Renovation
How do you feel about yourself? Do you struggle with self image? Talk to us.
“But, by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace to me was not without effect” (1Corinthians 15:10).
For me it is much easier to love my neighbor than myself. I am probably my worst and harshest critic. I get angry and frustrated too often at the log in my eye while tolerating the speck in others. Does that describe you as well?
I think we all struggle with self image. Studies show 85% of women dislike their physical appearance. Men are hardly immune either. I barely notice if a friend has packed on a few pounds, but I chastise myself when I do. Why does someone else’s hair look cute when the humidity is high while mine is an unruly mess? How often, especially during my teenage years and even at times today, have I felt like the one left out of the crowd?
Paul struggled with self identity a bit as well. He was not one of the original gang that Jesus had chosen. In fact, he had started out persecuting them. But as Christ guided him down the path to spread the truth to the Gentiles and Jews, Paul began to see his worth. Paul began to see himself in a new light – the light of Christ.
When we ask Christ to enter into the center of our souls and dwell within us, He doesn’t just move in. Like any new home dweller, He begins to renovate us from the inside out. Perhaps it is the little touches first, but slowly, the longer He dwells inside of us, He begins to make this house more His own. He takes what we are created to be and enhances it to His glory and use. We are a work in progress, being molded by His grace.
Our flaws are spackled over by His love, just like the dings and scratches in the walls of a house are. He may even rearrange things a bit to suit His needs, knock down some walls that are blocking His path and purpose. People outside may not notice all the changes inside at first, but eventually they will see there is something going on. The light shining through the windows of our souls is brighter, and even our exterior seems to be looking fresher and more inviting.
Renovation may not always be pleasant, but we can trust the One who created the universe and all of its beauty can do the same with us. Beauty to the physical world may only be skin deep, but the true beauty within, the light that can reach out into a dark and sorrowful world and draw it in, is the more lasting one.
My job is to not let my humidity hair or plump pounds effect my attitude so much that it blocks what Christ is trying to help me become. I need to focus more on Him and realize that by His grace I am what I am – and that is something beautiful and worth loving . Because He not only created me, He is recreating me. His grace has not been without effect on my life.
Question: How do you feel about yourself? Is that blocking Christ’s grace from having an effect?
About the Author Julie Cosgrove
Tags: attitude, beauty, created, critic, Gentiles, grace, jews, Julie Cosgrove, paul, physical appearance, renovation, self image, speck, teenage
11 Responses to “Renovation”
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What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
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Yes!I have the foilowlng verse printed out and attached to one of my computer monitors:It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1
This is SO good!! Same here, I can relate to ALL of you folks. Jesus is WORKING!! I realize that before I knew the Lord, I had NO foundation of self worth or love. It took getting saved at age 20 (22+ years ago now) and the Lord building from scratch, to show me what self worth is, as in HIS SIGHT. Yes, Jesus is working in ALL of our lives!
Love to you Pam! May Jesus hold your heart CLOSE! He will be Faithful to keep you in His care! <3
I struggle with this even when i was in my prime and they use to call me wonder woman!
And now that im in my mid 40′s and three kids and a law enforce career later I still struggle with it, even though people mistaken my oldest daughter for my sister… But now i just give in to it and give God the glory and im not as critical Praise the Lord!
Barbara, La, jabad & Tanya- thanks for letting me know what God put on my heart to say has touched you. Isn’t HE maginificent?! To know, no matter what we think of ourselves that HE loves us so completely is comforting and humbling, too. When I was back in highschool(in the Dark Ages)there was a saying- God doesn’t make junk. He can sure take our junk and clean it up! May we strive to honor what HE has graciously bestowed upon us and be patient with ourselves as HE does.
thank you Pam for responding. I am sorry you are going through this time, but I know God is walking besides you. He will never reject you. Teach that to your kids. May you nestle today in His grace.
after 12 years of marriage, a beautiful 7 year old little boy and a year precious 4 year old daughter, i am going through a divorce…..needless to say i am broken and hurt….i needed this devotional today, thank you!
Julie your renovation devotional was great! I loved it sooo much. I carried around such a warped image towards myself…hated looking in the mirror…and for many years I know I halted the “good works” God was trying to do on the inside of me. So blessed that my mind has been renewed in this area and value my inner and outer beauty more and more…It blows my mind away to know how much i once struggled with the body image in the mirror and now even though most of my hair is gone and my thighs jiggle…and my stomach bulges just a tad bit…I like myself now more than ever before because the inside is being cleaned and “RENOVATED”. WOW! what an awsome God we have. Barbara
Thank you for your words. I had never thought of Christ’s indwelling quite like that. It makes sense to me
Thank you for your words. I had never thought of Chrit’s indwelling quite like that. It makes sense to me
We’re all a work in progress… ! “I am what I am”. It’s like the popular saying now days in the corp. world: “it is what is is”. Mostly what i pull from this devotional today, is that I really don’t want to be “blocking Christ’s grace from having an effect on me, and I want my love of Christ to shine very bright onto others. Our bodies really are His temple. I hope to keep it fresh & clean for Him, and I know He will clean it up if I get in his way (by His grace and His love). But why get in His way! We have and hold perfection because of Him. Our negative thoughts (about our appearance or whatever, really are blocking His grace in making us even more beautiful…, and we don’t deserve it. Thanks for another eye opener. May the Lord shine in us all today. May we love one another like Jesus loved all of us, and may we have compassion on ourseves as well.
Amen Sister. Some days I get down and feel like I’m not changing quick enough or maturing enough in Christ. I’m always very critical of myself. But you just reminded me that God has his own timing and grace and I am not supposed to be changing by my own might and strength. I am supposed to be allowing Him to change me in his timing and how He wants me changed. I need to trust Him, not in my own might or power because truely I have none like HIM!!