Hello folks!
It is with joy that I write this text.
First, I have a question to you: “Do you know who you are in Christ?”
The word of God speaks of our identity in Christ. We were made in the image and likeness of God, we were made in a special and admirable way, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we are children of God, we are co-heirs with Christ, etc.
Okay, this whole theory we know, right? But now I have another question: “Do you know this in your heart?”
In my case, I only knew this in the intellect. But now, God is bringing it to my heart. But a key has been turned. I needed to accept God’s love for me. I realized that I didn’t see myself the way He sees me. I realized that I was reluctant to let His love into my heart.
In our life we go through pain. I imagine the following scenario: With each pain, it is as if a door (like those in a bank vault) to the heart is closed and our identity is being distorted. We resist letting the Lord open these doors. But God’s love is different. He doesn’t want to hurt; He just wants to take care.
I had this revelation and made an association with trees, which are often used as allegories in the bible. Sometimes trees are attacked by insects. These animals lay eggs on the tree. The eggs hatch, and the little ones start to suck the sap from the tree. They have a hormone in their saliva that stimulates a disordered growth of tree tissue. This is called gall and its appearance is very ugly (photo below).
Now applying this to our life. Insects are the pains that we passed through. If we take care of them by ourselves, our heart will be like a gall. But, if you allow God take care of your pains, He is going to use those for His glory. Yes, it’s super possible!
In this case, we must be an oyster. When the grain of sand from pain enters the shell, the oyster begins to produce a protective substance. This substance surrounds the grain of sand, and in the end a pearl is produced. Wow, that is the transformation we want!
In my case, my heart was like a gall. But I let the Lord in. I accepted my pain and my past because they made me who I am today. And if the King of Kings has accepted me, who am I to don’t accept myself? So, I gave my grains of sand to the Lord, so that He can make pearls and bless lives. For your information everybody admires pearls! 🙂
In this process, I am discovering who I am in the Father’s eyes. If He spoke, it is because I am. So, every day I’ve been applying mind renewing as described in Romans 12. I have a list of affirmations that I have taken from God’s word, and others that He has spoken to me. I have learned to love myself as He loves me, and it has been wonderful! I realized that God gives me His love so that I overflows loving Him with all my heart, soul and understanding; to love myself and my neighbor. I understand that I can only love my neighbor when I learn to love myself.
What about you? Have you let the Lord use your grains of sand?
Surrender to the Lord, accept and love yourself just as He loves you!