Words are powerful. What we speak over ourselves matters. Think of words like a coat of paint. Maybe it’s faint at first, just a hint of color… but with each coat it’s shading, tinting, covering and masking our design.
Just a thought is a layer that can lead to a tainted image we see in the mirror.
God wants to break off the layers. Get rid of the paint. He created us exactly as we are for His divine purposes.
As we paint ourselves we must ask the question: Who holds the brush?
We can tell a tree by it’s fruit and we can recognize artwork by it’s creator.
Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso, Michelangelo even Thomas Kinkade… you can tell by looking at their artwork who was holding the brush. The same is true for us.
Is it skewed? Almost perfect? Never good enough? Hopeless? You have allowed the enemy to paint you the way he hopes you see yourself. He will string you along, always making you feel less-than. His greatest technique is layering subtly. A slow and painful death to true purpose and worth.
Is it this or that? Maybe? Maybe not. How about this look? Does this look like me? Who am I? You are holding the brush and trying to create what may or may not be who you were designed to be. Analyzing. Questioning. Searching.
Does it line up with scripture? Do you have peace? Do you have peace even if it doesn’t make sense? Is it clear? Does it highlight love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control? Do you see purpose? Value? Priceless worth? You are allowing the Holy Spirit to reclaim the brush and begin with you.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” – Genesis 1:1-2
Giving the Spirit of God back the brush, coming to Him by emptying yourself – whoever you think you are… or are not – allows you to be truly, completely you!
Fast forward to after God created the earth and everything in it, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness… so God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (verses 26, 27, 31)
Out of nothing, God created… and created… and created…. and it was good. So good!
He created you and me in His image and likeness. How can we know who we are if we don’t know Him?
We know pop-culture, we know what’s circulating the news. We identify what’s socially acceptable and can even pin-point the mark-up of expensive coffee… but do we know our Maker? Do we know our true identity?
There is power in identity. Today in a world where anything goes, everyone is right and you can be whatever you want to be, we have lost sight and true connection with ourselves.
We have allowed the paint to layer on so heavy that when we look in the mirror we are disappointed, confused, and staring back at something we were never meant to identify with.
Listen to His voice. Allow truth to break off the layers, the caked-on clown the enemy dresses you up to be.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” – John 10:27-30
God is just waiting to breathe a fresh breath of life into you, as He did with Adam, so that you too can become and truly live… never perish.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – Jesus in John 10:10
Steal you identity, kill your self-worth and destroy your God-given destiny.
Here’s the thing about paint. It doesn’t last. I was struck by the depth of a quote taken from a Disney movie, “Shiny paint don’t win a race.” (Words of wisdom by Doc Hudson from the Disney Pixar’s Cars)
Let your light shine from within. That fire burns brighter than any man-made sparkle. It’s an eternal flame that doesn’t distract but attracts others to it’s warmth, allowing them to see clearly by it’s light. Illuminating the true treasure of each person.
And as we allow God in, we chip away the paint. With each chip and facet we shine naturally. We are the crown jewels of this earth that Jesus traded His crown of thorns for.
When we aim for whats popular, we aim for the homecoming crown. Jesus exchanged his crown for thorns because God says we are worthy of His love. There was an exchange that already took place… perfection for us… us! Sinners who are confused, deceived… stained with all the paint of the world… made new, blameless, holy, His…
Why do we keep going backwards? What a terrible make-over to go from purely washed clean to stained and tainted the colors of deceit? Oh but if we would only believe it. If we would only think we need to cover up…
Who is holding your brush? What words are you allowing to paint your story?
Speak truth over yourself. Marinate your soul with scripture. Tune your inner radio to listen to the Holy Spirit and sing out loud in worship!
Get to know your Creator and get to know the real you. Authentic you. Beautiful, treasured, cherished, everlasting, radiant you. Look through the lens of the Creator of you.
