Try

I think you all have realized by now I hear so much while listening to music.  I am finding this to be true of non christian music as well.  Recently I was watching Dancing with the Stars and heard the song Try by Colbie Caillat.  The song is such a beautiful reminder, especially to women, that we are beautiful just the way God made us.  It does not take perfect hair and makeup or the perfect body type to make us beautiful

I realize as I type this I am preaching to the choir as I can become very upset when my hair is not laying just so or is doing crazy things because of moisture and humidity, but I am learning that no mater how bad I think my hair is I am beautiful. I don't have to try and look or act perfect for people to like me I just need to be the special and unique person that God has created me to be.

If God created us so that no two thumb prints are alike why are we always comparing ourselves to others or trying to be like them?  I know I am guilty of this myself at times.  My personality can be a little reserved and quiet so when I meet someone who is outgoing and popular I can compare myself to them and wish I was like them and desire to have what I believe they have.  I can feel unloved and unaccepted because I am not like the person I am comparing myself to.  The truth is I am no surprise to God.  He knew the personality I would have and He knows how He can use it to draw others to Him.

The world would try and tell us how we need to look or act to be accepted.  The world would attempt to define what is beautiful and what is not, but only God can help us to see the true beauty in others.  If He can take an ugly caterpillar and turn it into an amazingly beautiful butterfly then I believe He can also help us to see the true beauty that is in others no matter how they look on the outside.  It is time for the body of Christ to stop seeing the negativity in others or the things they perceive that need to be changed and begin to see the beautiful treasures that God has created each of us to be.  Let us begin to call those treasures out of each other and begin to help each other rise into our true identities in Christ.  Let us begin to really love each other the way God intended.

Enjoy the song and lets start showing the world how to love God and the one in front of us.  Personally I am a little tired of them appearing to lead the way in this.

Blessings

From the Inside Out

In my heart and my soul I give You control.  Consume me from the inside out.  Let justice and praise become my embrace, to love You from the inside out.  From the Inside Out Hillsong United

Ever try and change something you don't like about yourself?  Ever try to change a habit, mannerism, or wrong thought on your own?  How did it work out?  Were you successful or did you just want to give up in frustration?  Maybe you found too many things about yourself that needed to be changed that it completely overwhelmed you.  I have been there.

I have discovered things I do not like about myself.   In relationships I can view others through a filter of hurt and rejection.  On my job I might view myself through a filter of comparison and feel I do not measure up.  In general I may feel I need to be nicer or more thoughtful.  The list can go on and on until you feel there is just no way you will ever change and become the person God created you to be.  In fact you may think you are even too far gone for God to change.

Well the good news is you are never to far gone for God.  The Bible clearly says that nothing will separate us from the love of God and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  If God loves us so much that absolutely nothing can separate us from His love then I believe He never gives up on us and longs to see us become all that He has created and designed us to be.

Instead of becoming overwhelmed by all that you see needs to be changed begin to declare over yourself everything God says you are.  I believe when we begin to focus on God and what He says about us then all the negative just begins to fade away.


So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around-life - and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best think you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention of God.  You'll be changed for the inside out.  Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.  Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity.  God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  Romans 12:1-2

To begin, here are a few declarations you use.

• I have great worth and value
• I am accepted
• I am loved
• I am chosen
• I prosper in everything I put my hand to.  I have prosperity in all areas of my life - spiritually, mentally, socially
• I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath
• I am bold and courageous
• I am an atmosphere changer
• I am more than a conqueror

The list can go on and on.  Search the word to discover more of who God says you are.  Pray over prophetic encouraging words that have been spoken over you and if they are positive, encouraging, and resonate with you then begin speaking those over yourself.  Other places you may go to find who you are in Christ would be to go to Joycemeyer.org (My own confession list began here), google, or I would be happy to send you what I have put together (email me at sdhaley7@yahoo.com to request a copy). 

To enjoy the full version of From the Inside Out check out the video below.

Blessings and peace