A Journal Submitted by: Belinda-Marie Purkey
Father, through my own missteps, I do sometime forget what I look like in the mirror. And when I check back, it’s not always because I want to confirm that I am seeing You staring back, but to see what others are seeing. Why, when My heart knows that I am being transformed into the beautiful perfection of Christ, do I still care about what the others see?
Belinda-Marie, to be reflective of My son, is a process. We walk this journey together. It is necessary to pause with frequency and do a self-check of what you look like. This serves as a reminder of what you are looking for and of what you want to reflect to the world. This is an opportunity to adjust the things that may be out of place, and it’s also an opportunity to admire the progress we’ve made.
Looking at what My Love has done in your life is not done in vainglory…but encourages you to keep going. What happens when you see something amiss? You often reach for the wrong product to fix the situation. A hair out of place might simply need the benefits of a comb, but instead you insist on layering on the hairspray. You then will have the look you desire, but now lack the authenticity of what is real. It makes you stiff.
While doctrine can cut you down like scissors and reverse the growth you’ve had…throwing up a wall against the ideas of the church can “hairspray” you out of flexibility and your own personal growth. I gave the Holy and Inspired Word of God to all of man! The vast majority will pick it up and examine it, but most will not see authenticity of its truth.
While there are certainly those of have become students of the Word and may retain more knowledge than others; there are also those who have become Hearts of the Word. This means that they may not “know” as much, but what they do know; they embrace it and strive to put it into action. That is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. While knowledge alone is like a flame without a fire, there is gain in both knowledge and wisdom when combined and balanced…and there are a selected few who have both.
What about you? I gave you a personal relationship with My Son. In Him, you have the gift of discernment. Turning to Him is wisdom of the most high quality. So do not fear listening to or considering everyone’s points of view. As with each Bible Study, devotional, doctrinal statement…you have the ability to read, ponder, check it by what you do know for sure is true (the Word), pray, & listen.
I will guide you always. Then you come to a place where you rest in peace of truth. You can then look at the mirror and smile when you see the growth. You can be confident in who you are in Me, no matter what others may suggest. We have had times when we’ve needed to bring out the array of tools and do a drastic makeover…and there are times to come when we’ll perhaps do the same…but where you now, today, you have become a solid warrior, a loving heart, and a confident treasure who has learned the value of bringing the Christ that’s inside out.We stop at the mirror and do some minor touch-ups…slow and steady…but surely, we will reach that destination of perfect, authentic, and free-flowing beauty.
Father, thank you for the gift of discernment through the Holy Spirit. JIM (Jesus in me) is my one and only go-to when I have reason to pause and take inventory of myself. I understand that even with godly-people, while their intentions may be good, that they do not have 100% of the answers. 100% came only in Christ. I understand that it is important to receive the words of my church and just like with any other godly, yet fallible human, I always must turn into myself…the Christ in me…to seek the truth, by way of the Word of God.
…and then stand firm, in love, with what I show you, Belinda-Marie! It is not a war between each other out there. You do not need to argue truth, as Christ won that argument on the Cross. Truth has been defended forever! Always be kind to each other. Yes, Father! The most difficult part, when left to my own self, but quiet easy when JIM stands forward! -Amen!
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