An 11 year old girl looking in the mirror, would state all of the bad things about herself. She wasn’t “pretty” enough, outgoing, fit in, and I could spare you the rest of the awful thoughts and statements she would make. A lot of words that she would say in the mirror were repeated from things others had said to her, some of the words were twisted and some actually stated. Some of the words she would say in the mirror were a result of an internal battle. She said those words long enough that she believed them. That girl was me. It led me at a young age into feelings of low self worth and feeling like I would be better off if I were dead. It led to years of feelings and thoughts that I believe, started in that mirror.
When you say something long enough, whether true or not, you may just begin to believe it.
In a world who says you can be anything and everything is true, what really is?
My husband and I were in a well known department store not long ago, and we were looking for the little boy’s clothing. We were searching and heard another customer ask the question we were wondering, “where are the boys clothes?”. The worker stated that they do not have gender specific clothing for children. There were still men's and women's clothing for adults.
This world is after our children. It is telling them things that are not true according to the Word of God. There are things that do not make sense. There are things that devalue their purpose. I don’t know about you, but I want my child to know who he is. I don’t want him wondering what his purpose in life is. I don’t want him getting his life’s purpose from this world. I want it to come from God.
Ever since my son was born I have had certain prayers that I pray over him. One of them is, “God help him to have a relationship with you”. That has changed a bit to, “God, help me to show him how to have a relationship with you”. Some things we can’t just “pray”, we have to do our part in. I can pray for my son to have a relationship with God all I want, but if I never teach him who God is… or if I never lead by example… it would be less likely that he would have that relationship. I can’t force him to have a relationship with God, but I can be an example.
Another prayer I would pray is, “God help him to always know who he is in you.” Whenever he was about 1.5 years old the thought came to me, If I don’t tell him who he is, who will? I began to put legs on that prayer, so to speak. Every night before he goes to sleep I would tell him who he is. Now that he is older and able to, he says it with me. My prayers may not be eloquent and the words I am about to share with you that we say are not either. However, I hope it helps someone else take control of what is being spoken into their child’s life today. I stand by what I said previously, if we say it long enough, we will believe it. I cannot choose my child’s future, or the choices he will make, but I will give my all to provide him with the tools he needs.
We say this together every night. My son says the words in bold, and I say the rest.
The word of God says you are valued.
The word of God says that He is the way, truth, and the life.
The word of God says you are loved.
The word of God says you are made in His image.
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7
There is power in our words. It makes a difference what we speak into our children’s lives. It makes a difference what we speak into our own lives. It makes a difference of how see ourselves. We see in the Bible where the children of Israel saw themselves as grasshoppers, therefore it changed how others saw them!
It is easy as an adult to pretend that we are past the point of this lesson for ourselves. I have personally taken care of women in their 70s/80s who looked in the mirror and still said things like, “my hair isn’t good enough, my wrinkles, my clothes”. We as women are our worst critics, and from what I have witnessed it seems that even as women begin to age, it can still be a struggle. Not just the outward appearance, but also who we are on the inside.
As we speak life into our children’s lives or those around us, let us not forget ourselves. The words you say about yourself matters. You can do the ministry God placed you in, you are beautifully made, and you are valued! This isn’t to promote being “conceited”, but to be confident in who you are in God.
I encourage you to get in the Word of God today and see what He says about you. Don’t allow voices in your life that try to define your worth. Don’t let the mirror be the place where you find your value, let it be in His word and through prayer. He will take the flaws and brokenness and reflect this love.
Speak and declare over yourself, your children, and those around you. Who are you?
Beautiful lesson for all Gods children, young or old. Thank you India ❤️