Go ahead! Grab a mirror and take a look into it. What do you see? Imperfection? Dissatisfaction? Hopelessness? So often we cut ourselves down. We find the wrinkle, the gray hair, the bald spot, the blemish… and we try to hide it, cover it up, mask it….
Read Psalm 139…
You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the seas, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, “even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully (distinct, marked out, distinguished) made (to produce with effect); 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 (custom made!) 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. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the rains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Now read these words OUTLOUD and speak TRUTH: God knows every part of me…he sees every flaw of mine, but loves me anyway. He sees every scar, cries at the pain when it was inflicted upon my body, and gave his son to take away those pains. I am loved. I am known. I am chosen. I am His.
At debrief we had two hours of Women’s Time. After spending a month with the women in Rwanda and building them up…letting them know how truly treasured they are by God…and how he restores them day by day…I was excited to be able to lead this time at debrief.
I’ve been realizing how much God has put being relational and sharing God’s promises and truth fills me up. Coming onto the race, I thought I wanted a lot of ministries with children. I mean I do love children and will hold a child every time I get a chance…but I’ve also realized that I can just sit down, listen, share some truth, and make an impact… I can do this with men and women…but I can have a profound impact on women. I want other women to know that they are loved, beautiful, and seen—without dressing up and without the make up…that our true worth isn’t in all that. I gave up make up a long time ago…and it’s so freeing. If I have to wear it so you like me and so I feel that I can be loved…then it needs abandoned.
So, at debrief we painted nails, curled and braided hair, did facials, put on makeup… We beautified ourselves on the outside.
Again, it’s fine to do this, as long as our identity isn’t defined by it. Our identity should be defined by the one who lives inside us and overflows out. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
We ended the time by watching the video below. So ladies (and men)…know that God planned you. You are custom made. He marked you as special. He knows that you will make an impact in this world. Stop listening to the lies of the world…and listen to the truth. You are SEEN, KNOWN, LOVED, CHOSEN, and HIS. Walk in that FREEDOM!
