Penny is working her way through the Thin Within book. She shares with us here about coming to “Day 5” where the reader is called to do an exercise to be reconciled with her physical body. The exercise is not for the faint of heart! I am so proud of Penny for making it through. When she told me about her experience, I knew I had to encourage her to share it with all of you—the faithful readers of the Thin Within Blog. Enjoy! ~ Heidi Bylsma
Written By Guest Blogger, Penny Davis
As I came to day five’s reading, I was very much crunched for time! I had committed to my reading daily and wanted to make sure that I followed through. However, I just really had no time to go thru the Mirror, Mirror exercise. So I gave myself permission to ” do it tomorrow!”
Three days later…
I am standing and looking at myself in the mirror , knowing this is not going to be an easy task for me! I am the type of person who makes it one of her life’s goals not to look in the mirror at herself. So here I stand in obedience to God having no idea what changes are about to happen in my heart.
I start the exercise off in prayer, asking God to help me to see myself as He sees me, not as I see myself. I had just added to my truth cards earlier in the week that He is enthralled with my beauty (Psalm 45:11). I know that has a spiritual meaning but I would like to think that He likes what he sees when He sees the outside of me as well, no matter what size I am! He loves me!
After my prayer, I start with my feet and I begin to thank Him for all the places my feet have carried me. How they have walked along beautiful seashores while worshipping Him for his majestic beauty. How they have walked me into the slums of the mission field in Honduras while I spread the good news of Christ and His love. I continue to worship him for my feet and all the many places they have taken me. By this time I am so moved by the Spirit I can hardly see myself for the tears!
I fall to my knees and my heart begins to break. You see, my husband has bad knees and they don’t give him the strong support as they used to. I have seen the toll it has taken on him and how it has changed his lifestyle. All I can do is stand here humbled and thank God for the health of my knees. I begin to pray for my husband. It is a beautiful moment.
I do the same thing when I come to my stomach ( which is the place I like to look least). I begin to thank Him for allowing me to carry three of my greatest blessings. God has given me three miracles! The doctor said that I would never have children. But here I stand looking at the stretch marks that prove my God is a God who heals. I also begin to pray for my Sister and Best Friend who suffer from Crohns and my niece who suffers from Ulcerative Colitis. I begin to pray for people who are fighting breast cancer. I go on like this until I reach the top of my head and I become even more humbled at my health and body.
By the end of the exercise I realize that God has in fact answered my prayer. He did allow me to see myself as He sees me. He gave me spiritual eyes so that I could not only see myself, but that I would see others in their pain.
After I had completed the exercise I read day eight’s lesson and it was on rebuilding the ruins (Isaiah 61:4). I had just stood there in front of the mirror looking at the ruins of my temple due to the misuse of my body and eating. God showed me, that I was not beyond repair! That by His grace, I had not gone so far that He couldn’t restore me!
I am still in the process of the rebuilding and there are days that are harder than others. There is one thing I do know: God is a God of many chances. He hasn’t given up on me and never will! He desires for me to be able to look at myself in the mirror and say ” I am the temple of The Most High God!”
~ Penny Davis
How About You? Have you been reconciled with your body? Are you able to praise your Lord for each part of your body and the many ways he has used each to minister to and through you? You might want to do what Penny did…set aside some time and prayerfully invite God to give you His eyes!
Penny lives in Tennessee with her husband of almost 29 years! They have three married daughters and four beautiful Grands that she is hopelessly in love with. She enjoys riding her bike with her husband and although she is not an avid runner, she loves to run. She also sings on the Praise Team at her church.
This is beautiful.
Thank Heidi for forwarding this to us. I am going to keep a copy to reread. thank you
Thank Heidi for forwarding this to us. I am going to keep a copy to reread. thank you
Lord, I thank you for each & every person on this journey and the people that are still struggling even outside of our group. I believe that as we grow closer to You many revelations will take shape in Jesus name!
I woke up in my right mindset what a blessing and then I read your blog. It’s amazing how my world gets brighter as I start to thank The Lord for all I at times take for granted.
Thank you so much for the reminder and new things I can thank Jesus.
We are the feet & hands of Jesus everywhere we go.
May God continue to richly bless us as we continue on our journey.
It’s not about me – “I get it, I finally get it. Praise God!!!
Again, thank you for your transparent share that has transformed my heart.
This encouraged my spirit on a day I needed it! This past year has been a rough year for me with having a baby, being on crutches for a ruptured cyst in my knee, having arthritis issues, and discovering I had severe crohns. I struggled with losing an insane amount of weight and not being able to eat to putting all that weight back on because of meds. But I guess I need to look at it from Penny’s perspective. At least now I can walk (and chase after a toddler and preschooler!), when I couldn’t do this months ago. At least now I can eat and have energy for my day when just months ago I couldn’t eat a thing and was too faint to stand up. Even when I was sick, at least God gave me the opportunity to carry a healthy child and provide nourishment for him. Thanks for this post!