The world is such a confusing place you know? Especially when you are trying to find who you really are. We have the known and we have the unknown. We spend most of our time trying to figure out the unknown using the knowledge we have. Doesn’t really make sense, does it? What we know is what we have seen, heard or experienced. If we don’t know or understand something we utilize expert resources or other opinions to determine what answer we are comfortable with believing.  So now what we know is not actually what we know, it is what we have chosen to believe given the time and circumstances.

Just a few months past my salvation at the age of 26, I decided I knew nothing and I didn’t have much belief in anything or anyone except that Jesus was real & He was with me. I found myself without words when people asked questions about my new found faith. This was definitely out of the norm. Early on I had taught myself that even if I didn’t know the answer I could talk enough to convince others that I knew exactly what I was doing. This time normal response of rambling in quick defense turned into a peaceful smile. A smile that either people were confused by, or some just determined I was hiding confusion and of course, some knew exactly where my faith had me. Finding the peace of God does not need to be explained. It does not need to have a definition or a list of explanations. The Peace of God does exactly what His word says it does and that is… Surpasses all Understanding (Phil 4:7).

Surpassing all Understanding was not the way I was raised nor was it the way my college professors taught me to accept. Getting to know God’s way of life was very different and definitely a process. At this point in my life, I knew that my way had failed, I had broken trust, burnt relationships & truly disappointed my own self as floods of my decisions & consequences weighed on my heart & drastically on everyone around me. There I was carrying a life I created out of the knowledge I had gained, the values (or lack thereof) I based my decisions on bursting into tears with no warning…for weeks! With makeup smeared, nose running, not able to explain why I was crying so hard when it had been almost 6 years since I even shed a tear, I found myself with hands raised & admittance that I wasn’t going to be the author of my life anymore. There were many things I did not understand and I was still facing consequences of my previous actions but God began to guide me. and encourage me to stand. God gave me Peace in these moments as I accepted his Grace and Mercy.  I began to replace knowledge and feelings with Faith & Acceptance. I finally understood that God knew more than I did! God had said something to me a few weeks prior that will be branded on my Heart forever and changed the course of my life.  These are the words God whispered to me as He Embraced the broken Woman I was

“Heather, My Daughter, I created you for something amazing, for something more than you can even imagine. It is time for you to discover My Daughter, My Creation, My Child. You are beautiful & wonderfully made. Will you let me raise you as My Daughter? Will you allow yourself to see what I see? I think now is a good time.”

This day, with these words & my spirit, uplifted, and my heart filled with Love I had Peace. 

I pray tonight as I write this that these words find you in a place to receive His Grace. This is God’s desire for you. To hear His voice. To begin to see yourself the way God sees you. To allow Him to take you back to childhood & instill His values, life lessons & true Fatherly Love. What do you say? Are you ready to see the Woman in the mirror He created? If you are I invite you to pray this prayer:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I am amazed by your Goodness. Thank you for bringing me to a place where my heart is open to receive your Love. I am ready to see myself the way you see me. Enlighten my heart with your Love & thoughts of me. My heart is open to receive your mercy & grace. Please give me the strength to fight the thoughts the enemy has tormented me with. I will not believe another word of it In Jesus Name! I am Your Daughter, Beautiful & Wonderfully Made! I declare & stand in agreement with these words in Jesus precious name! Amen!”