You See Beauty

“The heart that knows the Lord as the source of its beauty and value knows freedom. This is a life of right order.
When a soul no longer looks to the skills or accomplishments or talents it possesses, recognizing that its worth does not come from these. The Lord’s affection has never, nor will it ever, depend upon one’s accomplishments.

“If one day all the works of my hands should fall apart, would I lose the knowledge and revelation of who I am in Jesus? I pray not for a moment!
My heart might break – but I pray not because I would think myself any less of a (woman) for that failure.
Because most importantly, I will always have my standing before God as His child. I can always come to Him, and forever be welcome. Cherished. Desired.
For the truth is, regardless of all I might ever do or not do; nothing will ever change how He sees me, or what is in His heart for me.”  
-From Tessa Afshar’s A Harvest of Rubies

Ada I have idolized my fear of man. I have sought after and worked for the good opinion of others far more than I have pursued You. I have desired their approval more than You. Please forgive me! Change my heart.
You do not care if I prove useful. It does not matter to You if others think well or ill of me. You do not measure my worth or value by any of my own means – You determine based on Your heart. You search out my heart. You know all that is within it. 
Please forgive me for serving these false masters of my soul. Help me to please only You. Help this weak heart of mine to desire You above and beyond all else: that my desire to please You would flow freely and effortlessly from a heart so deeply in love with You. 
Your love is full of acceptance, even when I have done nothing to deserve it. Even when I have sinned. You expect change of me, but You never turn Your back – You love and cherish and embrace me before the change comes. You cherish my coming before You in the midst of my weakness – when I lay all I am before You, knowing that I have nothing to offer You but myself; and knowing that I am nothing and have nothing without You. 
All Your ways are Love…