Set Apart

I was so blessed this week to receive in the mail a very encouraging book, that my friend is letting me borrow (Thanks, Vicky!!). "Set Apart Femininity" (by Leslie Ludy) has been such an encouragement, and has struck a deeper urge to press on in this world of sin, temptation, and selfishness. Through reading what I have so far, and the work that God has been doing in my heart over the last couple weeks, I have a renewed hope and motivation that I am loved beyond what I deserve, and am created for a purpose beyond what I could grasp. Here are some of the things that really struck me, and I want to pass them along...

"..The Bible makes it very clear that we were born into sin, not beauty. Yes, we were created in the image of God. But sin has warped and twisted all the goodness and loveliness we were originally designed to possess. As a result of sin's defilement, we no longer carry an essence of beauty from the moment of our creation - we carry an essence of sina dn selfishness. Our womanly souls are no longer beautiful. They are revolting, ugly, and deformed. That's why we need to be completely and wholly redeemed and remade by the power of Christ' blood.
Our sinful, self-loving nature urges us to buy into the idea that in and of ourselves we are important, noticed, and captivating. Yet the truth of the Gospel is not based on our intrinsic loveliness, but the fact that Christ loved us even while we were yet sinners, naked and covered in our own blood and shame. (Ezekial 16:6)
In the heart of very young woman lies the intrinsic desire to be found beautiful. But when we come to Jesus, we exchange our desire to be notied and appreciated for the desire that He and He alone would shine gloriously through our beings. Maybe no one will ever notice us. But that makes no difference as long as they notice Him shining through us. We can waste precious time and energy searching for something of worth and value in our own souls. Or we can join the ranks of historical set-apart women and declare, "less of me and more of Him!" That is when our souls will sparkle with the spectacular beauty of Jesus Christ." [pp. 46,48]

This has been such an encouraging piece of truth for me to chew on! I realize that without Christ I am nothing - I am not beautiful, I have no worth, I am a filthy rag. But because of His love and mercy, He choses to see me as blameless, pure, and worthy. He defines the beauty I posses. It's only in Him that I can approach His throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). I can do nothing on my own, but must humbly submit myself to His will, and give Hime everything - my desires, my emotions, my plans, my faults, my family, my dreams, my wishes, everything! Oh how gracious He is with us too! It's so good... oh man. I hope you are encouraged by this as well. It's my prayer that we can grow together to be all that Christ has designed us to be, bringing Him glory in every aspect of our lives.