Sunday, April 11, 2010

If I could become a Women of Faith speaker, what would I talk about?


If I could become a Women of Faith speaker,
I would speak on a topic so near and dear to the Father's heart. . . I am worth it to Him; and so are you!

In a world where image is everything, how do I look? Every day I see images thrown at me of this world's opinion of beauty. Do I fit the mold? Am I pretty? Acceptance is everything. . .will I be rejected? Am I good enough? I know that 1 Peter 3:3-4 tells me "...beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" What does that look like and does God see me as beautiful? Will He love me?

The Word of God tells me in Psalm 139:14 that I was fearfully and wonderfully made and in 1 Samuel 12:22 I read that the Lord was pleased to make me His own (For the sake of His great name the LORD will not reject His people, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own). Ephesians 2:10 states that I am the workmanship of God....

As a daughter of Christ (Galatians 4:7 ~ So you are no longer a slave, but a son/daughter; and since you are a son/daughter, God has made you also an heir) this means everything to me. A daughter fearfully and wonderfully fashioned in the image of a loving God ~ Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them".

I am a woman; I am a daughter. I was made in the image of the Father. A beautiful being loved by God (John 15:9). A daughter set apart from this world and its standards (John 15:19). A daughter chosen to be the salt of the earth. . .to be a city on a hill. A child of God chosen to be free from this world and its standards (Galatians 5:13).

I know that I am what I am by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10). I am God's child (1 John 3:1). When the Father looks at me He sees His image. A former slave who has been redeemed and not only adopted into His family; but also given the wisdom, righteousness, and holiness of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

When He looks at me, He looks at me with love. He sees His workmanship and is pleased to call me His. Even at my lowest, He can look upon me with love and see the beauty of His image in my heart. Through His eyes there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). . . And He loves me. Loves me enough to sacrifice His only son so that He can be near me. . .so that He can have a relationship with me (John 3:16). He paid the ultimate price. I am so beautiful and wonderful to Him that He would choose to suffer rather than spend eternity without me. . .and so are you.

He says, through Christ, You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and part of a royal priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9). You are set apart as am I. Daughters created in the image of a mighty and loving God.

Lord I pray that all may know You and see themselves as You do:

You are my strength when I am weak
Yours alone is the love I seek
To touch Your heart in Heaven from where I stand
To walk with You and hold your hand
To be guided by Your shining light
To see myself as in Your sight
To love the beauty of my soul
Assured that You have made me whole.