You are Beautiful and Priceless

Too often the message we hear is one of disdain and disapproval. We hear words that imply we’re not good enough in beauty, intelligence, or behavior. We experience judgment instead of grace, condemnation instead of mercy, and anger instead of mercy and compassion. Beloved, the accusations against your heart are not God’s. His heart is so tender toward each one of us, filled with incredible love, joy, and forgiveness as well as delight in simply who we are: who He created us to be.

Psalm 139:14 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by the same God who flung the stars into space and created the majesty of mountains and oceans.

Isaiah 62:3-4 declares, “You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken…for the Lord delights in you.”

Furthermore, Zephaniah 3:15, 17 radiates the passion of our Daddy God for us, “The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. You shall see disaster no more…The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

For anyone struggling to believe God’s delight in you today, below are the lyrics to several powerful songs about your worth, value, and beauty. Don’t listen to the accusations and condemnation of the enemy. Saturate yourself in the joy of Jesus in who He made you today, Beloved. 

·         1GN - Guard Your Heart

·         From the album UNITE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_xZtdlYlMw

In the middle of this crazy messed up world we live in
Surrounded by voices pressuring us to give in
Believe me, I get it
I know you wanna fit in
Everybody's telling you
What you're missing
But don't listen to anything but the truth

Know your worth ‘cause you are priceless
More than gold, more than diamonds
Be the light inside the dark
Keep your faith and guard your heart
It's where life, it's where love is
Every beat has a purpose
It holds everything you are
Above all else
Guard your heart
Your heart
Your heart
Your heart
Guard your heart

Maybe you feel all alone like something's missing
And all of your friends have found their prince charming
Believe me, I get it
You're so tempted
To settle or give up on love
But it's in God's timing
You can't rush it, don't believe you are not enough

I'm not saying to build a wall
Just to trust that God won't let you fall
I'm not saying to build a wall
Just to trust that God's in control of it all

·         FOR KING & COUNTRY - Priceless

From the album Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPgSrMOTnqM

Mirror mirror
Mirror on the wall
Telling those lies
Pointing out your flaws
That isn't who you are
That isn't who you are
It might be hard to hear
But let me tell you dear
If you could see what I can see
I know you would believe
That isn't who you are
There's more to who you are

So when it's late
You're wide awake
Too much to take
Don't you dare forget
That in the pain
You can be brave
Hear me say

(Chorus)

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
Oh so priceless
Irreplaceable
Unmistakable
Incomparable
Darling it's beautiful
I see it all in you
Oh so priceless

No matter what you've heard
This is what you're worth
More than all the money all the diamonds & pearls
Oh this is who you are
Yeah this is who you are

So when it's late
You're wide awake
Too much to take
Don't you dare forget
That in the pain
You can be brave
Hear me say

(Chorus)

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
Oh so priceless
Irreplaceable
Unmistakable
Incomparable
Darling it's beautiful
I see it all in you
Oh so priceless

Sisters
We can start again
Give honor till the end
Love we can start again
Brothers
We can start again
Give honor till the end
Yeah we can start again

(Chorus)

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
Oh so priceless
Irreplaceable
Unmistakable
Incomparable
Darling it's beautiful
I see it all in you
Oh so priceless

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
We can start again

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
Oh so priceless

VERIDIA - Furious Love

From the album Inseparable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_osvAzEhA

He said that I would never be
A silhouette that he would want
I shifted shape and recreated me
The girl I was, I soon forgot
A love like that won't last long
So suddenly it all goes wrong
When beauty starts to fade

But you say I am beautiful
I don't need the world's approval
Only you madly pursue me
And jealously tell me
I am worthy of
Furious love

With all you have and all you are
Your universe was incomplete
In a sea of silver stars
Still the sky was dark
And so you dreamed of me
A love like that is all I want
I don't ever have to be what I am not
God, I love the way

You say I am beautiful
I don't need the world's approval
Only you madly pursue me
And jealously tell me
I am worthy of
Furious love

Your passion is a fire
An all consuming fire
I can't get enough
Furious love

You say I am beautiful
I don't need the world's approval
Only you madly pursue me
And jealously tell me
I am worthy of
Furious love

Your passion is a fire
An all consuming fire
I can't get enough
Furious love

Your passion is a fire
And all consuming fire
I can't get enough
Furious love

Algebra 101

“That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” –Jesus  (John 17:21)

All of creation testifies to the glory of God—even mathematics! During my algebra class last semester, I was amazed to discover spiritual truths hidden within the natural order of numbers. And why not? God created the rules and application of algebra the same as He created the stars in space and the hairs on our heads. Certainly, He loves to use every opportunity to teach us more about Himself, and when we pay attention, these opportunities are limitless!

One lesson in particular stood out to me: it regarded “Unity” or “Oneness”.

In algebra, one of the primary goals of mathematicians is to reduce a complex fraction of factors and numbers to its simplest form. For instance, picture the fraction: 5a72b(33c) over 34x41y3z. This fraction has no common factors. It can’t be reduced within itself because two or three or four or thirteen cannot divide evenly into all the numbers. This fraction can only be simplified—or, put another way, brought to “oneness” –through an external manipulation of some sort.

I believe that God sees the diverseness of the human race and the distinct differences of each human being the same way. Certainly, He created us as beautifully unique, so our complexity is not a bad thing! However, I Corinthians 12:12 says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” Jesus desires a Church that is One with Him, yet the rifts and differences between Christians are often strong and sharp!

How then does the Lord bring “oneness” to His Church, His Bride? How does He make us one with Him and each other? In algebra, the Lord helped me to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing about this transformation. Primarily, it is a covering of grace until we all reach the “perfect man” spoken of by Paul in Ephesians 4:13.

Using the algebraic example above, the Holy Spirit represents the mathematician who understands that numerator and denominator must develop common factors which make the differences insignificant. The fruit of the Spirit’s work is kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and love, which create a reciprocation of grace when developed in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit births within each of us a “new man” made in the image of Christ. This new man, spoken of by Paul in Ephesians 4:20-24, is the common factor we all possess. In algebra, this means that 5a72b(33c) willingly multiplies to 34x41y3z. This creates a big long number that seems even more complicated, but the work of the Spirit, our mathematician, isn’t done yet. At the same time He is at work in us, He is at work in others. The denominator also accepts the same bonding process: 34x41y3z is multiplied to 5a72b(33c).

Here’s the amazing truth hidden within this simple procedure: When the factors in the numerator exactly mirror the factors in the denominator, they reduce down to 1. One on top; one on bottom. And one over one is simply: 1. Ephesians  4:4-5 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Jesus has created us equal in Him! He’s generated, by the power of His Spirit, a new man, which is our new nature, made like Him in us!!! (Romans 6:5, 8:29)

Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Does this Scripture mean we lose our uniqueness when the Holy Spirit performs His equalizing work in us? Not at all. Rather, our individuality no longer calls the shots. Through the power of the Spirit, we submit to His work of love in our lives, and we are able to lavish on others the kindness and grace which the Lord has given us.

Paul says in Philippians 2:1-3, “If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

For a long time, I believed that this debasement meant devaluing myself, saying I wasn’t special or worth much. But that’s not what Jesus says. He says we’re each precious, the apple of His eye, cherished and beloved in His sight. (Zechariah 2:8, Isaiah 43:1-4) No, the equalizing work of the Holy Spirit is not one of demeaning oneself but of lifting others up, treating them with the same incredible value we experience the Lord giving us so that they might experience and believe His great love for them too.

Do I feel beloved and precious to the Lord? Then may I see others the same way! Do I experience the passionate, personal love of the Lord poured upon me as His beloved? (Song of Songs 1:2) Then let me be the friend who stands next to the Bridegroom and rejoices to see His passion for others! (John 3:29)

Did Jesus allow others to debase Him, surrendering His privileges as God Most High? Yes, He did. Then may I also have the humility to walk past the insults of people who wound me, whether knowingly or not, without retaliating against them but continuing steadfastly to love them. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.” (I Peter 2:21-24)

The Lord has called us to unity, and the equalizing factors He has offered us are the fruits of His own Spirit at work in our lives: forgiveness, peace, and mercy as well as blessing, joy, and love.

May our lives radiate the fullness of His glorious grace!!!