“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.” – Ernest Holmes

“Our minds distort our mirrors.” – Unknown

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

I don’t know how you feel about mirrors, but lately they are reflecting back an image to me that isn’t one I like to see.  I see a tired fellow, with bloodshot eyes and signs of aging just about everywhere you glance at him.  What hair he has is gray and his muscles have lost the tone they once had.

There is disappointment and a bit of sadness in his eyes.  At times, he reflects a type of shame – about things he said and didn’t say – things he’s done and things he so desperately wanted to do.  His gaze is often absorbed in self-judgement – never completely satisfied with the man who is glaring back at him.

Can you relate to this at all when it comes to the mirrors of your life and your moments of self-reflection?

It amazes me how often I meet people who are the exact opposite – the selfie addict who looks in the mirror or camera lens and is enamored by what they see.  They show no signs of contempt in how they look or who they are.  What they see on the surface is all that matters – the image they project to others and to themselves about who they believe they are in their own minds.

I have known and loved people like this in my own life – people who have behaved egregiously without thought or concern for anyone but themselves.  When they look in the mirror of self-reflection, they don’t see it at all – as if they are immune to any self-criticism or self-doubt glaring back at them.  They are simply in love with who they see in that reflection – to the point of self-denial and self-preservation.  At times, they may truly SEE the truth, but CHOOSE to look right past it to maintain their self-esteem, pride, and the false façade they portray to others.

Do you know anyone like this – their self-reflection filled with ignored realties and arrogant interpretations?

Ernest Holmes is right.  The mirrors of life reflect what the thinker thinks into it – often distorting the image.  It really isn’t about what you look at, as Thoreau suggests, it is what you SEE that matters!

So when it comes to those mirror moments of self-reflection, how can we SEE them differently – in the light of truth, honesty, and complete genuineness?

LOOK INSIDE

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” – Proverbs 27:19 NLT

The fact is, we are NOT what we physically see staring back at us in the mirror.  Who we are resides in our hearts – the part of us that God sees and knows (1 Samuel 16:7).  In your mirror moments of self-reflection, look past the physical image.  Look past the façade of self-projection to others.  The truth of who you are is found in your heart, your motives, and your character.

This is so opposite of what we find in today’s world.  It’s all about youth, physical image, and projected confidence – none of which define who a person truly is and why they are here.  Friendships and marriages are based on physical attractiveness and portrayed self-confidence….and we wonder why they fail so often?

SEE A CHILD OF GOD IN THE REFLECTION

Each and every one of us is a child of the Most High God.  We are His creation!  As we look past what we see physically, we need to realize all the wonderful benefits that come with this privilege:

• Nothing we have done or will ever do is beyond our Father’s love and forgiveness
• We will never be left alone, abandoned or forsaken
• His grace is always sufficient – covering our shortcomings, our mistakes, and our failures.
• His supernatural strength is always present and available to us whenever we feel weak and fragile.

When you look in that mirror, see someone who is forgiven, blessed, and loved 😊

SEE YOURSELF WITH A DESTINY AND CREATED PURPOSE

As you gaze in the mirror of self-reflection, realize you are looking at someone with created purpose.  There is a destined meaning behind your creation.  You are physically here for a deeper reason – one you can only partially see and understand now.

In the Scripture verse above, Paul reminds us that often what we see as we look at ourselves and our lives is puzzling and imperfect.  All that we see and know now feels incomplete and absent of meaning.

But there will come a day when everything makes sense, maybe not in this current world, but the next.  We must trust that our physical presence here has a destined purpose for us and others down the road – a purpose that will be fully revealed and clearly seen 😊

 I love this promise of God!  We can take such comfort in a Father who RIGHT NOW knows us fully and completely – seeing us for who we truly are and helping us to fulfill the purpose behind our creation 😊

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?  I pray you see yourself differently – in a way you have never seen yourself before.

Let’s pray for each other – that we can look beyond physical appearances and circumstances and see ourselves as God sees us.  May He help those of us who avoid self-reflection – touching our hearts to see what truly matters most.

God bless you my friend 😊