Remember the phrase “stop and smell the roses”? I was doing that the other day...sort of. I wasn't actually smelling the roses, I was taking pictures of flowers in a park(u gotta love how God uses anything and everything to teach you hard lessons), and I realized something. When you look at a flower, take a lily for example, the first thing you notice is it's beauty. The vivacious color and the unique shape of it makes it beautiful. If you examine the lily you will discover it's sweet smell, it's soft silky petals, and the exclusive pattern that is portrayed in the very center of the flower. If you examine it further, you will discover that some of the petals on the flower have holes, rips, tears, and bruises. The edges of the petal are normally frayed, faded, and worn, while the center of the flower is bursting with vibrant life. What's really cool is even though the flower is flawed it is still considered beautiful.
I kinda think that's how God sees us. He made us each unique. Some of us have vivacious personalities, while others are sweet and subtle. As we have gone through life, different things have worn us out, we have been ripped and torn by different situations. Some parts of us have tiny empty holes that were once filled with something spectacular. Despite our flaws, God still sees us as inwardly and outwardly beautiful (Psalm 45:11). God made us in his own image. And yes the world has beat us down, but God fills our very core and he gives us vibrant life in Him.
God doesn't focus on our flaws when he looks at us. When God looks at us he notices our beauty. He sees us as his beautiful creation and he fills us with life at our very core. The flaws don't bother him, yet that is all our culture has taught us to focus on. We have been taught to find what is wrong with us and try to fix it. That is not why we are here. We are here to bring God glory and to serve Him. Not to fix ourselves. Not to compare ourselves with anyone else. Not to look for flaws. God created flowers and people for the same purpose: to display His glory (Isaiah 43:7).
No, our flaws our not invisible to God, he sees them, but he loves us anyway. He still thinks we are beautiful. He still gives us grace. Isn't He incredible?
I want to see other people through God's eyes. I want to be able to love them despite their flaws. I want to stop focusing on mistakes. I want to see the big picture of the pretty flower instead of seeing the minuscule hole in the petal. I want to see myself through God's eyes. I want to stop focusing on the mistakes I have made and the things that have hurt me. I pray that God would change my perspective of myself and the people around me.
Besides “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”-Proverbs 31:30
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.” -1 Peter 3:3-4
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