A Tale of Two Mirrors
Every day we look in the mirror. As women, some mornings we wake up feeling kind of blah; we look in the mirror and it is confirmed. We are not satisfied with the image we see looking back at us. For those of us who enjoy cosmetics, there are some mornings we may try and “fix” the image with a dab of concealer and a bit of makeup. Other days we may abandon any hope of improving what we see; basic hygiene will have to do.
What / whom do you see when you look in the mirror first thing in the morning?
Did you consider physical or personal characteristics? Why do you think that is? Do you like that? Why or Why not?
Several years ago I asked a good friend of mine, how do you get your teeth so white? (She shared her secret with me!) The next time I was in the personal care section of the grocery store, a certain box of whitening strips found its way into my grocery basket. I have another friend whose eyes dance with light. Incredible lashes frame her happy eyes. She swears by her mascara. The other day I asked her what kind she uses. (She texted me a picture.) Yep, that mascara also came home with me.
There is nothing wrong with using cosmetics. Personally, I think they are lots of fun. On certain days, a few swipes of lipstick and mascara can make us look a little less tired than we actually may be. However, there are days when no amount of touch up makes us feel better about ourselves. That’s when it’s time to know the truth.
Every day we have the opportunity to look into the mirror of God’s Word. Only there do we see our true selves—the way God sees us. In her book, Christ|Life: Embracing Your True and Deepest Identity, Ruth Myers says, “The mirror of God’s Word is a mirror of His Love.”
Read the verses below and underline the words and phrases that demonstrate God’s love for you. Don’t rush through them; soak in them for a little while. Then make a note about why each verse is meaningful to you.
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
[Jesus is speaking to His disciples.] I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 15:15
For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8a
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a
Now–what is the truth that you know? Would anything have to change in order for you live in this love? If so, what?
I read an article from Discipleship Journal many years ago, and I am reminded of it every time I think about how much God loves us. The visual that Paul Thigpen portrays makes me smile. The song is new for me. It is a reminder of the personal nature of God’s love – so sweet that it makes my heart sing!
Excerpt from Paul Thigpen’s article “Our Joyful God”:
… God has labored ever since the fall to redeem and heal this broken world; and the work of salvation, like the work of creation, gives Him profound pleasure. The Scripture speaks often of God’s joy in redemption. In the Old Testament, for example, when ancient Israel went astray, He promised to save them, declaring, “I will rejoice in doing them good” (Jer. 32:41). In the New Testament, the parable of the lost sheep describes God’s joy as the Shepherd who delights in recovering even a single stray (Lk. 15:3-7).
Perhaps the most startling of scriptural images in this regard is Zephaniah’s picture of God as a mighty warrior who [rejoices] in His victory over sin and … in the sinners He reclaims. “The Lord your God is with you,” says the prophet, “he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, . . . he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). The word translated here as “delight” means “mirth, glee, merriment”; and the phrase “rejoice . . . with singing” means literally to “spin around” with [unrestrained] joy, shouting out the triumphant song of a victory celebration!1
Chorus from “Forever Reign,” by Hillsong
Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus Jesus
Do you have a favorite song that encourages you when you need to be reminded of God’s love? What are some of the phrases that you love the most.
My friend with the happy eyes? Her eyes dance even when she’s not wearing mascara. Like most of us, she has experienced significant struggles in her life; but the joy of Jesus sparkles in her countenance.
We may not be overjoyed when we look at the mirror in our bathroom. But when we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we can know that God is ecstatically excited over us and loves us deeply.
1Discipleship Journal, Issue 124 (July/August 2001) (NavPress, 2001).
