Free to Be Me

Disastrous
Yesterday, I wrote about how much I have changed over the years. How my perspective has changed from viewing myself mostly on the surface to now focusing more on below the surface…my heart. In doing so, I’ve gained confidence to be myself rather than try to just impress other people by being who THEY think I should be.

If you missed it, pop on over and check it out.  I think you’d enjoy it: Beyond the Surface: Looking Deeply into Myself

My blogging friend James Clark from The Next Iteration, wrote in a blog yesterday about how, when he hears God speaking to him repeatedly, he KNOWS it’s not just a coincidence. That he better pay attention because God really is trying to get his attention.

Well, the same thing happened to me yesterday.

I had just written the post I just mentioned the night before so it was still very fresh in my heart. It was one of those posts that took a lot out of me to write. I really did dig deep and really examined my heart for that one.

So, when I turned on the radio and heard Free to Be Me  By: Francesca Battistelli  I had to almost laugh because it fit almost perfectly to what I just shared. I also feel that it was God telling me ONCE AGAIN, to let go of perfection and just…be…me!

Here are the lyrics if you are unfamiliar with this song:

Hearing this song today, took my “soul-searching” from yesterday even further. I just love the line that say’s, “Cause I got a couple dents in my fender, got a couple rips in my jeans.” Does that not just perfectly describe me? Literally–since I just got in a car wreck last week!?!? Ha

What she’s speaking about in this line is how we don’t HAVE to be perfect! We don’t have to be shiny and polished. We don’t have to come to him with no scars or imperfections. God wants us AS IS!

My sweet friend once shared her testimony with me. Like all of our testimonies, it had its share of ups and downs. I remember thinking she was so brave to share her story so openly because, let’s be honest…some parts weren’t that pretty. She has been through some very trying times in her family. She mentioned to me how our scars, sins and imperfections are what have molded us to be who we are! We shouldn’t be ashamed of that. We shouldn’t be ashamed to share our story or to be transparent with others.

I find that so true. We need to be honest to ourself and honest to others about who we are beneath the surface. No matter how disastrous our life may seem.

If He can look past our “uglies,” why can’t we? If He has forgiven us…why can’t we forgive ourselves? 

If you are like me, there are still a few things about yourself either physically or emotionally that you are less than happy about. Things you try to hide. Things you try to avoid talking about because you find them shameful or embarrassing.

Friend, let’s do it together! Let’s LET GO of those things. Move on from what is weighing us down. Let’s give ourselves permission to look past that and look beyond the surface. Friend, you are so much more than those negative opinions you hold onto about yourself. The past is the past. Let’s move forward on this fresh new day.

This brings me to the last line I want to focus on: “And, on my own I’m so clumsy. But on your shoulders I can see.” She uses these lines to describe how we can stumble and wobble and see things unclearly when we aren’t focusing our heart in the right place. When we aren’t focusing our attention on living Christ-like but rather listening to the loud voices of this world. Once we submit to Christ, he will lift us up. He will carry us. Once we open up our hearts to Him, we will hear him guiding us through each and every day. Life will become more clear.

I feel that the past few days, God has been speaking so loudly to me.

It’s so refreshing to know that, on his shoulders I can see…I’m free to be me!