Case 775 - not guilty!!

Accepted not rejected
Be honest with yourself, what do you think about yourself? To many, if not all of us this can be a daunting question. I know throughout my life I've struggled with acceptance. What about when you look in the mirror, what do you see and think? Beautiful? Ugly? What about your personality, rejected? Or confident? Do you see flaws? If so why? Could they not be your strengths that God wants to use to show his glory. A lot of things we face on a day to day basis can cause our self esteem to entrap us in what can only feel like a prison, although we don't realise we are in one until we are accept that through christ we are set free.

I struggled a lot throughout life with my appearance and the acceptance of who I was. You see I have dark ring around my eyes, it kind of looks like panda eyes but not to the extreme of black. But none the less it still heavily burdened me through my adolescents. Even to the point of covering my face with makeup to feel a least beautiful. I remember being at a point where I wouldn't leave the house without makeup on, because I didn't think I would attract anyone of the opposite sex with my natural face. A horrible prison a lot of people find themselves in, and a very hard one to break free from.

Does it happen over night? Can we transform our mind set to live out the life style that we are a masterpiece, a child of God, dearly loved by the creator and that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we can live forgive and clean in the eyes of God. Well the answer would be no, it doesn't happen over night. Nothings impossible with God, but we as humans it takes time to get out of one habit, a habit filled with negativity into a habit  of believing and living a life filled with who God says we are. The transformation is a continuous battle as we are not only facing what the world has to say but we have two forces fighting for our focus. One being the holy spirit, who is continually trying to get us to view our life through the eyes of the very being that created us and the force that is fighting for our attention to be brought away from what the word of God has to say about us, and make us focus on what we see as flaws and what other critics have said against us. The Devil loves nothing more than to help us sink into depression, sink us so low that we are imprisoned so deep we generally don't know how to get out. He's even willing to do what it takes to get us to take our own life. I'm in no way saying that if he manages to get this to happen you'd immediately go to hell. No, I have no idea what would happen. But my point is both forces are battling for your focus and attention on a daily basis that it takes time to get your self into a routine/habit to pursue a life God intended us to live. 

What helped me over the years was the power of words. Proclaiming who I was, speaking words and verses over myself on a daily basis. I always knew what the bible said and fully believed that God loved me, but I couldn't get myself into a place of accepting who I am. Am I at that place 100% now? No, but I'm a long way from where I used to be. I no longer live as a rejected woman, fearing to even meet up with woman. Funnily enough the very thing I feared is the very thing God has asked me to do. You see Ive always struggled with women, I felt completely rejected by them, and I'd automatically believe I'd be rejected by any woman I met, they'd like me for a bit and move on. I could either accept this or change my position. Meaning, stop looking for what humans think, and strive to live the way God sees me. I did this by proclaiming, I'm confident beautiful successful and happy, every time I was to meet with someone. I didn't realise this worked until I didn't do it, and soon realised I was back to where I was, struggling. But when I did proclaim, I was a transformed woman. Now I started and help run a woman's group called coffee cake and conversation with a slice of prayer. The past me would be screaming you are bonkers, but that is jot who I am. I am a new creation, a child of God, a masterpiece who has everything I need to achieve the will of God, all I have to do is say yes. 

The bible says who the son sets free is free indeed. But we sometimes without realising find it hard to live this life of freedom. We like the first and second picture find ourselves trapped in our own self made prisons. A lot of people would say if God is all powerful then why doesn't he sort this out. But if he wanted to control he'd of made robots. God designed us to have free will. Which means we can choose, either imprisonment or freedom. Why would anyone choose imprisonment? Well honestly no one would, but in reality without knowing we do choose it. We allow various forms of negativity to build its walls around us till we get to the point of being in an emotional prison cell. But stay strong. When Jesus died on the cross for the ultimate sacrifice. It opened the way to our freedom physically, emotionally mentally and spiritually. Our relationship with Jesus releases us from the chains and walls that hold us down. As we keep our eyes fixed on him and trust in his guidance that in time as he fixes every bond, chain, and stronghold on our life we will transform into the freedom he originally designed us to live in. It can be painful for some to have past mistakes Brought back to the surface. But the joy that comes from those chains being broken, from the walls being pulled down like in the first photo, where the rider which is Jesus is at the ready to set free his creation when they invite him into their life. And from my own experience the freedom experienced when God pulls down those walls, is extraordinary. It's not all fairy tale, it's real life joy that is beyond words can ever explain.

When God gave me these images I never thought I'd Bring them in a blog to express freedom of who you are and acceptance from God. But here we are and the invite goes out to everyone world wide. The invite of accepting christ as our saviour and living in the freedom of who we are through his creative eyes. Freedom isn't for people with high statue quo in the world. No no no. Its for anyone and everyone. It's for you the reader. You are precious, you are a masterpiece, you are forgiven through the blood of Jesus. Through the acceptance of christ and his blood we are seem as perfect in Gods eyes, not by our works and deeds but by the blood of Jesus christ. And when we accept what Jesus did for us 2000years ago and invite him into our lives to cleanse us from our sins, then we experience true freedom. True joy. 

I remember as a teenager thinking why would anyone want to read the bible, whats so fascinating about being a Christian. Honestly I thought the bible was a boring book. It wasn't till my eyes were opened to the revelation of the hidden gems in written in the bible. And wow has that been an exciting adventure. I'm literally at the point where I can't get enough of God and his word.

Let's pray. 

Father thank you for your words over our life, thank you for how you see us. Father May what you put in us shine and far pass any beauty that the outward appearance can ever be. So that when people look at us they see you and what you are doing and glorify your name. Wanting to draw closer to you. May we be a vessel pleasing to you. Help us see ourselves through your eyes, not our sinful nature but as a child of God cleansed by the blood of Jesus, forgiven and set free. In jesus name amen. 

If you are a person who isn't walking the Christian faith and reading this for the first time. But want to experience this joy and freedom from God, then don't worry. You don't need to do a set ritual, all you got to do is repent. What is repentance. Repentance is accepting that we fall short from the glory of God and asking God to forgive you and to come into your life as the main driver of your life.. And that you can do in your own space at home, or in your heart and mind where ever you are.

May the grace of our Lord keep you and guise you all the days of your life. 

Be blessed

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's masterpiece, created us a new in jesus christ so we can do the good works he had planned for us a long time ago.