It is amazing the lengths we go to as people to hide who we really are, what we really feel and what we really think. We do these things under the guise of protecting ourselves when all we are doing is creating more pain.

Hiding cuts us off from full relationship with God and the people in our lives. Think about how it feels when something you love is withheld from you, or when you really want to be with someone and it is just not possible. What if someone you love cut you short whenever you tried to get close to them? After awhile you may begin to feel rejected and wonder why you make yourself available.

Imagine that this is what you are doing to the people you love. Not only are you shutting them out, you are cutting yourself off from experiencing the fullness of being loved by others. You have rendered yourself unlovable and you reject the world before it can reject you.

When will you understand that you are whole and perfect, created in the image of God? You are fearfully and wonderfully made. There is no need to hide or withdraw. Your family needs you, your loved ones need you and God needs you to be salt and light in this earth.

Talk to the Lord about your fears. Stop running from destiny and live free.

Matthew 5:13-15 (New King James Version)

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

 

Dear Lord,

I come before You now thanking You for the work You are doing in me. Thank You for the reminders that no matter how good I think life is, there is still more in You. Your plans for me have only just begun; I have so much more growing to do and so much more to see.

Even as I write this, I am yearning for more of You: An alternate view of Your Glory, a different expression on Your face, a deeper look into Your character, a stronger impression of what is in Your heart. I don’t want to be comfortable with my knowledge of You. I want to become so intimate with You that nothing else could ever shake me. I want to know Your thoughts toward me so well that the opinions of others do not matter. I want to become so acquainted with Your Love that it just flows from You through me.

 Wrapped in Your Love, I am safe from the trouble of the world. You gently navigate me through life and shield me from harm. The obstacles I face will only make me better because I am grounded in You.

Lord let me be satisfied in Your presence but never content with staying the same way. Thank You for pushing me to be all that You created me to be. As long as You want me to go, I will not stop!

 
Psalm 63:7-8 (New International Version)
  ⁷ Because you are my help,
       I sing in the shadow of your wings.

 ⁸ My soul clings to you;
       your right hand upholds me.

 

This morning I awoke hearing these words, “You’re Beautiful”. God is just sweet like that. In the quiet of the morning, when the only other thing I hear is the breeze blowing in the trees, my Lord is whispering sweet somethings in my ear. Oh, how I love Him!

It is so good to know that we serve a God who Loves us, accepts us, celebrates us and makes us better. We could be in the midst of crying and focusing on our mistakes when He says, “don’t cry, you’re beautiful.” When we ask for His forgiveness He is so quick to forget all about it. We are still looking down ourselves while He is just looking at us, admiring His handiwork and saying, “Wow, I’m good!”

As you go throughout your day today, remember what He said about you. Don’t worry about what anyone else says, it’s only His opinion that matters.

I feel led to repost this here. This is from Him to you.

Be blessed!

You have accomplished much and there is so much yet for you to do. Do not look to the left or to the right. I did not create you to be like them. You are one of a kind, uniquely beautiful by My standards and nothing could ever take that away. Look at yourself. Those eyes, that nose, those lips, that hair – Beautiful. Look deeper. That mind, that heart, that soul, all thirsty for more of Me – Beautiful. I love you in every way. I cherish every part of you. All I want to do is be with you. Come with me into the garden, Beautiful. You are so precious, My Love.

Song of Solomon 7:6 (New International Version)

How beautiful you are and how pleasing,
O love, with your delights!

Today’s message is another reminder of how much God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. You cannot have a relationship with someone where there is emotional distance and lack of intimacy. Ask the Lord to draw you closer with His Love. Get to know His heart. Learn His opinion of you.

He knows every detail about us yet loves us just the same. The more we understand His love, the more we understand our position as daughters and sons. There is no need for fear and shame before Him. Those emotions are designed to keep us from knowing God and accepting His Love. All that is required is a heart that wants to please Him, a heart that is willing to submit to Him. He will take over and do the rest. He wants to be close to you.

Jeremiah 31:3 (New Living Translation)
“…I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

Some of my sweetest and most memorable moments of prayer take place late at night or in the earliest hours of the morning while I am lying in bed. In times like these there is nothing to distract me from hearing His voice or sharing my most private thoughts and feelings with Him. I feel that His presence is wrapped around me like a blanket and He warms me with His Love as we share these moments of intimacy.

The things I hear and receive from the Lord during pillow talk are clearly imprinted in my heart and mind. When things occur to challenge my faith, I remember the things He whispered in my ear and I know I do not have to worry because He already told me how the story ends. Thank God for a loving Father who hears our requests and lovingly attends to our needs.

Psalm 5:3 (New Living Translation)

3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.