Beautiful Messes by Hillary Scott

Love Remains | A 13-Day Devotional By Hillary Scott

Day 1 of 13 "Beautiful Messes" When you look in the mirror, what do you see? How would you describe yourself physically, spiritually and emotionally? Broken? Wounded? Weary? Messy? Not many of us take an honest look in the mirror and see our reflection radiating with beauty. We see all of the ugly parts of us glaring back. The good news is, how we see ourselves does not determine how God sees us. Full of fragile broken pieces We're all rough around the edges Scripture says Jesus came to "heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to comfort all who mourn…to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes" (Is. 61:1-3). In Christ, the broken are healed, the captives are free, the mourning are comforted and the ashes are turned to beauty. Even at our worst, to Him we ain't lost causes Just beautiful messes Christ is the beautiful savior who came to meet us in the middle of our mess-not before we got messy, or after we cleaned ourselves up-but right in the middle of our messiest moment when we had nothing to offer but ashes. He met us there and gave us beauty in return. He told us we were no longer slaves, but adopted children of God (Rom. 8:15). And that is our true identity, a promise that says no matter our mess, Christ has come, and he has made us beautiful. Isaiah 61:1-3 Romans 8:15 Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified. Romans 8:15 KJV 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.