If we don’t love our bodies then we are fearful of how the world and our peers might perceive us. Fear correlates through punishing ourselves for not being good enough by speaking negatively instead of embracing the beauty of what our bodies do every day to keep us alive. To our standards here in America there is a shift that is taking place where more and more women are embracing their various curves, stretch marks, and cellulite. Loving our bodies in the now doesn’t mean that we don’t strive for something better. God is consistently moving and directing our paths as believers and as we change and grow our goals either shift to being gym stars or to be more at peace that our bodies now are whole and complete. We are powerful beings, regardless of the negative stigma associated with body shaming. When looking into the word of God, I wanted to bring up a few verses in 1st John because I believe his focus on the power of fear and the juxtaposition of love in the absence of fear is profound.
1 John 4:14-17 ESV (English Standard Version)
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment because as he is so also are we in this world 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not to be perfected in love.
These verses in the Bible, indicate that love is perfection. When we accept Jesus (Yeshua) As our personal Lord and Savior we are tapping into complete alignment with perfect love.
Reflect on the verse John 3:16 ESV (English Standard Version)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God gave his son as a sacrifice and atonement for ALL of humanity, to have the ability, opportunity, and privilege to be saved. Because sin entered the world in the first place, God had a perfect design to restore what would be lost so that we could choose to have eternal life with Him. And while experiencing life on earth, we would be transformed to have a heart full of love for others and ourselves.
The perfection and profoundness of Apostle John articulating, “For God so loved the world” whoa! For God loved the World, I don’t know about you but the fact that his creation was so profound to be perfected through the sacrifice of his only Son. That love is a fearless love, that Jesus (Yeshua) would be in a position to defeat death. He defeated death knowing after it was finished, those who accepted him into their life would have eternal life. That type of love is a transcending, overpowering form of perfect life in Jesus going forward. To be perfected in love is to be completely surrendered and still in knowing the person you are is so fearfully and wonderfully made. Loving yourself in the messiness and in the put together is the deepest form of love you can offer yourself as a person perfected through faith in God.
Looking back into self-love. That body fat or negative physical image of how you feel is valid but not in alignment with God’s word. Self-hate and self-abuse are very real and dark places to be in. Even if the self-acknowledgment is a joke (of sarcasm), it’s still active in words of fear and destruction. This act of loving ones self is a beautiful reflection of grace, mercy, and perfect love. Say to yourself that you are beautifully and wonderfully made while looking in the mirror.
The function and purpose of your body are meant to align continuously with having a fearless faith in God and your God-given ability to live. By proactively working towards self-love you will grow in other ways that will put you in alignment with your purpose. If you don’t show love and honor to yourself where you’re at now, then how can you possibly be the full support to someone else. Love your body and use words of gratitude to thank it for its powerful capabilities. Being fearless is to find joy in our relationship with God and restore any issues in loving ourselves by taking action. We serve a mighty God that desires us to be proactive in life with our health and mental restoration.
Just as God spoke to Noah to be fruitful and multiply after the ark had rested (Genesis 1:28), and on forth to his children’s-children and their offspring continuous. He too desires us to be fruitful in our own lives with the vision or purpose or even interests that He’s given us.
I want to challenge you to recognize that you can create positive, proactive, and joyful moments in your life now. I’ve learned that drinking water, moving by (walking or exercising) eating intentionally (and yes pasta and bread can absolutely be included), and spending time with family and friends. If not in person or through a phone call, speak to someone who you care about, that you haven’t spoken to in a while. You have the ability to build a beautiful community. Strive to heal by journaling (you could journal prayers) listing your fears to see what’s holding you back from your aspirations. God gave his only begotten son so that not only you would live for eternity but you’d love life while living life.
I want to encourage you that you are beautifully and wonderfully made you are significantly powerful and have the ability to make changes in your life. God loves you infinitely that Jesus is, “the way the truth and life” (John 14:6). How you may be feeling about yourself is valid but I want to encourage you to buy a journal if you don’t have one dedicated to prayers and to write down a love letter to yourself. If you are a poet then write a poem, if you are a lyricist then write a song, (you amazingly gifted person… you)! If you’re like me and need a prompt sometimes, then write down a love letter to your future self looking at yourself now. Write it as a love letter of encouragement. Include your future self saying that you’ve made it, in whichever area you want to be in a 1-5 year(s). Write how and why you are striving, and what you’ve learned about yourself.
Because you read this today, you’ve already grown to be more beautiful and strong. God loves you so dearly my friend. Don’t use words of fear towards your purposeful design, use words of power in a sound mind.
Let’s close in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask Lord for full restoration in my life. That the fears I experience are merely for me to acknowledge and conquer my obstacles of perception to reflect your perfect love. That the things of broken-heartedness fear, uncertainty would have no hold on me as I walk in perfect alignment with what you’ve called for my life. In doing so may full restoration in my personal healing be complete while you teach and show my broken heart how to love the parts of me that I’ve neglected and even hated. Please restore me and help me to be fully aware of what you are putting me into position and aligning for. As I learn to love the imperfections of my body, may those that I love be in a position for the same self-love that you’ve called us to while in you.
Thank you, Lord, for your unconditional love mercy, grace, and restoration in the face of adversity – – the adversity within ourselves while in this world. You are so mighty and worthy to be praised! As you gave your chosen man of standard, Noah a calling in life and a purpose, please call me out. That I would see the fruits of my labor too. That with Noah, graciousness as the rainbow in the sky was a signifier to Noah that the storm will never destroy the world again. Put me position Lord to have unwavering obedience to what you’ve called me to, so I can see the fullness of the provisions for my life.
Lord, you are bigger than my fears. Please, Lord, teach me to be fearless in my walk with you, so that my faith in you may not waiver. May the perception of my body be in alignment with the fearless love you’ve called me to. Teach me Father and show me where I can know love where I don’t see beauty in who I am. May the fluctuations of my body be reflective of self-love and not a distorted perception.
Going forward I declare that I will love my body, soul and see my purpose in life. I proclaim I will be fearless in seeing a way to the restoration that is constantly unfolding in my life. I praise you, Lord!
In your Wonderful Name Amen!
