What Do You See?

Look in the mirror. What do you see? Do you see a nose you don’t like? Do you notice that your eyes are too close together, or maybe too far apart? Do you see hair that is too thick or too thin? Do you see a body that is not the weight you want it to be? Do you see someone who has not accomplished all the big plans and dreams they had when they were young? Or do you see yourself the way God does?

He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. I John 4:4 (NKJV) emphasis mine

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27 (NKJV) emphasis mine

I like how the Message version expresses this passage.

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. Genesis 1:26-27 (Message, MSG) emphasis mine

All these scriptures tell us how much God loves us and how wonderfully He sees us. However, I think my favorite is The Passion Translation’s rendition of Psalm 139.

You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me. Psalm 139:13-18 (The Passion Translation, TPT) emphasis mine

Take some time today and really ponder the verses I have shared. Embrace them as your own. Receive God’s viewpoint of who you are. And tell yourself how amazing and valuable you really are.

Then, go back to that same mirror and speak the following statement out loud to yourself.

I am wonderfully made by God. I am beautiful and amazing. My heavenly Father sees me as perfect and complete. I am full of talent and potential. I am a treasure. I am who God says I am: His child and a co-heir with Jesus. God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, and He has a wonderful plan for me. I am always on His mind and He thinks only good thoughts about me. I am a winner in life, and because of Jesus I am unstoppable.

I recommend saying this confession, or one like it, daily- even several times a day. At first, you may feel strange saying such glowing things about yourself, but in time, you will recognize them as words of truth, based on God’s Word. After a while, it will amaze you how these words have transformed the image in the mirror into a person you value and love.