Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity With Jennifer SlatteryНамуна

You are God's masterpiece.

I doubt I was the only child who invested a great deal of energy trying to change myself. My attempts to manually straighten my curly hair earned me the nickname “Fro” (short for afro). As the first to develop among my fifth-grade friends, I tried hard to hide my changing body that seemed to dwarf my smaller and cutely petit friends. Then, once I hit high school, I longed for more curves to soften my athletic frame.

Had I attended youth group, I likely would’ve heard, and ignored, the obligatory, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made” message. Sadly, I was often so preoccupied with all the things I disliked about my appearance and personality, that I never paused to consider the beauty God infused into my tender yet maturing soul.

Perhaps that’s why I love Ephesians 2:10, which declares us God’s workmanship (NIV) or masterpiece (NIV). As the late Tim Keller wrote:

“Do you know what it means that you are God’s workmanship? What is art? Art is beautiful, art is valuable, and art is an expression of the inner being of the maker, of the artist.”

Journal Prompts:

How often do you view yourself as a valuable soul hand-crafted by Creator God? When might you most need to remind yourself of this truth, and how might doing so increase your confidence and facilitate healing? Ask God to help you see the numerous ways you are a beautiful reflection of His inner being and thank Him for each one.