THINGS TO DO...be enough. And I am!
How? Definitely not on my account, self-confidence or assurance of who I am. Most assuredly through Jesus Christ!
Things that tug on my heart and circumstances that I am forging through, I have always reached for the nearest scrap of paper that I can find to jot down things that I truly feel that the Lord needs for me to see...learn...and remember. I usually stuff it away in my 'smash book' of collected notes of scripture, thoughts, promises and encouragement. This said note gracefully floated from beneath the collection of notes the other day as I picked up my binder to put it in its rightful spot. I had written this just this past fall. Something I've been trying to learn to be. It just so happened to be on a "To Do" list. Ironic? Maybe. I believe it was with great cause that I unknowingly at the time wrote it on this paper. It is a wonderful reminder for what needs to be done. Being enough.
We live in a world that flashes in our faces with mega-phones screaming in our heads that we are NOT ENOUGH! Not thin enough, pretty enough, tall enough, popular enough, rich enough, cool enough, fun enough, ______ enough...etc! Of course, the world around us seems to offer such marvelous solutions for said problems--for a price...something that will literally cost us and often times it isn't only monetary.
I, on my own, am not enough. No matter how hard I try, I just will not be enough because there will always be something bigger, something better, something more that grabs hold of me and tries to get me to measure up. Measure up to what or to whom, I'm not quite sure but I do know that I will never, on my own, feel as if I am enough according to this world. I just don't have the strength, skills, mind-set or endurance to do so. I have spent far too much time and energy focusing on what 'others' think...would think...what their opinions would be...how I looked physically as well as in social standing. This was a HUGE waste of my time. I asked myself just who was I so concerned about. Who were the 'others?' Who were 'they?' My focus was far too much narrowed and concentrated on things that can waste away.
For about six months now, the Lord has really been tugging at my heart and ministering to me about being enough in Him. What this means is that even though I am not enough on my own I can fully rest assured that I am completely enough through Jesus Christ because He is more than enough. And because He resides within me it is His strength and all that He is that makes me enough. He is the One whom I need to place my focus and spend my time with.
This sounds simple enough, yet it was extremely challenging in my application. I would verbally whisper time and time again these three simple yet powerful words to serve as a reminder..."I AM ENOUGH. I AM ENOUGH. I AM ENOUGH!" The more I would speak these words the more God changed my focus. Instead of being so concerned with what 'others' thought, I began focusing on God and glorifying Him. I realized that the more I did this the more freeing and peaceful I felt. Don't get me wrong, I didn't snub my noise to everyone and everything around...I'm human and I tend to be concerned with how I look in appearance, and getting caught up with my "I wished..." statements that would only benefit me. I did, however, learn to not let it be my primary focus and concern. I sought God and relied on Him each new day. I slowly began to realize that all that I wished for were for things that were either highly unrealistic or required much from me that I just didn't have. I began asking myself some important questions like, ' What was I doing things for and for whom were I doing them? Why? What was I pursuing and for what reason? Who was I looking to in order to be recognized? Why am I so concerned of others' approval?'
It appeared to me that I was far too consumed with what 'this world' thought. I fell into the mold of what the world thought was 'good...flawless...desirable...and so on.' Things that bothered me much was slowly bothering less. For example, my body, self-image. For as long as I can remember I was never fully satisfied or happy with how I looked. For years, I invested in this and that diet product, joined various gyms, purchased countless 'magical' beauty products. There were moments that I got the desired outcome but then something else (whatever it may be at that given moment to distract from where I was) came along and I was unhappy again. The lovely looking glass in my bathroom would faithfully remind me each and every morning that I needed work done and lots of it. I would tell that looking glass just what I thought needed to be done in order for me to be happy. I spoke as if it actually could do something about my complaints. This is something that I am not at all proud of doing and I have to admit I still catch myself speaking to that looking glass as if it were a long lost friend. That's when I speak to Christy and speak Truth of who I am and whose I am.
A good friend of mine gave me something to read that contained this amazing story. It's called 'The Sculptor.' I wished I knew who wrote this lovely story because I'd like to thank them! Let me tell you, this helped me do a complete turn around on how I viewed myself. Take a look...
In front of me sits a brick of clay. Not just any old clay. The best clay available anywhere. It cost me a lot, but it's worth it.
I know exactly what I want to sculpt. I've got this mental picture of a beautiful girl. She's vibrant. She's perfect. She's her.
I start by shaping her body. I've given a lot of thought to how I want her to look. What curves I want where. How long I want her legs. How her arms should hang. The shape of her hips and breasts. I have planned every single square inch of her.
Next I move to her face. I'm extra careful here. With every touch of My Hand, every swipe of My Palm, I create a face that takes My breath away. Her eyes are deep, glowing, magnetic. Her nose is amazing. Her mouth is unlike all others.
Now onto her hair. I won't stop until I get it just right. Just the right texture, body and color. She'll probably complain, but the truth is that I've never created any better than her.
She's My Masterpiece!
OK, you might have guessed it by now, but this is no ordinary sculptor. He's the most well-known sculptor in all of history. And many think He does the best work. His name? God.
And you are His project...His masterpiece. He has NEVER created anyone who is more beautiful that YOU! He's the Perfect Artist, and you are His result.
Unlike every other artist, He never makes a mistake. He never has to start over. He had in mind what you were going to look like when He created you in your mom's womb, and you've come out just right!
"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out: You formed me in my mother's womb. I thank You, High God--You're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! You know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body: You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit. How I was sculpted from nothing into something." Psalm 139:13-15 MSG
After reading this and letting it penetrate my soul, I became mindful to fix my eyes more on God in this area of my life. It's important to be aware of the way we set our minds because we will begin to behave and act in that way. That's why it's vital to set our mind on God and His Word. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7a AMP When we intentionally change our focus to God things change for the better...God becomes much clearer to us. Our minds are then filled with the Word of Christ and the things of the world doesn't have much influence. My body is not very good, flawless or desirable according to this world but I have to say that I believe that I am excellent, unique and quite vintage...extraordinarily one-of-a-kind!!
We've all heard of these sayings, "There's always something to be thankful for," and "It could be worse." I think we tend to say these to help us feel better for the moment, but we need to truly believe them because they're true. I'm thankful that I have a functioning body that enables me to get around. Thankful that I have limbs that get me to where I need to go and do what I need to do. Thankful for my sight...hearing...the ability to speak. Thankful for so much more! I will continue to work on keeping my body maintained in a healthy state but to be realistic about it. I'm not going to grow to a luxurious 5'7" stance when I know that this body is only temporary and in all reality I've shrunk to a glorious 5'1" and embracing it to its fullest! I am ever so thankful that I am able to stand tall no matter what measurement is documented.
It has never been God's intention for you to be enough on your own because He is ENOUGH! Christ makes me enough! Christ makes you enough! You in yourself are not enough...You in Christ Jesus will be enough because is He is ENOUGH!! "We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone}; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 AMP
I've decided to place my value in God. To glorify God in all that I do. Being enough in Christ means that even though I may be struggling on any particular day, I can stand tall with complete confidence that He loves me, accepts me and calls me His own. I am His Masterpiece. His Creation. His Fingerprints are all over me and that is very, very good! So with jiggly arms, muffin top, thunder thighs, double chin and much wrinkles here and there I can boldly and confidently say, "I AM ENOUGH!" and truly believe it! I am the daughter of a King that is not moved by this world. For my God is with me and goes before me...I do not fear or fret or waste my time in front of my looking glass because I AM HIS!! And for this reason alone, I celebrate and rejoice!
When you believe that God, the Sculptor and Creator of you, is ENOUGH you will begin to feel settled...come to rest... be clear...become fixed, resolved and established leaning toward peace as you trust God in all of His "ENOUGHNESS!" "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:3-4 AMP
My friend, I encourage you to stand tall in Christ confidently moving forward knowing that you are a wonderful work of art, a true masterpiece that was perfectly created. Be glad and rejoice in the Lord giving Him praise and glory for the work He has done and continues to do in you. As we learn to be enough in Christ we can expect wonderous truths and promises that He speaks to us through His Word. God's word is our Life Map. Everything we need to know is in the B-I-B-L-E. Commit to God and lean on Him waiting patiently as He does a brilliant work within you. When you believe that you are enough through Christ then His Radiance is ever-more vibrant and radiates fantastically through you to the world around you. "Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday. Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not..." Psalm 37:5-7a AMP
My darling, YOU ARE ENOUGH!
Take care and be blessed,
Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry
