Zits, Faults and All

It takes courage to say, "I like myself." Especially when you've sinned, hurt someone, or gone off your diet for the seventh time this week. And it's only Monday.

Can you relate to any of these:

• I yell at my husband, even though I know it only makes things worse.
• I don't pray as often as I think I should, or as long.
• I get impatient with people, and complain about them.
• I often let dishes sit in the sink, my bed go unmade, and my cats jump on the counter.
• I eat too much and exercise too little. 

Sometimes I think,  Will I ever grow up? When do I practice what I've been preaching to others for thirty years? I'm a mess.

At a writers conference I attended, Cecil Murphey prayed a simple little prayer that I later jotted down and stuck on my fridge, "Loving God, show me the truth about myself, no matter how wonderful it may be."
Aha.

God sees the wonder of you and me, no matter how much junque is still there. That gives us courage to continue to:

• like ourselves in spite of our plethora of flaws,
• bring our messiness to Him to fix,
• love others, no matter how imperfectly.

God knew what we were like before He created us, sent Jesus to die for us, and called us to Himself. He is not overly concerned about our faults. He wants us to grow up, but it just doesn't ruin His day like we might think when we aren't mature yet.
Besides, if we were perfect, no one could stand to be around us.

I am gathering up the courage instilled in me by the God of glory and His lamb, Jesus. I dare to say, "I like myself, zits, faults, and all." Won't you join me?

Difficult People

Difficult people: everyone has a few cluttering up the pristine landscape of their life.

The Lord recently prompted me to pray for the difficult people in my garden plot. Not so I’d be more comfortable or peaceful, but so they’d be happier. It wasn’t fun, and I made some shocking discoveries about my own faults mirrored in others.

Then I wondered: am I a difficult person for someone else, or many others? Is a brother or sister praying for me, because I’m a thorn in their side, a weed in their flower bed? Gulp.



I’ll bet you can think of a difficult someone who needs your prayers today. Will you do it, just to spite the devil? We may all be surprised at how our landscapes develop!