Something That's True
Something that's true about you is ____________.
When was the last time someone spoke truth over you? I’m not talking about someone calling you out, but someone lifting you up.
It can be hard to receive a compliment at times, can't it? Depending on who it comes from, hearing kind words about ourselves can either be life-giving or really uncomfortable. It's different when someone doesn't just give a compliment, but takes the time to listen, observe, and take in who you are. Once they've identified something true about you, they speak it. That kind of word does something holy in us.
A close friend recently spoke straight to my identity, and it released hope that I didn’t know was reserved for me. She didn't talk about what I do as writer, how I mother my son, or ways I relate to her, she talked about my very being. She spoke of my my design and how the creator sees me. While blessings are needed over what we do or how we connect, life-giving words over our identity is a glimpse of heaven on earth.
Think about a time when someone spoke a true, uplifting word about your identity. Maybe it was during a really trying time, or maybe it was just out of the blue on a sunny day. Did it make you feel love that was beyond any human love? Did it make you feel seen and known? Did it make you praise the Father?
When someone speaks a very specific, personal word to me that isn’t manufactured, but can only be said through attuning to the Holy Spirit, it always prompts me to thank God for the continued work He's doing in and around me. When this kind of partnership with God takes place, both parties are participating in a bigger story that God has and is writing. We don't speak life just to puff ourselves up or to measure how great we are. We encourage one another to bring us back to what Jesus did on the cross.
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:3-5
With so much division in the world, imagine what life-giving words would do for lost and broken souls. What would happen if we took time, not just to speak nice words, but true, Kingdom of God words about our neighbors, family, co-workers, or friend. True words need time to form. True words take obesrvation, prayer, and love that is beyond our own human capacity.
So here’s your challenge for the week:
Think of someone this week who needs to hear something loving and true. Interact with them, pray for them, listen and observe them. What hope is reserved just for them? Don’t rush in giving them a compliment. Once you notice something, complete this sentence for them: Something that is true about you is ________________.
Next step, would be to share it. We don't always have to travel far to love the wounded. We can do it through pure and God-led words.
Bonus Challenge
Read Titus 3
Complete this sentence for yourself: Something that’s loving and true about me is ________________.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phillippians 4:8