Made in the IMAGE of

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF

“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.”

Song of Solomon 4:7

I never truly loved until I loved myself, and loving myself came from loving Jesus. Isn’t it that we are always told the only way we can truly love another is to fall in love with ourselves first? Wow, if I only knew the truth this held growing up as I do now, it would’ve spoken volumes.

It’s true, all the anger, lies, resentment and hatred I had built up for myself never allowed me to love the way God had intended me to. What we forget is that not only are we meant to see others through Gods eyes, but to see OURSELVES through Gods eyes as well. Is it not true that we are made in the exact image of God himself. Good news, WE ARE!

Genesis 1:27 ESV

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

If we are made in the image of God, why are we so quick to judge ourselves? That extra ten lbs we can’t seem to shake off, that mental health issue we are so down on ourselves for because we have to take meds and feel like failures for it…. The list goes on and on and on. But let’s not forget all the good in us is the good from God himself.

I've always been particularly hard on myself. It’s only been in the past few years that I’ve had a confidence like no other and I truly LOVE myself, my body (most of the time), and who I am. However, that took time, it took lessons learned, it took letting God become the change in me so I could tell my story of a God who rescued me. My whole Blog is based on a testimony of things I’ve learned and continue learning of Gods goodness and work in my life. He is always rescuing me, always teaching.

Growing up I was in a line of comparison. Not on purpose, but that’s where I was. I grew up in a world where I was constantly competing, therefore constantly comparing. God has given me amazing gifts, to which I am so grateful. I’ve always been a singer-songwriter and musician. Since I can remember I was traveling, playing shows and being on center stage. I LOVED IT. The rush. They way I felt as I walked on a stage. An audience clapping, being touched by my voice, my music. There is nothing like it. I was also a ballet dancer in a pretty competitive ballet school. All of this, came with me comparing myself to other girls that did the same thing. The pretty, skinny, slick bodies of dancers, the bodies and the look and voices of other musicians. I didn’t realize how much I did this then until I got older. I was told then that to make it in that industry I had to look a certain way. That was hard to hear. That talent wasn’t enough, but looks made a difference.

I compared myself to the pretty girls at school. The girls that had groups of friends, they were popular, they were pretty, they dressed to impress each and everyday. I felt small. When in reality I was a giant. My soul only needed to be lit on fire to see who I truly was.

When I got to High School my body dysmorphia only got worse. I got to the point where I would force myself to throw up after almost every meal. I wanted the “body,” I wanted to be beautiful. I wanted boys to think I was pretty, I wanted to be the image society portrayed to be “right.”

It was hard. I couldn’t keep up. Nothing made me gain this feeling of validation I was searching for. Every time I got to a good place, something else wasnt right, wasnt the image I lusted for. I wanted more. I needed more. I needed God.

When I prayed;

“Open the eyes of my heart so that I may see others and see myself the way you see me, the way you see those around me.”

It’s a hard prayer to pray and MEAN IT. It’s easy to say the words, but to truly give control, to let go, to say I NEED YOU, I can’t find beauty in myself without YOU, is hard. But hard is possible, and hard becomes easy, and easy becomes beautiful.

Here’s the truth, the size 2 I was then, is the same inside as the size 8 I am now. Regardless of size, my heart remains the same. God tells me I’m beautiful, God says I’m worthy, God says I am made in HIS IMAGE. His own image. The same God who made our world, who made tress dance and wind run, who made earths shake, and oceans rise, is the SAME GOD who created me, and CHOSE to make me in HIS IMAGE. I’m not just beautiful, I am a MASTERPIECE of the greatest artist to ever create a work of art. And I am his favorite creation. WE are his greatest creation. Like a proud father, he is proud. We are beautiful to him, and that is ENOUGH for me.

I’m not saying there are not days when I’m down on myself. Like all of us, we can love Jesus with all we are and still fall short, still have insecurities. Im not perfect, I sin, I hunger for more, but now I’m learned In those moments to hunger for Jesus instead of to hunger for the things the world wants me to.

I chase for his mercy, his goodness, and in the moments when I feel insecure, I remember that the breath of life gave breath to me.

Genesis 2:7

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

Psalm 139:14

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Hebrews 1:3

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”

Matthew 5:48

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

2 Corinthians 4:16

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

My Prayer for you;

“Dear Lord,

In a world so quick to tell us our flaws, enable our hearts to see you so that we may see ourselves through your eyes. Please give us the strength to run to you rather than the things the world tries to give us to make ourselves whole. For we know that wholeness, that beauty, that worth, comes from you. We know that you made us in your image and for that we are altogether beautiful. I pray that when we look in a mirror rather than seeing our “flaws” we see you. Lord, in the moments when we begin to feel down, begin to fall short, Lord chase us down, open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see you, we may know you, and we may choose to chase you.

We worship your holy name, we praise you, and we know your plan is bigger than our own.

Thank you for making us in your image.

In your name I pray,

Amen.”

When you wake up each morning, go to your mirror, wherever it may be, and tell yourself 3 things. Just three things God gave you that you LOVE about yourself, and remember, God loves them too.

Blessings to you all,

You are altogether beautiful,

Xoxo,

Skylar