Good Morning Girls!   Last Monday I shared with you all the story of me and my neighbor.  It was the one where I walked up to her and pointed out every single flaw she had.  However, as the story unfolded you learned that the "neighbor" was actually myself and the way I start every morning berating myself in front of the mirror.

Well I prayed to the Lord asking for help.  I have been convicted to the depths of my soul that this is no way to live!  I knew I was in bondage to these thoughts and to this habit of checking myself out in the mirror.  I have dreamt of a world without mirrors and scales as I fully believe that in many areas "ignorance is bliss" (but then the enemy throws the scripture "keep me from lying to myself" and I am all twisted up and back in front of the mirror again)

Yes, I have been praying, asking the Lord to Set the Fat Girl Free.  I knew as I knew that it was finally time to deal with this thing...this weight....this grief....this hurt....this mountain of lies that have shaped and molded my life for years.  I prayed with confidence knowing that I was ready to receive whatever the Lord told me to do.....

Tuesday morning I reached over, smacked my alarm off, and flopped back into bed as I always do.  "Lord, help me to get out of bed early today.  I want to spend time with you but my bed is so cozy and I am sooooo sleepy."........

And in my heart I heard "Get up, get dressed, grab your toothpaste and toothbrush and go to the kitchen".

Hmmmm.....interesting......ooooooo-kaaaaaayyyyyyyyy.....

So I threw on my sweats and went out to the kitchen.  I started the coffee, and brushed my teeth at the kitchen sink.  As I brushed I wandered around the kitchen staring out the windows still half asleep.  Next I grabbed my coffee, Bible, and journal and went down to my new Jesus spot (I'll tell you more about the Jesus spot another day)

I found myself having a most excellent day (80s throwback for my mid-30s Sisters).  I thanked the Lord that I was feeling good.  I can do this.  I can live without a set of rules.  I can learn to love myself.  It's only been a couple of days and I feel Free is so many ways already.  Thank you Jesus!

The Holy Spirit brought me back to the morning.  To me brushing my teeth in the kitchen.  LIGHT BULB!!

No mirror=no self exam! 
No self exam=no 5 minutes of focusing on my imperfections! 
No focusing on imperfections=happy Set Free Girl!

And most importantly Set Free Girl= a Girl who has something more to offer others as she is focused on the needs of others rather than her own imperfections! 

PRAISE THE LORD I THINK SHE'S GOT IT!!!

Not how many of you know that just because the light bulb shines bright does not mean it is over?  It simple means that you finally have the revelation....which is good....which is neccesary....but it is not the end.

The Bible says we are to search for peace and work to maintain it.  We don't simply deal with an issue, cross it off our issue list (some have longer lists than others) and move on.  No.  We find peace- in this case peace with myself and then you work (meaning it is not passive) to stay in that place of peace.  Eventually it will come as easily as brushing your teeth in the morning, but not right away.

So I am still brushing my teeth in the morning and at night in my kitchen.  My husband asked the other day "is the toothpaste still in the kitchen?".  I simply said "Yep" and left it at that.  I'm sure he's afraid to ask so we just keep taking it to and from the kitchen.  oooohhhh  LIGHT BULB!  Perhaps I should pick up two tubes of toothpaste.......God is good to this simple Girl!

Just remember Girls- we serve a practical God.  He will guide us in every area of our lives....if we let him.  He created us.  He knows and understands us better than we know and understand ourselves.  Don't dismiss something as being too simple or too practical to be the Holy Spirit.  He delights in every detail of our lives!

Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives (including our morning routines)  

Love, peace, and a practical Holy Ghost prompting to you all-
jen