Do you really know just how beautiful you are? I cannot even count how many times I have stared into the mirror and seen everything but the image of Christ. I saw all my flaws and shortcomings. Sometimes they were external flaws like not liking my hair, make-up, outfit, weight, etc. Other times they were internal flaws of feeling hopeless, selfish, defeated, jealous, angry, insecure, or inadequate. Thankfully, God has shown me that in spite of my flaws, He can polish each one to be used for His glory. He paralleled it to me like a diamond.
A diamond is a beautiful and precious gem that is designed to reflect light and when worn, is admired by many. It is said that to find a flawless diamond is nearly impossible; the diamonds we love and see as being beautiful, surprisingly do have internal or external flaws. These flaws usually cannot be seen unless they are under high magnification. Isn’t that just like us? We all have been designed and created to reflect Christ but we also have flaws whether they are internal or external. Will we listen to the enemy who becomes that magnification in our lives and tries to distract us from seeing who we really are? Will we allow him to shift our focus to our flaws? Or, do we stand on the Word of God and His promises for our lives? Let us become active in fighting to keep the image of Christ in our minds. There are three things we can do daily to help us keep this focus:
Clean and Control Our Thoughts
Some of the greatest battles take place in our minds. It is in the mind where the enemy attacks and lies to us in order to hinder our daily advancements. The Word reminds us “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). We must let the Word of God shine in our thoughts and transform our negative thinking to righteous thinking. Proclaim the promises God has for you. Declare who you are through God!
Embrace the Cutting Process
Just like a diamond, when it is being created there is cutting, polishing, and enhancing to make it shine more brilliantly. The more facets a diamond has the more brilliant it becomes. As we continue to grow in our walk with the Lord, He will continue to show us things that need to be cut away, polished, and enhanced in order for us to shine more for Him. The diamond cut is usually done quickly while the polishing and enhancing is more time consuming just like God refining us. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2 NIV). After he cuts away the flaws, God fills us back up to reflect Him gloriously just like the enhancement techniques on a diamond. The process can be hard and painful, but we know in the end that it is producing more fruitfulness in our lives. The area that was once seen as a flaw becomes a radiant light of His love. Embrace the refining processes in your life.
Polish Your Heart
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7b NIV). Let us evaluate ourselves by recognizing what our motives are in what we say and do. When we allow things that do not align with the Word of God to take root in our hearts, it overflows in what we say and how we treat people. It is easy to allow offense, bitterness, anger, hurt, and resentment to root in our hearts when people have done us wrong or when we have been mistreated. Purposefully sow God’s words of love in your heart so that it is what flows out of your mouth. Remember we are called here on this earth to love God and love people, so let the pure love of God flow from you to others.
There is power when we actually see ourselves the way God does. He sees us as beautiful, whole, set apart, and created for a purpose. When we become committed to keep the image of Christ in the forefront of our minds, we become powerful. Just as a beautiful diamond, we may have flaws but when we allow God to polish us, we will then reflect His brilliance. You are a gem! Shine brightly for Him so the world may see the beauty of the Lord within you!
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