Today we continue our series on Chosen and Approved: Untangling our Identities from People and Perfection. I know I spend more time listening to who the world says I am instead of embracing the truth that I am known and chosen by God. I get caught up in worldly perceptions that sound like this:
Mirrors never lie. The world’s reality is the best reality. Others perceptions are always spot on. Social media speaks the truth at all times.
After hearing or reading the words above, I find these spoken and written words leave an imprint on my heart. Whether I believe these words depends on my view of who I believe I am in God’s eyes.
My first look into the mirror when I wake up is not my favorite. I actually pray the mirror is lying when I see the face reflected back at me. I don’t often look too closely, but when I do, I see a woman who has lived a lot of life, smiled often and the inevitable bedhead. Oh my! My critical eye roves over every line, wrinkle and age spot as if I can come to grips with how much I aged overnight.
While mirrors share a picture of our physical selves, we also leave a reflection of ourselves behind with every action, spoken word and belief.
Go back to the first thing in the morning as you look in the mirror and glance again. Is the reflection you see staring back at you the one you wish to reflect to those around you? The world takes our reflection and embraces or rejects it based on its beliefs. But the only reflection that is worthy is the one reflecting the original creation of “you”. When you look in the mirror, do you see a reflection of the person God formed in His image and who loves you like no other?
As a middle-aged woman, I carry the titles of mom, daughter, sister, retired teacher, mother-in-law, friend and the list goes on. I proudly share who I am with others when these titles of truth come up in conversation. But hidden away, on another list are titles the world gives me. These unspoken titles remain hidden in the recesses of my heart. My outer appearance shows a woman who has it together, but somedays the inner person is not who you see on the outside.
But once again we need to seek our truth from God and who He says we are. We will always find our true selves in the reflection of God and not who the world says we are. His truth says…
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18
[Tweet “We are whole when the truth of who we are lies in the reflection of who God created us to be.”]
When we see ourselves as God sees us, we reveal our true reflection. By embracing God’s truth, the veil of deceit falls away and empowers us to reflect His glory. We are free to look in the mirror knowing God is in the reflection staring back at us. It is in the process of looking in where our truth lies and our true selves shine. The place where truth and our true reflection meets is where our vulnerable story begins. It is where we are truly alive and where God’s light shines forth. It is our place of wholeness and the beautiful creation God created us to be today and for the rest of our lives.
May God’s truth be the only truth you surround yourself with today.
A beautiful child of God,
Join Emily Conrad, Jeanne Takenaka and I on our journey of exploring how God chooses us and we know our pre approval is in Him. Today’s installment is the second part of our six week series. You can click here to read Jeanne’s offering from last week. We pray these words bless you as we share our hearts and learn with you of the gift of God’s masterpiece manifested in each of us.
Linking today with:
and Dawn for Grace Moments
Such a beautiful post, Mary. Blessed to read it today. Especially love the verses you share and what you have as a tweet option! Thank you for your encouragement to us here.
Anna- Thank you for your sweet words. It is so encouraging to me to see you here and to know that this series is speaking to you. I imagine that you would have a lot to add to our series since you write about some similar topics. So glad you stopped by!
This is a beautiful post, Mary! Our view of ourselves will always be flawed until we believe and understand who we are in Christ. Belief in His love for us changes us from the inside out. Blessings on your Sabbath, my beautiful friend!
Great truth-belief in ourselves is all because of Jesus’ transformation within us. I sure do love seeing you here. My writing has been rather sporadic but that will change soon. I pray your travels were restorative as well as healing.
I have a hard time looking in mirrors. I am very critical of the face staring back at me and have to remind myself that I’m so much more than what I see. Thank you for this encouragement my friend.
You are definitely so much more than you see. You are beautiful,loved and worthy. I am so tickled to see you here today!
Mary,
It has always astounded me that some of the most beautiful people I know – and by beauty I mean inward and outward beauty – do not see themselves that way. You shine with a beauty and gentleness and it hurts me that the enemy goes around playing on our vulnerabilities. Joining with you in claiming that our beauty and worth are found in being reflections of our Heavenly Father!!
Blessings,
Bev
It seems we are reflecting in similar ways on our lives, Mary, and it always comes down to turning our eyes to the Lord for our worth and love. Thank you for your incredible example of humility, as well as devotion to God. It’s always inspiring to visit and I’m so glad to call you friend!
This is a welcome, re-calibrating invitation … especially to those of us ‘of a certain age.’ Thank God that we’re not who we glimpse in an early morning mirror.
By His grace and beauty we are so very much more.
Gosh, I’m so grateful …
What a lovely reminder. I love the NLT version of this verse: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10.
I have to laugh when I think about my reflection in the mirror when I get up. (My aunt once said women seem to deteriorate overnight while they sleep. 🙂 It’s true, don’t you think? I look a lot better 3 hours later. 🙂 ) But thanks for the reminder that we are all beautiful because He created us that way.
Beautiful! When I look in the mirror in the morning, I can gauge the humidity by how big my hair is ;). But seriously, I’m pretty comfortable with what I see because I know that God loves me and is working in me.
You are a beautiful child of God, friend!
Thank you! You are too! Praying you’re keeping up with all during 31 days.
This is so encouraging, Mary. I had to stop and reflect on these lines – “The place where truth and our true reflection meets is where our vulnerable story begins. It is where we are truly alive and where God’s light shines forth.” So beautifully said. You have such a wonderful way with words. I really love the photos of the reflections in the water and the rear view mirror! Blessings and hugs to you!
Isn’t amazing how God takes each of our stories to show us and others how we are wired and to share our perspectives? I know that without Christ these words would be nothing and my heart would be a mess. God is the great stabilizer and reminder of who we are in a world that tells us differently. Your encouragement today is such a sweet blessing.
High five to my soul sister in grace! These are beautiful words Mary. I speak about this topic at retreats regularly and I honestly feel it’s a topic we all should be more open about in our daily lives. I appreciate your honesty and truth here as you wrestle with what it means to bask in our identity. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with us. xoxo
High five back at you! I love that you talk about this at retreats. Women carry a heavy burden when it comes to self worth and body image. Media captures a sense that we will never measure up so it only feeds into our feelings. Thank you for sharing your heart and kind words.
Beautiful, Mary. It’s amazing how we can see beauty in those aging around us, but when we look at ourselves, “beauty” isn’t the first thing that comes to our minds. We see the wrinkles, all the aging. Oh, to have the mind of Christ. But … when we keep filling our minds with Him … we will transform … He promises.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your sweet encouragement. Christ created us and reflects the real us in the mirror if we only stop to believe His words and no others. Blessings!
Mary, such much truth in this beautiful post!
And this: “We will always find our true selves in the reflection of God and not who the world says we are.” Yes and amen. I’m learning this and discovering how to walk in the freedom it offers.
I am so glad we are walking this road together. There is a freedom when we look at ourselves and believe we are the beautiful child God says we are. I am honored to join my words with yours and Emily’s in this series. What a blessing! I pray the words continue to reach and bless others.
This post goes beautifully with our pastor’s message on Sonday. HE CHOSE YOU. Ron told us to look in the mirror each morning and make the declaration HE CHOSE YOU. You know how hard that is to do?
I remember hearing the director of a pregnancy center speak for the sanctity of life and she handed everyone in the church a small mirror. At the end of the service she asked us to hold that mirror up and look ourselves straight in the eye and say, “God loves me – He loves me.”
I wasn’t the only one having a hard time doing it!
Miss you Mary….I know you are working on your book and hope it is turning out well.
I love when God provides connections between church and what is happening in our lives throughout the week. HE CHOSE YOU! That is a mantra to hold close for sure.
I am working hard on my book and miss being out there with all of my 31 day writing friends. I am doing well and the book is almost ready! 🙂 Eeeek!
Our titles are really just a noun for our left brain to grasp on to to try to make our world concrete, aren’t they? You have stirred this question within me! Yet, the concreteness makes us more tied, than free. I learned recently a concept that helps me see my reflection in the mirror as it really is–it’s my costume and other’s are in their costumes too. It is the costume form that my true identity as one who is a spiritual being living having a human experience, is just renting while living in this world of form for a short time. Absolutely love the rear view photo!
YES! You bring such wise insight today, Lynn. We are in this physical form for the time God chooses us to live on Earth. It is a piece of us that we are renting. Great way to think about it. Now I need to let go that this temporary outer appearance should ever have a hold on me. Thank you for adding to the conversation.
The picture is from a free site called Unsplash that I use from time to time.You should check it out.I know you would find many others you would love.
Mary, this is not only beautiful — it’s just plain good theology! I get wrapped up in the lies I tell myself, and continually need reminding (right from the Word of God!) that I am a bearer of many many labels, but the most important one of all is my vital connection to the heart of God.
I also get caught up in the lies and instead of turning to the truth in God’s word immediately I let the words soak in and take root. We are all beautiful children of God and His reflection of us is the only one we should believe. Thank you for your sweet words and willingness to share vulnerably here in this space.
Mary you are a beautiful child of God. I love that because it makes me feel like a child. I dread that mirror each day too. Really loving the verses you shared. I used a couple of them this past week because we have grandchildren on the way. Hugs.
Thank you sweet Debbie! The mirror is rarely our friend because we look through critical eyes. But the mirror of who God says we are is the reflection we should seek everyday. Congrats on the grandchildren. I hope to say that someday myself! Have a blessed week!
Great post, Mary. And mirrors ALWAYS lie, because they show a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional reality. We can never really know what we look like…just as head-tones prevent us from knowing the sound of our own voice.
I’m not quite sure how God sees me; there are many days during which I certainly don’t feel beloved and treasured.
The paradigm is more one of being watched; will the dude break today, or not?
And, sometimes, ignored.
I’m willing to accept that this is intentional, that the Almighty is showing me that even the hard man will eventually break. Or, perhaps, He’s been a bit distracted and has misplaced my dossier?
Whatever the truth may be, I am at peace with it.
The peace you hold is so different from my peace but the fact is that they both from God. I know God sees you as a fighter and He loves that about you. Everyday we are given by God is another gift. There is always a reason we are given one more day. I pray you see that in your life too.