set free!

Sorry this is another long post. But please read the whole thing, it's so good!

Excerpt from The Divine Dance: If the World is Your Stage, Who Are You Performing For? by Shannon Kubiak

"to be chosen is everyone's dream. What we fail to notice as we desperately dance is that One has never left His seat during our performance. Many audiences have come and gone, but this One, this Man, has sat there from day one and has never taken His eyes off of the little girl in the pink princess dress. His eyes answer the questions her eyes ask; His heart satisfies the needs of her heart. If only that little girl would take the time to notice, if she would stop focusing on herself and what she needs to do to be beautiful to the other audiences, she would see that she is already beautiful to this One. He has called her the beloved, and He is offering her an important role in His dance - the Divine Dance.

"She holds center stage in His heart. He has seen her at her best and her worst. He knows her flaws, but still He wants her. He wants to love her, to hold her, to keep her close to His heart forever. He has seen all of her costumes and sat through all her performances, but He likes her best when she's not performing at all. He likes her best at the end of the day, when the other audiences are gone and she has taken off all of her masks. Whether she's smiling, or crying, He loves her. And He wants to give her the world.

"Each of us is a dancer; we dance our way through life, performing for others.

"God did not create you to dance for this world. He intended for you to dance for Him. He has gifted you exclusively for this purpose. He has wrapped you in the package that is your personality and your body so you can play a certain role. Long ago He wrote a script, and He wrote a role for you that's all your own - only you can play it. Without you, the story cannot continue as it was originally intended."
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I think I finally understand. I am beautiful in God's eyes. Though I make mistakes, He still loves me and wants me. God has given me my personality.

I've been caught up in rules, many of which I've made for myself.
I've been trying (and failing) to change my personality, because I thought I had to be growing(basically changing) in order for God to be happy with me. How foolish to attempt to change my personality, when God has given it specifically to me to use for His glory!
I've been condemning myself when I sin, because I thought God was mad at me for messing up again. But no, despite my flaws, God loves me! All he feels when He looks at me is love, because I am His daughter! God loves me for who I am right now, no matter what. Isn't that amazing?

Praise the Lord for revealing this to me! I have known it in the back of my head, but I never truly believed it until now. I feel so free! I don't have to do anything to be loved by God. His love is an amazing gift! :)