If you took a selfie of your heart right now, what would it reveal? Selfie’s have been all the rage for a while now. People risk life and limb to crawl to the highest point of a dangerous cliff to capture their smiling face with the tallest waterfall or the deepest canyon.

It’s one thing to smile for the camera, but inside I can imagine these people are feeling a bit frightened about what could go wrong. Countless news articles reveal people that have slipped and fallen to an early death trying to capture that perfect selfie.

It’s one thing to look good for the camera and all the world to see, but what’s going on underneath? In the heart where only you know the real emotion and pain of estrangement. Today let’s sit for a few minutes with a selfie of your heart where you’ll find some real treasures of joy and peace.

A Selfie of the Heart

Introspection can be a healing exercise when done correctly. Too often women look inside and critique themselves. Condemnation isn’t what you need and yet it’s the very thing that comes out swinging if you sit too long ruminating about the estranged relationship.

Do you find that you beat yourself up mentally? Wondering what you could have said differently. Moreover, you replay the conversation and become angry and something they said or did. It’s a war of the mind that most avoid and for good reason.

Let’s consider an alternative lens. You’ve been looking through the camera of self-pity, anger, resentment, and emotional pain.

What if your lens revealed something entirely different?

A Selfie with God’s Lens

Guilt and shame are two weapons that lurk in the heart of the estranged mom. Guilt focuses on something you’ve done. Harsh words, gossip, etc. Shame focuses on the perception that you’re a bad person for having done something wrong.

Do you find yourself vacillating between those two enemies of the heart?

If you are a photography lover, you know that you can change the settings to produce different outcomes. Things like aperture and F-Stop. Together, they dictate how much light enters the camera and control the sharpness of the foreground and background producing a beautiful photo.

God’s lens reflects exactly how He sees you. He’s the photographer so what you feel inside doesn’t affect what He sees.

Let’s look at a few scriptures to see what God sees as He uses His lens to take a selfie of your heart.

Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to be called children of God.”

Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs, namely heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”

Think about that.

Now, go back and read those passages and insert your name. For example, there is no condemnation for Becky who is in Christ Jesus. Do this with each passage of scripture.

I’ve created a free booklet that you can use to continue this exercise and conquer guilt and shame as you take a selfie of your heart through the lens of scripture. Download it at www.beckykolb.com/guide

How to Find Peace Even in Estrangement

It’s hard to find peace amid estrangement, isn’t it? And when you point that lens to take a selfie of your heart, guilt and shame are tools Satan uses to keep you discouraged.

Guilt and shame eat away at your self-esteem and value as a person.

In the free book I mentioned, you’ll discover how to conquer this negativity so that you can discover the peace your heart seeks.

I was drowning in guilt and shame when I was estranged from my kids. I fell lock stock and barrel into Satan’s trap until I discovered that I didn’t have to succumb to that any longer. You can find that peace too. Download the free booklet today if you haven’t already and take a selfie of your heart through a different lens.

True Identity Through a New Lens

As you change the lens by which you take a selfie of your heart, you’ll discover that you are a unique and beautiful woman created by God who is loved and accepted.

You’ll learn that He will take the guilt and shame and give you His constant companionship. He promises to never leave or forsake you. He’s a great listener as you pour out your heart to Him and His Holy Spirit will guide you in next steps.

Getting a proper perspective on who you are is a first step in healing your broken heart. Once you get clear on who you are, you can begin work in other areas that can lead to reconciliation of a relationship.

Download that free e-book at www.beckykolb.com/guide then take a new selfie of your heart and let me know what it looks like. I think you’ll be amazed.

Until next time, change that lens as you look introspectively and find an utterly amazing woman inside.

TOPIC: Podcast