Looking in the Mirror
In an experiment done by the company Dove, two portraits were drawn by an FBI-trained sketch artist of seven women. One was based off the women’s own self-description, and one was based off someone else’s description.
The results were surprisingly different.
In speaking about themselves, the women were harsh and critical. And when speaking about others, their words were positive and kind.
What mattered most in the drawings was the lens through which each person was described. The same goes for when we look at ourselves; whose eyes define us?
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” -James 1:23-25
In order to do the Word, we first need to agree with the Word—including the words that describe us as Christians.
When we spend time away from God, we can forget what type of man/ woman we are. We can allow words from others, ourselves, and the enemy to define us. But the only true “mirror” that defines us is the “perfect law of liberty” found through God’s eyes.
Take time today to recite the following Bible verses out loud. They’ve been slightly modified for the subject to be “I,” to help you remember who you are in Christ.
“Now thanks be to God who always leads me in triumph in Christ, and through me diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” -2 Corinthians 2:14
“I am strong and of good courage; I will not be afraid, nor discouraged, for the LORD my God is with me wherever I go.” -Joshua 1:9
“I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2: 10
“I am of the truth and hear Jesus’ voice.” -John 18:37
“The Holy Spirit guides me in all truth…and He will tell me things to come.” -John 16:13
“I am a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” -2 Corinthians 5:17
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20
“God chose me in Him before the foundation of the world, that I should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined me to adoption as a son/ daughter by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” -Ephesians 1:4-5
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God, and if a child, then an heir—an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ…” -Romans 8:16-17
“Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:12-14
“I am anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, I let my request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7
“What shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Yet in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me.” -Romans 8:35-37
“And these signs will follow me, who believes; In Jesus name I will cast out demons; I will speak with new tongues; I will take up serpents; and if I drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt me; I will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” -Mark 16:17-18