trbccoffeebreak

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 1:23-24 (NIV)

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The panoramic view of self was more than I could take in. Standing in an aerobic room filled with mirrors it only took one look for me to cower. My instructor moved with ease as I stood in shock consumed with all my angles. Interesting how I convinced myself those few extra pounds really didn’t matter. Probably because I wasn’t seeing self from all those angles.

Ever find yourself seeing you from a different angle? Sometimes the very thing we detest in someone else is the big enormous fault we hide in self. We wouldn’t dare consider “us” from so many different angles. Perhaps the trait we deny the most is simply the one we need to confront head on.

Perspective changes when angles unveil all. We see those attitudes and character mishaps which elusively we denied. All it took was one look in the mirror for me to know my fave food group “chocolate” must go. Now I could have continued to ignore its effects on the reflection I saw, but that would never serve me well. Best plan was to seize the moment to acknowledge the truth staring me in the face.
Love this caution from James warning us to not ignore or deny what we see in self. Great wisdom in knowing God sees exactly who we are and gives us His words to transform us from the inside out. He doesn’t need a mirror or an aerobic room to get the panoramic view of our lives. God is fully aware of our tendencies to overlook His instructions and settle for a quick glimpse of self. Don’t know about you but when I tend to excuse away what I see in me, God seems to shine His light the brightest in that exact spot.

Let’s be wise women who don’t settle. Let’s seize the moment to allow God’s truth to change us so we reflect more and more of Him in our lives and less of us. Let’s be quick to obey rather than seeing obedience as optional. Let’s resist the urge to forget what we see and actively apply the truth of God’s word – it’s the best view of self ever.

“Father, I could probably tell You the number of every wrinkle on my face but the view of me You see is so much deeper than the surface. Real beauty unveils itself in obedience and surrender. That’s what You desire to see in me.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life