Invincibly Loved

I want you to take some time and think about your strengths. I mean really think about it. Even if you think you don’t have many, go ahead and list them. Write them down if it helps.

Think about the things you’ve done right. The good decisions you’ve made. The things that came through for you or that God provided even when it looked like there was no way.

I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit. We tend to be our own worst enemies (I know I can be). Let’s start treating ourselves like our own best friends. Does your best friend treat you with grace? Or follow you around yelling at you every time you mess up?

Would they say “Hey you did horribly in that meeting at work today, you’re such a loser and you’re never going to be able to speak in front of people”. Or would they say “You’ve had a rough couple days, in fact, it’s been a CRAZY month for you. Anybody would have performed that way in the same situation. Don’t sweat it, you are going to kill it next time!”

A true friend sees you through the lens of who they know you are on the inside (in the heart), not on outward appearances. They don’t keep hitting the reset button on each thing you do, judging you based on each performance. They know the true you, and love you for who you are deep down. This is why you can feel at home with them in a pair of Star Wars sweatpants and messed up hair. They aren’t impressed or moved by what the day-to-day changes might be. They are immovably fixed by a tether of love that is connected from their heart to yours.

Would your day feel a bit better if you felt this way about yourself? If you loved yourself in the same way? And if you anchored yourself in the reality that this is the way that Jesus sees you too?

“…the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

Can we stop beating ourselves up now? I believe in you, and I know you can keep going and give yourself the love that you deserve. Because let’s face it- the past few years have been a little crazy for all of us. The world is changing at a rapid pace and it would be extremely naive of me to think that we haven’t been all been emotionally affected by how chaotic the ocean of global events can be.

I give you permission today to give yourself loads of grace. Encourage yourself with your wins, and let’s learn from the losses but don’t linger on them. The simple fact that you’re reading this right now tells me that you want a deeper relationship with God, and to be a better and more loving version of yourself than you were yesterday. And you know what? You are worthy of that love. You are worthy of an upgraded version of yourself. One that is so fixated on “things above”- things like love, peace and joy- that you’ll be absolutely invincible to the poison darts of the enemy that used to trip you up so easily.

Every day is a new day. The past is behind you, the future is ahead of you, and right now this beautiful moment is all you have. Let’s seize it and allow so much of the Holy Spirit’s love to flow in and through you that not only will you be changed, but so will everyone you encounter.