When the Holy Spirit Makes Sure I Listen

Today, I'm the guest blogger over at Mary Katheryn's blog Beauty for Ashes as part of her Blogiversary


I chuckled and shook my head the other day as I read my friend's wall post on facebook.

Okay God, I'm starting to get it.

I've been wrestling with the subject of both my internal and external beauty as a woman.  It's been kinda rough.  And I have been resistant to believing what God says about me.

And like Jesus has done before with my wrestling about my singleness, my calling, my giftings, His love and kindness,and His sovereignty...He will make sure I listen one way or another.

Often it comes in the "stumbling" upon a scripture verse:

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.  Song of Solomon 4:7.

Again...

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:4

and again...

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Through the songs in shuffling through my iPod:

I know You have come now even if write upon my heart; to remind me of who You are.

and again...

I finally found where I belong in Your presence.

and again..

I don't have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way... He loves us.

Other times it is the speaking of the still small voice:

I love that you have sought and know Me.  You do this because you have My love, not to earn My love.

and again...

And I do love you.  I created you.  I AM the Master Artist.  With Beauty.  Inside. Outside. Upside down. Backwards.  You have Beauty to offer, no matter how small it feels.

If I continue to be stubborn, the Holy Spirit calls in the special forces.  His messengers in human skin.

Know you are lovely and have inherent value. You are the only Melissa with your set up gifts, beauty, personality, demeanor, boldness, stubborness, femininity, tender heart!

and AGAIN...

I love your realness and search for truth before God. I love that you allow him to shape you how he wants to shape you and take you where he wants to take you... I love your sense of womanness in him!

God is persistent and His love endures forever. He will make sure I listen.  I sometimes think that I should be more receptive.  I should accept the first whispers and believe.  But I wonder sometimes if part of God's comprehensive approach is to surround me on all sides, to take down the years of defenses I put up and the lies that have controlled me...

...because God can do no less than envelop me in His love and declare that I am His Beloved.