Who Defines Your Worth?

A friend of mine sent this to me this week and summed up some a recent emotional roller coaster ride I took myself on.

Who Defines Your Worth?
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth
Isaiah 43:4a (NIV) "You are precious and honored in my sight..."
Friend to Friend
Last winter, I bought my daughter a really cute jacket at the mall. It's a hoodie that's made of a cuddly fabric with cream, lavender, and mint green horizontal stripes. The jacket zips up in the front and is well crafted, stylish, and simply adorable.
When I bought it, I felt like the price on the tag was a fair one, so I gladly pulled out my wallet and paid the retail amount. I was a kid in a candy store on the way home. I fully anticipated a shriek of happiness from my little bag of beans when I gave it to her. Delightfully, I wasn't disappointed. Kennedy loved her new coat, and I was pleased with my purchase. Happy dances all around - until a week later, when I saw the same jacket in the same store at a greatly reduced price. Are you tensing up with me? Suddenly, I felt schnookered! Ripped off. Taken advantage of. As soon as I saw the red line on the price tag of the unsold coats, everything changed - Kennedy's jacket wasn't worth what I paid for it.
When we speak of the worth of something, we often consider it to be a relative term. One that has shifting factors. For example, last week the cute jacket was thirty-nine dollars, and now it's nineteen ninety-nine. The jacket didn't change, but its perceived worth did.
Now, consider the worth of a woman. Are the factors that determine her value based upon variable, shifting factors or are they based upon fixed factors? Seems to be a silly question, doesn't it? Fixed, of course! But, if the answer is so glaringly obvious, why do we struggle so much as women with feeling worthless? Why do we walk around feeling like that red lined jacket? I think it's because we often allow variable earthly factors to define our worth.
What kind of variable factors?
There are so many reasons why women feel worthless:

* Because they've been abused (raped, molested, physically abused, verbally abused...)
* Because they've been told that they're worthless (by a parent, spouse, sibling, teenage child, or another...)
* Because of choices they've made (divorce, infidelity, abortion, promiscuity, eating disorders, addictions, uncontrolled anger...)
* Because they've been cheated on (infidelity, internet affair, pornography...)
* Because they're co-dependent (conclude their value based upon other people - "If my husband isn't okay, I'm not okay.")
* Because they don't collect a paycheck (stay at home moms that have left the work force, laid off employees, displaced employees, those on disability...)
* Because they've battled an illness (unable to care for family, perform basic home duties, participate in ministry or Bible study like they once did, can't drive, cook...)

Unfortunately, the variable factors that we use to define our worth are endless. Many of us feel worthless. Why? We've felt ignored, invisible, insignificant, useless, undesired, ugly, unloved, or forgotten. We girls are emotional, broken in many ways. Great portions of our identity and of our personal value are wrapped into combustible packages of emotion - how we feel about this or that. The truth is, our worth has nothing to do with our feelings.
Trust me, I'm not going to try to convince you that I know everything there is to know about feeling like a woman of worth. Or about being a woman of worth. I am in the trenches with you. I struggle with normal woman things. I don't live a fancy schmancy, rose-colored wonder-life. I hit the snooze button several times each morning. I pack lunches for my kids. I spend countless hours of my life each year sitting in the car pool line. It's a never-ending struggle for me to keep the laundry done and my kids often have to fish for a matching pair of socks in the clean-clothes basket. My husband is my soul mate, but is far from perfect. For that matter, Brad should win a lifetime achievement award for enduring the drama of me! And my kids bring me both great joy and great frustration on a daily basis.
Is this sounding at all familiar to you?
See - I'm just like you, and I'm walking this faith journey right beside you. In fact, the more I know God, the less inclined I am to pretend to have life or faith figured out. Amen? I'm constantly tempted to define my worth with activities, emotions, and accomplishments. I've come to realize, however, that way of thinking is a spiritual dead end road. Scripture tells us that anything we do in our own strength or of our own goodness is of no value to God. "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6a, emphasis mine).
What I do know is this: because of Jesus Christ, I'm a woman of highest worth. Not because of anything else. I'm a grace girl. Not perfect by a long stretch. I've been changed by the unconditional love of God and restored to perfect beauty through the shed blood of Jesus. Because of love, we are His daughters, precious in His sight. In light of this, we need to set aside feelings that diminish our value, and embrace our proper identity: Child of the King of Kings.
Hear this, friend: feelings of worthlessness are from Satan himself. It burns me up that the enemy has such a strong grip on God's daughters in this area. We need to associate the word worthless with the word lie. That's exactly what it is, a big, fat lie! I talk to women all the time who bend a knee to negative feelings and live defeated lives because they don't quite know how to overcome their sense of worthlessness. God wants every one of us to experience healing and have an appropriate sense of self-worth.
So let's go back to Kennedy's new coat for just a moment. Imagine walking into God's department store. There on the rack, you spy a coat that is just plain fabulous - I mean stop-you-in-your-tracks fabulous! One-size fits all, the tag reads. Yeah, right, you whisper under your breath. Then you flip over the price tag and it's crazy expensive. Way beyond what you could ever dream of paying. Like, if you added up every dollar that ever passed through your hands - then multiplied that by ten thousand - that kind of expensive. Then imagine the storeowner walking over to you, slipping the coat off the rack and onto your shoulders.
"It's a perfect fit," He smiles.
"Sir," you manage with a whisper, "I could never afford such a coat. This is meant for royalty and I'm, well, just an ordinary girl."
"Oh precious woman, this coat is made especially for you, and the price has already been paid in full."
As the owner straightens the sleeves on your arms and adjusts the collar around your neck, you notice his hands - nail pierced hands. And suddenly you realize that this is the covering you were meant to wear all along.
You see, the Bible tells us that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be clothed with the "robe of righteousness." The apostle Paul tells us that when we are reconciled to God, we become His righteousness. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). There's no way we could ever afford or earn such a robe but Jesus gave His life for us - He earned it for us. He paid the price and we receive the gift. Why? Because you're worth it. You are precious and highly valuable in the eyes of the One who sees. And you never, never, never have to worry about being on anyone's bargain rack again.
Let's Pray
Holy Father, I'm humbled at the very thought that I could be viewed as precious in Your eyes. Thank You for taking on my sin so that I could take on your righteousness. Please help me to see myself as You see me. Help me to thrive in Your beauty!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

I wish I could reach through my computer screen, grab your hands, and pray with you right now. I don't know what you are going through, but our loving Father is keenly aware of your circumstances, your feelings, and your needs

Hold My Heart

As a christian and an active participant in building His kingdom, I find myself surrounded by heartache and pain. I love music. It ministers to my heart, to my soul and to my spirit. Tenth Avenue North's Hold My Heart speaks to me for my friends that feel they are in a hopeless situation and the fact that I feel so helpless in not being able to help them. May the maker of heaven and earth reach down and hold your heart. May you experience His presence in a profound and unforgettable way. May your spirits sore to new heights with unexplainable reason. I love you friends.

Tenth Avenue North - Hold My Heart
From the album Over And Underneath

How long must I pray
Must I pray to You?
How long must I wait
Must I wait for You?

How long till I see Your face
See You shining through I'm on my knees
Begging You to notice me
I'm on my knees Father, will you turn to me

One tear in the driving rain
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart

One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand If
You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart

I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye
But if there's no other way I'm done asking why
I'm on my knees Begging You to turn to me
I'm on my knees Father, will you run to me

So many questions without answers
Your promises remain I can't see but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name
To hear You call my name

Lyrics may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

Spirit versus Flesh

The weekend brought about some thoughts that I am not so proud of. In fact, ashamed more like it. Then Monday rolled around and my tongue was not guarded, probably because my heart was not well guarded for what I had let run amok in my head. Fortunately, my God's 'anger' is but for a moment and His favor is for life. This was my devotion after my quiet time this morning. The Battles Within. God's timing is perfect. I am imperfect. Thank you Lord, for never forsaking me even when my flesh dominants my spirit.

Community and Accountability

Just a quick reminder that voting is not only a civic duty but a spiritual obligation.

Today I would like to share the devotion from Proverbs Ministries. My running buddies and I were just discussing last night during our run accountability to be in the word frequently, ultimately daily. I find it exhilarating when God encourages us through His own word.

Do not fret...

Streams in the Desert compiled by L.B.Cowman
Fret Not Over Evil-doers

"Fret not thyself" (Ps. 37:1).

Do not get into a perilous heat about things. If ever heat were justified, it was surely justified in the circumstances outlined in the Psalm. Evil-doers were moving about clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day. "Workers of iniquity" were climbing into the supreme places of power, and were tyrannizing their less fortunate brethren. Sinful men and women were stalking through the land in the pride of life and basking in the light and comfort of great prosperity, and good men were becoming heated and fretful.

"Fret not thyself." Do not get unduly heated! Keep cool! Even in a good cause, fretfulness is not a wise help-meet. Fretting only heats the bearings; it does not generate the steam. It is no help to a train for the axles to get hot; their heat is only a hindrance. When the axles get heated, it is because of unnecessary friction; dry surfaces are grinding together, which ought to be kept in smooth co-operation by a delicate cushion of oil.

And is it not a suggestive fact that this word "fret" is closely akin to the word "friction," and is an indication of absence of the anointing oil of the grace of God?

In fretfulness, a little bit of grit gets into the bearings--some slight disappointment, some ingratitude, some discourtesy--and the smooth working of the life is checked. Friction begets heat; and with the heat, most dangerous conditions are created.

Do not let thy bearings get hot. Let the oil of the Lord keep thee cool, lest by reason of an unholy heat thou be reckoned among the evil-doers. --The Silver Lining

Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so,
He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free;
God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.
--Edith Willis Linn

Lord, if you are willing....

Lord, if you are willing, make me clean. Luke 5:12
Here in the account of Luke, a leper says to the Lord, 'if you are willing, make me clean.' Now, go with me, as I recount the verses that came as I camped on this verse:

Psalm 51:2
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from sin.
Jeremiah 33:8
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.
Ephesians 5:26
...that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.
James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double minded.
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mark 7:15
There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him, but the things from which come out of him, those are the things that can defile him.
Mark 7:21
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,...
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

With the swine flu in our midst the reoccurring caution is the washing of our hands to prevent germs from spreading. In the Holman Bible dictionary clean/cleanness - "A clean person is one who habitually maintains a pattern of personal cleanliness and hygiene, while at the same time taking care to ensure that his or her environment is in a clean condition so as to forestall possible accidents, infections or disease."

In Strongs cleanse was also defined as to make clean, purify,purified, purifying, purge, purging, to cleanse oneself, made clean. It is a process, an ongoing work, not just a one time event.

As it should be with our minds. If regular hand washing prevents germs from spreading and viruses from setting in, what would a regular 'mind washing' do for us? Traveling through this world, mud and muck accumulate in the crevices or our minds, as it does on our shoes or cars. The disciplines' feet were washed upon the arriving at a house from traveling in sandals on dirty, dusty roads. Now we wash our hands on regular basis with the intention of preventing the swine flu. As it should be with our minds. Our 'mind washing' should be with the washing of the Word, to prevent Satan from getting footholds. Maintenance, so to speak. Daily washing of water by the word to clean off the mud and muck of this dark word.

The Lord is my refuge

Today I am sharing the devotion posted from Proverbs31 Ministries.
The Lord is their refuge