White twinkling lights draped the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. They were beautiful in the darkened room, but the spoken words proved to be mesmerizing. Suzie¹ spoke of how deeply our Heavenly Father loves us and “right now invitations.” She spoke of surrendering and creating sacred spaces during the weekend to be alone with God and just listen. She encouraged that the more we say “yes” to his right now invitations, the more we look like Jesus.
Suzie gently assured, “Jesus sees in us what we do not.” My mind rested on those words and I was mesmerized. With their utterance Jesus reached deeply into my soul, gently stamped my heart as His, and neatly wrapped all the words Suzie spoke in a gift designed just for me. “Come with me, Monica. Let Me show you what you cannot see without Me.”
Where I saw doubt, fear, and failure, Jesus showed me strength, mettle, and perseverance. In those mesmerizing twinkling lights, Jesus revealed that He sees:
• a mind that seeks Him
• a heart that loves Him
• talents to serve Him
He lovingly assured He has purpose for my life and beckoned me, “Surrender my child so I can show you all the things I have to show you, things you cannot see without Me.”
In my quiet moments with God the following morning, I wrote this prayer in my journal:
“Loving God, give me the courage to be obedient to Your will, lead me to understand Your will and purpose for my life. Thank you for letting me be myself so far this weekend and help me continue to be so—willing to be transparent, vulnerable, and open to new relationships with new friends who love You, too. Unclutter my mind, tear down the walls of fear holding my heart captive so that I can hear Your “right now” invitations. I love You, Lord, and thank You for loving me even when I didn’t love myself.”
For most of my adult life, I felt unworthy of God’s love and His sacrifice. While I viewed others as deserving his mercy and grace, I was not. I viewed myself through my own critical perspective, not through God’s love for me. And certainly not through the gift of grace. I was blind to what Jesus sees in me.
Yes, I am unworthy. Truly we all are. But God sees us through His eyes of love…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Friends, we will never be worthy. But we don’t have to be, for we can never earn grace.
It is the gift of God, not the results of our works. Ephesians 2:8-9
His only Son, Jesus, interceded for us and died on the cross on our behalf.
It is Christ Jesus who is at the right hand of God who indeed intercedes for us. Romans 8:34
Jesus carried our sins to the cross because we are God’s beloved children.
Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39
Just as God removed Paul’s blindness on the road to Damascus, allow Jesus to remove your blindness. See yourself through Jesus’ eyes. See yourself through our Interceder’s eyes. His view is beautiful—filled with love, mercy, and grace.
Open your eyes and let Jesus show you things you cannot see without Him.
His view is mesmerizing.
Hugs & blessings,
Monica
¹Suzanne Eller, author of “Come With Me Devotional: A Yearlong Adventure in Following Jesus.” Bethany House, 2017.