Mirror Mirror On The Wall

The manner in which we see ourselves has a huge impact on the way we live our lives. Whenever something positive happens in our lives (i.e. a good hair day, a promotion at work, a compliment) we feel very good about ourselves and, therefore, have a “good day”. When it’s negative (i.e. an aging body, a critical remark, losing control emotionally) we are almost instantly depressed and filled with anxiety. Why? Because we are looking for our validation in the wrong place. And a lot of that comes from making judgements about ourselves.When we see ourselves through the eyes of this world, whatever we see has a negative impact. Let me explain...

Through The Looking Glass

When we look into the mirror and see something that makes us feel good, whether it be our physical appearance or our "good" behavior, we get a fleeting moment of happiness that works like a drug high. We’re elated for the moment but it never lasts. It's like any other drug that makes you feel good for a time but eventually fades. And the “downer” gets worse every time we indulge in the high. All of this happens because our focus is on us rather than God. We look in the mirror and see aging, sagging bodies and become fixated on how to look younger and more beautiful because life has taught us that beauty is the key to being loved. And it doesn't have to be a physical beauty. It could be beautiful intellect. Beautiful talent. Beautiful home. Cars. Children. Wit. Words. Wealth. Any one thing that makes you feel good about yourself OUTSIDE of God and God alone.

Or, on the flip side, we give in to that one weakness yet again and instantly we see the long list of sins that we just can’t seem to overcome. We are reminded how filthy and nasty we are inside. If people really knew who you really were in the dark secret places...

So we start making promises to ourselves that “we will never do that again” and set ourselves up for yet another fall. And so the cycle continues. All because we are looking in the wrong place. 

I Spy With My Little Eye

My husband and I both ride motorcycles. One of the things someone riding a motorcycle should NEVER do is to look at the pothole in the road. If you do....you’ll hit it. Guaranteed! Same thing goes for a rut in the road. Concentrate on not riding into that rut and you’ll find yourself deep in it....a very dangerous place to be on a motorcycle.

The same applies to how you see yourself. If you are fixated on the flaws, mistakes and emotional distress you are in, you will not only never be free of it but you will continue to rush headlong into it over and over again. You MUST focus on God. When you do that, you begin to see yourself through his eyes....GREATLY LOVED. And once you understand how much God loves you, the healing process can truly begin. 

Isn’t a desire to be loved the root of all judgements we pass on ourselves? If we KNOW we are loved without exception, the face in the mirror sees only that it is LOVED and the flaws literally fade in the reflection of that love. If we KNOW we are loved unconditionally, the guilt from that repeated sin is deflated under the knowledge that God offers forgiveness and healing rather than condemnation. 

Once we accept how much we are truly loved, we are safe to look back and see why we did the things we did. To understand the sins that have had us bound in chains for most of our lives. And to let God remove those chains and set us free. Yes...His love is truly the beginning of a freedom that ENDURES. 

 Goody Goody Two-Shoes

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us." — C.S. Lewis

Some would say that this kind of thinking is a free pass to indulge in whatever you desire to do...whether good or bad. It’s not. Relationship with God is a growing, living thing. It’s protection. Shelter. A place of pure safety. 

I have quit trying to stop the sins that plague me. I have given up striving toward a goal that I can never reach. I TRUST God. He knows that my struggles are far too big for me to overcome. 

I surrender. 

Give up. 

Stop striving.

Just STOP! 

Then he begins a work in me that I rarely notice at first. Until one day... looking back, I can see all that he has done for me. I can literally see where he stepped into my weakness and strengthened me with his love until I no longer desired the sin that kills or stress over the faulty image in the mirror.  And although I still stumble here and there...it’s a pothole that no longer has the power to suck me in. A rut that I can quickly identify before it takes a deeper hold. 

Won't You Take A Bite Of This Apple?

"The one thing that remains is looking in the face of God for ourselves." 
— Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition)

Maybe today, looking in the world's mirror, you like what you see. You like the things you do. But I promise you there will come a day when the world will turn on you. When what you see in the mirror or what actions you take, will no longer be desired by anyone around you. Living on the compliments and praise of other people will, in the end, kill you. What was once food for your good mood, will now be turned to poison. That was the plan all along.

But if we refuse to take the bait. If we choose to see through the eyes of our gracious Lord, the darkness of this world can find no place to hide in our lives. The light of God's love is just too strong for the lies of darkness to withstand. 

And if you do turn a corner and find the shadows stalking you once again? Or that the potholes and ruts are getting too big to avoid? You go back to the basics....one more time... and as many times as it takes! Turn it over to God and wait while he keeps his promise. He is infinitely patient and is not EVER overwhelmed by the depth of your need. By going back to him yet again...keeping your eyes fixed on him, you will find your validation in HIM. You will find the acceptance you have longed for all your life in his love. The mirror can reveal what it must. After all....it’s the reality we live in for now. And yes...the ruts you and I  leave in our wake symbolize our failures and mistakes. But one day we will no longer have to look in the rear view mirror... we will only see what lies ahead. The power of the past will be forever defeated. Until that time, we must continue to daily live in the truth that we are his and are DEEPLY LOVED.