Today’s Quote: “We both know it would change everything, if only I believed the truth about me.”- Mandisa
Today’s Song: “The Truth About Me”- Mandisa
There has been nothing in my life as amazing as that kind of intimacy we were talking about yesterday.
Spending time with God just brings a new vibrancy to life.
Everything just seems more colorful, dimensional, and more real.
He gives life!
Sadly though, most women are more distant from God than they are close to Him.
And therefore their lives are more colorless, tasteless and matte. When we don’t have intimacy with our creator we lose sight of things that are rich and important and precious.
One of the most devastating effects I can see is that we lose sight of our value as women. We forget who we are.
I once heard a woman tell this story on the radio (I'm paraphrasing):
A young lady was walking down Main St. and saw something glistening on the sidewalk.She bent down to pick it up and found that it was a beautiful diamond adorned necklace.
This was the loveliest piece of jewelry the girl had ever seen and her first thought was that it surly must be very valuable.
So as she walked around the next corner she made her way into a pawn shop.
The merchant took one look at the necklace and immediately offered the girl $2,000 for it!
This was a much larger number than the girl had expected and she was overjoyed at the prospect of getting that much money!
But she decided that the smartest thing to do would be to take it to several more merchants to get a better idea of it’s full worth.
But she decided that the smartest thing to do would be to take it to several more merchants to get a better idea of it’s full worth.
So she went to another pawn shop where the merchant made her an offer of $5,000 for the necklace.
Still another offered her $7,500.
This offer was almost too tempting to resist, but she decided that she could always go back if she could not find a better bid elsewhere.
The girl then decided to take the necklace to an actual jewelry store where they would certainly offer her top-dollar for it.
And so she did.
The jeweler offered her $15,000 for the necklace, by far the best offer she had received yet!
The girl gladly accepted the money and was overjoyed with her profit!
But three days later as she was walking by that same jewelry store, she saw her necklace in the window, on sale for $100,000!
It was then that she knew that although her profit seemed immense, she had sold herself WAY short.
And so she did.
The jeweler offered her $15,000 for the necklace, by far the best offer she had received yet!
The girl gladly accepted the money and was overjoyed with her profit!
But three days later as she was walking by that same jewelry store, she saw her necklace in the window, on sale for $100,000!
It was then that she knew that although her profit seemed immense, she had sold herself WAY short.
This is so similar to what we do.
Starting at a very young age, we learn to kind of "sell ourselves" to the highest bidder.
Friends,
boyfriends,
hang out spots- we pick the ones that will increase our self-worth the most.
Then as we get older it’s jobs, our car, the TV shows we watch. All so that we will get a higher appraisal from…. who? A guy? A rich girlfriend? #9??
Starting at a very young age, we learn to kind of "sell ourselves" to the highest bidder.
Friends,
boyfriends,
hang out spots- we pick the ones that will increase our self-worth the most.
Then as we get older it’s jobs, our car, the TV shows we watch. All so that we will get a higher appraisal from…. who? A guy? A rich girlfriend? #9??
Why are you so easily flattered? Don’t you know who you are?!
Girlfriend, you are just like that beautiful $100,000 necklace: in need of an honest appraisal.
“You are a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation. You were chosen before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved. You are sought after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of your Fiancé, Jesus. You are dangerous in your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.” ~Stasi Eldredge
You are a beautiful, valuable woman, and you are the crown of God's creation. Think about that!
The whole earth was already made; everything complete. The land was formed, the waters all stretched out, the animals named, naked Adam was frolicking around. The whole scene was paradise, an absolute utopia! Yet there was one thing missing.
One thing that's absence was creating a dreary void in an otherwise perfect world. Something powerful and deeply craved for.
That something was a woman. That something is you!
There is something so unique and special about a woman that makes us the very cherry on the sundae of God’s creation. We are passionate, full, rich with emotion,
sensitive, and despite our insecurities- beautiful! And when we walk in who we really are, by walking with Him, we become one of the most rare and precious commodities ever created.
Women bring something to the world, something to our families, that is so unique and desired. We are the lovers, the nurturers, the ones who make people feel comfortable and cared for.
sensitive, and despite our insecurities- beautiful! And when we walk in who we really are, by walking with Him, we become one of the most rare and precious commodities ever created.
Women bring something to the world, something to our families, that is so unique and desired. We are the lovers, the nurturers, the ones who make people feel comfortable and cared for.
Let me ask you something- Do you hope to be somebody’s wife someday?
Do you hope to be a mother someday?
Do you hope to be a mother someday?
If you answered yes to either or both of those questions then you just better know right now that there is so much riding on you.
So much riding on you having a healthy outlook on life and on yourself. You need to be good to yourself, and stop listening to what the world’s telling you that you need to be.
So much riding on you having a healthy outlook on life and on yourself. You need to be good to yourself, and stop listening to what the world’s telling you that you need to be.
You are chasing down significance in all the wrong places.
And you will always come up short. (like at least $85,000 short).
Because God is the only one who knows your true value.
And He is the only one capable of bringing to fruition all that He made you to be.
And you will always come up short. (like at least $85,000 short).
Because God is the only one who knows your true value.
And He is the only one capable of bringing to fruition all that He made you to be.
God knows who you are. He’s the one that made you. He’s the one that died for you. You were worth it to him.
Stop looking to the right and left to see what everyone else is doing. Stop comparing yourself to other women, and start letting Him work on you!
God has kept you
alive and He’s keeping you alive for a reason. There’s stuff for you to do. A
purpose to fulfill. What is it? Ask Him! Seek it like treasure, and He will
show you.
And in the
meantime, know that you are a beautiful ingredient in God’s divine plan for the
world, and there is nothing or no one else like you, precious girl!
Today's Dare: Over the next several Days, we are going to be making lists of 5.
Think about how much God loves His little youJ
Secondly, I want you to pick a piece of jewelry from your jewelry box to designate as a symbol. Whether it’s a ring handed down from your grandmother or a homemade friendship bracelet- I want you to wear this piece of jewelry today as a reminder to stop trying to find your value in people and things. To stop selling yourself short.
Keep that piece of jewelry in it's own special place, and wear it on days when you really need to be conscious of this!
And lastly, today during your POFU time, just allow God to love you.
Sit in his presence and just pour out the hurt that you have over being short-changed, underappreciated, and undervalued.
Think of those specific areas of your heart that were undermined in your relationship. Let yourself feel hurt, let yourself cry, and know that you are worth SO much more than what you’ve been given. Pray that God would help to restore and love on your spirit. He can, and He will!
