.: Her Worth:.

She tore off a different shirt from a hanger and threw it on... one look in the mirror and she let out a frustrated grunt. Quickly, pulling it off as fast as she could, she cast it off to the side in the pile of other clothes- the mound of resentment building higher with each cast away. Her thoughts plagued her heart assailing her confidence like needles piercing past her skin straight throw to her flesh. Why today?! Nothing is fitting right, nothing looks good!! She angrily thought to herself, combing through her drawers and re-scanning her bedroom- the damage of an emotional tornado. She crumbled to the floor in a hot mess of bitter tears. I can't find anything to wear, my hair can't be tamed no matter which way I style it, and there wouldn't be enough make-up in the world to hide the blemishes. As the thoughts battered her sweet soul, she let out a long sigh. The tears poured over, blazing trails down her face.

Frustration turned to sorrow with the realization the enemy had made a foothold. He stood on the ground of her feelings planting seeds of despair and heartache. Her beauty was being marred. It didn't matter who would call her beautiful that day. Many might. It wouldn't matter who complimented the clothes she eventually settles with. Many could. What mattered was her FEELING as she faced the damage the enemy had done. It was little, but it held power. This morning, he convinced her of one feeling as she walked forward with her day: you're not good enough. 

Four simple words that distort truth, leaving wounds hard to bind. The enemy wages a well-planned war on a girl's perception of beauty. This should not be a surprise. The Lord gives us ample warning, "The thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy" (John 10:10). He is very good at it. Culturally, I began to see the devastating affects more clearly when I spent a year living in China. Living cross-culturally awakens the heart and soul to native cultural manifestations within one's self.

American women's easy access to Hollywood, social media, beauty products and the "american dream" (which i believe has since transformed for women into looking like a Gisele Bundchen while having the career of Oprah, the service resume of Angelina Jolie, the cooking expertise of Miss Kay, and all while managing the perfect household of kids like Jennifer Garner). Our minds are intaking vast amounts of images and information from America's Next Top Model, Real Housewives of this city or that, or even one of my favs, the Bachelor. Because it's totally realistic to have your pick of 25 super hot, holistically rounded individuals to date extravagantly and live happily every after right??

Who are we kidding? Only ourselves, ladies. And men, you are being kidded too. Out culture is in neck-deep with a battle for the definition of beauty. The battle facing us does exactly what the thief wants to do: it kills, steals, and destroys.
It kills joy, self-confidence, and peace.
It steals attention, money, and freedom.
It destroys marriages, relationships, and love.
Men are robbed of understanding the depth beauty can have beyond flawless complexion, and toned hinneys. Women are robbed of loving on each other instead of competing... and more importantly they are robbed of embracing their true worth, uniquely and individually their's alone.

It breaks my heart. For women, there is no greater despair to face than the hauntingly heavy feeling that you're not good enough.

A beautiful epiphany came to my mind the other night as I was laying in bed. Women, (and men- you have a valuable role in this too;) we are WARRIORS. We are daughters of the God of Israel, who defeated many with little, who healed wounds with words, who conquered death in 3 DAYS! It's a battle we face, but it's a battle He already won for us. John 10:10 continues to finish: "I {Jesus Christ} came so that they may have life, and have it to the full". We just need to own our victory :)

I'm reading through a book called "Lifetime Guarantee" by Bill Gisham. Fantastic book so far. For several chapters he works through biblical truth of the difference in faith between feelings and will. Our feelings are attacked by the enemy. God works through our will. When our feelings are successfully attacked by the enemy, our will is trumped and the response is sin. The feeling typically comes in the form of first personal pronouns... such as the example: I'm not good enough. What we have missed, is that God speaks to us with our will... and our will NEEDS to be the trump card over our feelings. The result is faith.

Your will is knowledge of truth conquering feeling:

Feeling: despair and doubt God will provide your needs
Will: truth that God promises you are valuable and WILL provide for you (Luke 12:24)

Feeling: not feeling valuable
Will: truth, your life was created by Him and you are of the utmost value to him (Psalm 139:13-14)

Feeling: im not good enough
Will: because of Christ, you are freed forever and forever identified and marked as holy, redeemed, beautiful, and co-heir of eternity... he has a purpose specifically for YOU (1 Peter 2:9, Jer. 29:11, Eph 1:4-5)

When the enemy fails, our will based on TRUTH dictates our actions. Feelings become secondary and align to the knowledge we have from truth. Filling on scripture throughout our day retains fertile soil for truth to blossom. Truth is what sets us free.

Beauty of a heart transformed by Truth lasts eternity and shatters the need or desire to chase the emptiness of earthly idols.

Girls, my heart is for you to see your beautiful, preciously blood-bought worth in Jesus Christ. Your one true Knight in Shining armor who looked at you at your worst, raised your chin to look him in the eyes and say to you, "Daughter, I love you THIS much" and He spread His arms to take on death in your place. His arms yielding to a never-ending love. 

He chose death so that He could LIVE eternity with you. 

WHAT>!? cue the solo quick victory dance break. That blows my mind. I pray it blows yours. He's waiting and His arms are always open.

Choose to allow Truth to transform your heart. In this world you may face sorrows and despair of many kinds, allow the balm of His Word, the beauty of His love to be the beginning of your healing. Your heartbreaks, your fears, your dreams, your doubts, your frustrations, your joys, your heart and soul... surrender it fully to Him, His will, and you will find a greater freedom, greater beauty than you ever dreamed existed. This world's view of beauty is empty and has nothing but heartache. His view of beauty is full and promises everything but heartache. Which would you rather pursue?

Please enjoy this video: Music Video

You are more, let Him show you :)

xoxo another beauty discovering her worth