encouraging him to hold fast to the gift that was in him and to stay true to God among a church world that was falling into all manner of false religion. He didn’t tell him to avoid hardness or to abstain from difficult tasks. Paul said endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. A soldier! Now I’ve never served in the armed forces, but I have enough sense to know that they don’t coddle you and pamper you. It’s hard. It’s demanding. It’s tough! Maybe we need to learn to be tough when we have to endure.

I’m not saying we lean on the arm of the flesh and trust in our own strength. That’s as foolish as saying I can’t make it; rather I’m saying lean into the Father. Lean into the Grace He has given you. Lean into the Family of God. Find the strength to endure that can only come from the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are praying for change. We are asking God to reveal things to us. We are asking to be trusted with things that are far more precious than silver and gold, and yet we often refuse to endure the process that brings us to God’s ultimate plans. We ask for the Gold Medals of the Kingdom but refuse to train and suffer under the hardships of growth and self-evaluation. We seek the rewards of the treasure but refuse to accept the responsibility of stewardship.

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Let’s seek Him for a renewed ability to endure, knowing there are great benefits that come with endurance.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. – James 1:2-6a

Q: What is it that you are facing right now that you need strength to endure? Are you crumbling under the weight of it, or are you seeking for strength to overcome it?

5 Stages of Dying to Selfishness

 

Nobody really wants to die. As human beings, we have a natural aversion to death, an innate sense of self-preservation. When our spirit was reborn, life sprang forth suddenly from the spiritual death that resided in our hearts. But the death to our carnal nature doesn’t take place that quickly. No, it’s an intentional process that we initiate as we become willing for the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ that resides within our new nature.

As we approach the death to our selfishness and personal motives and every thing that stands between us and our destiny and purpose, we often experience the same reactions terminal patients have to learning of their own impending death. Wrestling our flesh to death brings us face to face with what psychologists have determined are the five stages of dying. You’ll experience these to one degree or another during any time of truly seeking God. Look these stages over, and don’t be caught off guard when you walk through one!

Denial
I feel fine. I’m better off than I used to be. I’m better off than most other people I know. I don’t really need to seek God. I don’t really need to fast and pray. I can get by with this particular thing still holding on in my life.

Denial is a conscious or unconscious refusal to accept facts, information, and reality, relating to the stronghold that needs to die out in your life. Denial is a defense mechanism that enables people to live with a problem much longer than they should. Some people can become locked in this stage and never deal with a major change. As long as you can stay in the denial stage, you will.

Anger
It’s not fair! I shouldn’t have to fast and pray! This is all _______ ‘s fault! If God had done what He should do, I wouldn’t be dealing with this problem!

Anger can manifest in different ways. People dealing with emotional upset can be angry with themselves, with others (especially those close to them), and with God. When you are putting some aspect of your flesh to death, be careful not to take it out on those around you!

Bargaining
I’ll do anything you want, God, if I can just eat. If you’ll go ahead and take this thing from me, I promise I’ll pray more, read more, worship more. I’ll do _______ if I don’t have to deal with ______.

Traditionally, this stage for people who are facing physical death often involves an attempt to bargain with God. We also attempt to negotiate a compromise when we are facing the death of one or more facets of our soulish life. But bargaining rarely provides a sustainable solution. If you understand that your fleshly stronghold will eventually disable you spiritually (and even physically), then bargaining to put it off until later or trying to substitute something else in its place will prove unfruitful.

Depression
I’m so messed up and far away from God’s perfect will, why bother with anything? I’m going to mess up anyway, so what’s the point of trying to fix this? I can’t do this. I’m a failure. I am right back at the same place I’ve always been, nothing’s changed, so I give up.

It’s natural to feel sadness, regret, fear, and uncertainty over what we have done and what is to come. It shows that we have at least begun to accept the reality of the situation in our lives. However, it is important to keep in mind the reality of God’s grace to complete the good work He has begun in us and not rely on our own ability. It’s in this place that we must realize that the Holy Spirit is the one who has helped us make it this far, so we can trust Him to see us through to the end.

Acceptance
It’s going to be okay. I can trust God to take this part of me and fill me with more of Him. I don’t have to know the outcome or the answer; I only have to know Him more. I don’t have to have my way; I only have to be in His will.

Getting to this stage depends purely on your willingness to trust God. Remember, coming to a place of acceptance is easier the more times you submit yourself to the process of seeking Him and dying to yourself. Submit yourself under the mighty hand of God… He will exalt you, or cause you to rise up out of this death, in due time!

Q: Which stage in this process are you currently walking in?