God takes suffering and brings from it incredible beauty, strength, resolve, and wonder. James Cone knew this. Sojourner Truth knew this. Harriet Tubman knew this. We all know this. It is written within us (cf Genesis 1:27). We have no excuse but to be heroes.

A glimpse of God, just a glimpse, has this effect — you stumble back because of the profound realization that everything fits and everything is okay.

What you know is within you by the hand of God. It’s God’s image within you, put there before you were born, just waiting to be realized and put into action.

When we put ourselves, open and vulnerable, in God’s presence, something will happen, and that something will have the force of God.

Spend time pondering God. Listen! Discern! Expect to receive. You will not come away unchanged.

It is the image of God within us that cries! It is the image of God within us that writhes, questions, and “mourns her children.” We’re not waiting for God to show up. God is already here!

The image of God within us may be telling us we can be a whole lot more than we are.

It is holy ground when we’re challenged to see things as God sees them.

How aware are you of the joy and peace that comes with the deliberate choice to see as God sees and work to bring that reality into your NOW?

What are some of the lies you carried from childhood into adulthood? How are they impacting your ability to grow?

In what ways do you allow the past to determine your thoughts and actions?

The Spirit blows its wind your way, you deftly step aside
To feed the monster eating you, and lay us down to die.