Blessings and Curses

Dear Beautiful,

A couple weeks ago I heard a message about the importance of speaking blessings opposed to curses over someone, and it got me thinking.  It got me thinking about how quick we are to speak curses over ourselves, yet often neglect to speak blessings.  It seems like the moment we make a mistake, we instantly begin beating ourselves up, "Why did you say that?  You're so stupid."  We get out our boxing gloves and continuously punch ourselves in the face instead of offering ourselves the grace we would offer a friend.

When a friends says or does the things we would beat ourselves up for, we quickly brush it off and recognize it as no big deal or a mistake.  We are quick to offer support and encouragement because we know that choice or action or word does not define who they are.  We know who they are.  We know their hearts.  We know their personalities.  We know their friendship.  We know their beauty.  But when we say or do it, it's a tragedy that defines who we are.  And it isn't just because we are drama queens.  It's because we tend to critique our entire being, worth, and value on every individual decision we make, action we do, or word we say.

The root of the problem isn't what we do or say in that moment...it is our desire to be perfect.  It isn't the choice that is made or the action that is done or the words that are said, it is the fact that in our minds, those decisions, actions, or words make us less than perfect.  And when we are attempting to find our worth and value in our performance, we must be perfect or else.  Or else, we are not worthy.  We are not valuable.  We are not lovable.

Somewhere along the way, we have strayed from God's words and what He says about us.  It is not our performance that makes us worthy, valuable, or lovable.  He offers us worth, value, and love because of who He is and what He has done for us.  We need to begin receiving God's blessings and stop cursing ourselves.  We need to receive His grace when we feel like we fail to measure up.  We need to receive His forgiveness when we fail to do what is right.  We need to accept His love when we fall short.  We need to know that God does not simply define us by who we are in that moment, but by who we are in Him.

Beauty Tip #10:  The next time you are tempted to speak curses over yourself, ask God to help you receive His blessings of grace, forgiveness, and love then take time to journal about your experience.