You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Matthew 5:14 MSG
How would our experience of the world be different if we could see ourselves as God sees us? With the challenges, trials, and pain this life brings, it is easy to lose sight of God’s promises and who we are in Christ. Especially, when the pain continues or our wait seems long. I get it. I too have struggled in the wilderness moments of my life and second guessed the promises God has given me. The real issue comes down to this; the image of us that God sees in the mirror is so vastly different than what we have been believing about ourselves, that our hearts struggle to accept it.
Often when we begin to hear God’s vision of us and for us it can make us feel like a fraud inside at first. What do I mean by that? Well, if we look at examples in the Bible, God told Abraham his descendants would be as great as the stars in the sky, not when he was a young man in the prime of his life, but when he was old and had no children of his own. He told Moses he would lead and save a whole nation after he spent 40 years running in the wilderness because he was a murderer. He ask Gideon to lead his people to defeat the Midianites even though he was the smallest and weakest of all the men. Then, of course, there is Joseph. He had a dream that he would be in a high ranking position of authority, but first he became the one bowing down as a slave.
This is exactly why moving out of Rebuilding into the SHINING stage in the healing process is a challenge for many of us. We find ourselves saying, “You want me to do WHAT! How is that gonna happen?” We struggle to wrap our mind around what God can accomplish in and through us and our hearts keep saying, “No way, He can’t be thinking that way about me!” Yet, God see us in light of who we are to become and not through the lens of what our past contains!
God often uses what you see as your greatest weakness as the source from which He will grow your greatest gifts, abilities, and talents. Why would He do that? Because more than anything else He wants a relationship with YOU, and He wants you to depend on Him and experience Him in a whole new way. He longs for you to not just know about Him, but to truly experience Him as your Abba Father, Savior, Forgiver, Provider, Restorer, Healer, Refuge, Peace and so much more.
What is God trying to be for you in your struggle, that you would have never been able to experience without it? Because in all honesty, if you could accomplish His dream for you on your own, you would. It is human nature to try and do it alone. We really don’t like to depend on anyone else. That’s our culture. I find that when I lose sight of the fact that my life’s purpose requires a duet, not a solo, that is when I struggle to believe in my calling the most. God truly is the greatest dance partner around – let Him lead the way.
The 4th Building Block To Healing – Shining
In today’s post we are wrapping up the final way that the construction process is similar to our healing process. In the 4th stage of the construction process after the foundation is set, the builder puts in place the necessary connections that will provide the house with light and water. We all know that in order for light to shine and water to flow, there has to be a connection to the source.
Connection is the key task of the 4th building block to healing. Shining is all about learning to depend on, rely on, and connect with the “Light” inside of us. But for that to happen we need to open our hands and embrace God’s view of us. This is where the exchange happens. We receive and accept God’s view of us and a natural outflow occurs. Jeremiah said, “It’s like a fire in my bones … I can’t hold it in.” It something we can’t hold in. There is a stirring that words can’t grasp that compels us to share our light with others.
Shining occurs when we experience a mindset shift – where we accept His view as our own and then what flows out of our heart aligns with His vision of us! When we think differently we act differently. With the foundation of God’s truth in our heart, we can begin to envision the Designer’s blueprint for us and it is His blueprint then that overrides our old ways of seeing and being.
When we experience the realization that our identity is not based on what has happened to us but in God’s view of us, we find the freedom and courage to walk out His plan for our lives. Our wobbly first steps towards His promises enable His vision of us to become clearer and appear possible. Every step becomes stronger as we learn to trust in the power source that flows within us (aka the Holy Spirit). His power is what enables us to do “immeasurably more than we could ever think or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Colossians 2:10 says that we are “complete” because of our connection or “union” with Christ. This means we lack nothing. The enemy is always trying to convince us in some form or another we aren’t enough, but the Holy Spirit is shouting right back, “YES YOU ARE!”
Jesus promised when he was leaving this world that He would equip us to do great works through the Holy Spirit that lives in us. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works” (John 14:12, NLT). And “the Spirit that lives in you is greater than the spirit that lives in the world” (1 John 4 :4). My prayer for you is that “God’s Word (will be) so steady in you.” That your connection with Him will enable you to overcome anything the enemy throws at you! (1 John 2:14).
I filled the end of this post with verses because as we build our lives on God’s Word and start to see ourselves through the Truth etched within its pages, we learn to live a life that defies the odds against us. We become limitless because He who lives in us and empowers us is limitless! We are ALL called to be a light in this dark world in some way or another, but we only accomplish this when we are plugged into to the greatest Light ever known (Matthew 5:14). You will find all you need in Him to accomplish whatever He has placed in your heart to do. Overcome your past so that you can set your purpose free!
Overview
So, if we simplify the 4-building block process we have been looking at in the last few posts, it would look something like this:
- We scan the landscape of our heart and discover the obstacles and debris that are limiting our view.
- Then we allow God to break ground in our heart fully uncovering our hurt to receive His Truth.
- We persevere through the fight to relinquish our old limiting mindset by transforming our thinking so that it aligns with the Truth God revealed.
- Then we learn to accept God’s view as our own and connect with and rely on “The Light” within to accomplish what only a duet can!
Task Of The Week
Use the 4 building blocks to evaluate where you are in your healing process. Ask yourself, “Where am I in regards to the area of debris God has brought to my attention?”
- Am I in the beginning stages of Awareness, trying to discover what limiting mindset, overwhelming emotions, protective strategies, and painful memories are tied to this place in my heart?
- Am I in the Revealing stage, ready to face and uncover the debris within my heart to receive God’s healing perspective?
- Am I in the process of Rebuilding, taking the truth God revealed to my heart and renewing my mind in it so that my limiting mindset can be transformed?
- Am I in the process of Shining, allowing God’s vision of me to be what I see in the mirror and connecting to Him as the ultimate power source that fuels my light in this area of my life?
It is important that you frequently re-evaluate where you are on your journey – remembering that the process repeats itself. Healing comes in layers as God’s light exposes only what we are ready and willing to deal with at the time.
If God’s Word became the mirror through which you saw yourself, how would the reflection looking back at you be different? Healing comes down to a simple yet complicated task – learning to see ourselves and our circumstances through God’s eyes. I believe it is only in the dark moments of our lives that we can learn to SEE the Lion within!
Be Blessed ~ Be a Light!