Through the years I have attempted to meet the approval of others and how they perceived me. Growing up I allowed others to redirect what they thought I should do in life, some had well intentions while others had ulterior motives. With life's experience and many spiritual bumpers, I have learned to take off the "legalistic" mask and uproot seeds that were sown into me and JUST DO ME. I have learned that man will try and rule you if he is allowed, but God is the ultimate Judge. Some approach me and say, "you look different", yes, God is transforming me and at the same time transitioning me. I have committed to taking care of my temple by fasting, praying, and comitting to the proper diet and exercise. I have tweeked my dress code just a little bit, and my appearance may be a little sleaker, because in order to carry God's anointing there can't be any other weight, spiritually or physically. I'm allowing God to transform my character from the inside out, I'm not perfect, there's still some flaws where the flesh wants to rise, but He is still using me while I rest in the cocoon awaiting to become that butterfly that He is constructing. I am unique, therefore I can't be restrained to the ordinary, so don't try and keep me in the box. The most critical error that one can commit is to place someone in a category in which they are not. Don't get preconceived ideas by one's outward appearance. Don't judge them, maybe God is using their appearance to deliver someone else from where that person was delivered from. Don't judge one based on their personality, God gave us the personalities that He desired. I'm outgoing and I love to meet people, yet from past experience of being told that I had a, "party spirit", I became cautious of others, not to say that you should just take everyone into your inner court, but get to know a person by their spirit. The word of God says to go into the world and preach the Gospel, how can one do so if they stay confined to the "spiritual" box? For we are uniquely handcrafted by God, a workmanship of His hands. Dare to be different!
Copyright 2009 by Sheila M. Herron, Living Epistle Ministries
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