Girlfriends in God - July 23, 2012
July 23, 2012
In His Eyes
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be - (Psalm 139:14-15, NIV).
Friend to Friend
It was my first day of teaching second grade. While standing at the classroom door, greeting parents and children, I felt a tug on my skirt. I looked down into the beautiful blue eyes of Sammy, one of my new students. His mother, who was standing beside Sammy, looked at me and said, “I guess you’ve heard about Sammy. Good luck!” As she walked away, Sammy said, “She’s right. I’m dumb and mean and can’t read or write.”
Lisa was a tall, blonde and beautiful young woman with zero self-confidence. Lisa was the family joke because she was always dropping things or falling on the stairs. “Klutz” became her nickname at home and quickly caught on in the youth group and church where her father was the pastor.
A young wife and mother sobbed out her confession that she had just ended an affair, “He made me feel important and special.” A talented singer and pianist, she vowed to never again sing or play because she was damaged goods.
I often hear and see the same prison described by women living in the grip of failure and defeat for one reason or another. I want to share some good news with you. God can set you free to be all He created you to be. A healthy self-image is not rooted in pride, and it does not exalt self above others. In Romans 12:3, Paul clearly says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Be realistic in your opinion of yourself. Success comes when we learn to accept God’s evaluation instead of our own, when we give Him permission to make us what He created us to be and when we begin to understand who we are in His eyes. How? Let’s look at six steps we can take to understand who we are in the eyes of God.
Step one: Check the label.
I love a good sale, don’t you? In fact, I am tempted to think that a 75% off tag may very well be a sign from God. However, I have learned that you can save money in the long run if you check the label. Let me explain. We needed a new sofa. It had to be a certain color and style and cost a certain amount. I headed for the nearest furniture outlet, where I narrowed my selection down to two sofas. Both were on sale and both would work in our home. I saw the salesman coming. Before he could say a word, I asked, “Which one of these sofas would you tell your wife to buy?” The man immediately pointed to one of the sofas and said, “Definitely that one.” When I asked why he had chosen that particular sofa, he replied, “Check the label. The one I chose was made by a company known for its quality work. The other sofa is a cheap imitation.”
We can judge a product’s potential and value by looking at the one who created it. You are valuable simply because you were created by the hand of God. His design of you and His plan for your life is second to none. To cower or crawl in inferiority is to say to God, “You made a mistake when you made me.” God doesn’t make mistakes, girlfriend. He never has to say “Oops!” You were created in His likeness. You are valuable to God. God knows your name and loves you. You are His masterpiece and have been validated by God Himself.
Step two: Embrace the plan.
While painting in the city park, an artist spotted a beggar sitting across the path from where he was working. Thinking of God’s handiwork in every human being, the artist painted the man as he imagined he could be and then called the beggar to see the painting. “Is that me?’ the beggar asked. “That is the way I see you,” replied the artist. The beggar stared at the painting. With tears in his eyes he said, “If that’s the man you see in me, then that’s the man I will be!” God created you in response to a unique plan He has for your life. As you read the Bible and obey His truth, that plan will unfold.
Tomorrow, we will look at four more steps we can take to understand who we are in Christ as we learn to recognize our value in His eyes. Don’t miss it!
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for life and the special plan You have for me. Honestly, it is hard for me to understand and really believe that I am special to You. To think that You know me and love me just as I am really rocks my world, but I do want to see myself through Your eyes – no more and no less. Please help me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read the verses of Scripture and answer the questions listed below.
Ephesians 2:10. How does this verse of Scripture emphasize the fact that you and I were created in response to God’s plan, not as an afterthought or as an accident?
Psalm 8:3-5. How do these verses line up with the way you see yourself right now? What one immediate change do you need to make in order to see yourself the way God sees you?
Jeremiah 29:11. Are you living a life plan that gives you hope and a future? Is it the right plan?
More from the Girlfriends
I have struggled with my identity and value for a big part of my life. Fear of failure once kept me from dreaming new dreams. No more! My dreams seem to get bigger with every year of life that passes, and I really believe it is because my new perspective of who I am is more accurate than it has ever been. I am a daughter of the King. I belong to God and He loves me. No one can take my place in the Father’s heart, and I am indispensable to no one but Him. That is my prayer for you, girlfriend, that you will know and live out the truth that in God’s eyes, you are special.
Need more help? Get Mary’s MP3 download: In His Eyes. Be sure to check out Mary’s weekly Online Bible Study, Light for the Journey. Enroll now and have access to all 2012 lessons. Connect with Mary on Facebookor through email.
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