Sunday, September 18, 2011

Cinderella's Slipper

Have you ever felt like you were being fitted for someone else's shoes?

You know the story of Cinderella. Her entire life she spent trying to please and serve her "ugly step-sisters" and "wicked Step-Mother".  Ironing their clothes - but they were never to their satisfaction. Fixing their Tea- but it was always too hot. Washing their floors - only to have them immediately trampled with mud.

Have you ever felt like that? Like you were trying to fill everyone else's expectations for yourself, and you never lived up to their standards? I know I have.

You never did your hair, make-up or clothes right? You never looked like the model in the magazine or the pretty girl in school? You couldn't play any sports well, weren't musically talented -or given the opportunity to be, never made good enough grades?

You are unable to have children, or you don't desire them and it makes everyone question you.

Because of your body type the cute styles never fit quite right -but they did on your sister or best friend?

As an adult the same people are given the same strength to make you feel inadequate or small. Or you imagine them and their negative comments every . time . you . do . anything!

Let me tell YOU something.  If you were sitting here with me, I would make sure I had your eye contact. If you were my daughter I would cradle your face at this moment because it is so important. At this moment they don't matter.  The world (sometimes even your "best friends") tries so hard to fit you into your "Ugly Step Sisters" slipper. Sweetie, it won't fit. It doesn't fit, besides that - do you WANT it to?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

You are created by a Heavenly Design to fulfill the purpose God created you for. God has placed HIS unique thumbprint on your life!

Don't try to wear their shoes. When you're trying to fit their shoes - who's wearing yours?
You're Beautiful! You're Beautiful! You're Beautiful! You're Beautiful!

These are not empty words. I don't mean this in the physical, worldly way. Because that is an empty beauty and it does NOT matter. When you see yourself through the eyes of Christ you're more than beautiful, you're His daughter with His destiny, and your beauty overflows you!  It seeps out of you. It is your essence!

If you cannot see that. If you are trying to cram yourself into someone else's slipper you will Never fulfill the beautiful things He has in store for your life.  You cannot please them, no matter what you do - so quit trying! 

I do not desire approval from the world - the world hated Christ. His home town hated Him. You cannot spend your life trying to make them see your beauty. Pursue God, Pursue God, Pursue GOD! True beauty can only be attained when your life is a reflection of His Image!

In HIM you will find your beauty, in HIM you will find your identity, in HIM you will find your purpose!



Psalms 139 (ESV)

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way of The Everlasting!

I think He loves you! 
Not only that, I think HE thinks you're BEAUTIFUL and wants you to be HIS child!

He has a glass slipper waiting for you. If only you can surrender the old, ugly, used and un-fitted one.

You can't be a Princess in your Step-Sister's Slippers!

 


When you click on the video below it will want you to connect to YouTube, just click through, and be blessed!  :)

Questions:
  • What Shoes are you tired of trying to fit into? What shoes are you needing to surrender?
  • If there are children in your life, what shoes are you trying to fit them into?
  • If you are married or have visions of your future spouse - what shoes are you trying to fit him into? 



Linked With:

Stringer Mama's Blog  
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18 comments:

  1. Great thoughts! Love the words that encourage women to see themselves as the Father sees them! Praise the Lord who looks at our hearts :)

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  2. i liked what i read, it inspired me to move on ..stay blessed and thanks for sharing...

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  3. I love that challenge or are you trying to fit into someone elses shoes!

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  4. I love the tenderness in this post. Haven't we all been there(and will be again, I'm sure)? These words need saying over and over until we believe them with our hearts. Beautiful post!

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  5. oh such beautiful beautiful words .... LOVELY :)

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  6. Beautiful words..ones to always strive to live by..thanks for sharing. Sondra

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  7. Oh, great, great take. I don't want to wear the step-sisters' shoes!

    Also, great song. One of my favorites.

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  8. My sister was always the cute pretty one, but I was not jealous. I could out run her, out win her in a game and get better grades etc. Today, she shows the signs of a hard life, but yet in God's sight she is still the pretty one and is beautiful. As for me, I think I never doubted that I was beautiful! LOL

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  9. This is so beautiful. It is so freeing to be able to find your identity in HIM and know that it is only His shoes that are worth trying to fill. It took me many years to understand how important this concept was.

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  10. I love how you so passionately communicate the message that He puts on your heart. Oh, that His words that we are beautiful in HIs sight might take such deep root in our hearts!

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  11. Hi Melissa
    I so don't want to keep squashing my feet into someone else's shoes. Great post and great encouragement.
    God bless
    Tracy

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  12. Such a wonderful reminder...I really needed that today!

    Jen @ Narrow Way Wife

    http://narrowwaywife.blogspot.com

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  13. Thank you so much for writing this post! It is so true!

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  14. Wow! I'll be back. I think one of the toughest things in life is trying to fit into someone else's ideal of what THEY think YOU should be.

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  15. thank you for the reminder. I am beautiful in God's eyes, even when the world does not make me feel beautiful.

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  16. I go through seasons where I do indeed struggle with this. LOVE Psalm 139. What a great comfort to know that we were loved and designed before the foundation of this world. That GOD loves us and knitted us together. Who are we to think we should be anything than what He created us to be. May the ONLY thing we try to change is to be more conformed to HIS IMAGE. To display the fruit of His Spirit. Thanks for your posts. Great reminder indeed.

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  17. I wish every young woman could read this blog. God has blessed you with a beautiful talent. You are using it to bless others and that must make God smile.

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  18. Thank you Melissa for linking up with Life In Our Fishbowl today! The perceptions that we place on ourselves that we have to BE SOMETHING we may not be or may NEVER be is something that we will always face and struggle with. It's a passion of mine lately to recognize that the only shoes we have to fill are the ones that God wants us to wear! Great post!! Oh and sorry we got cut off last night - FB kept flashing an error!

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