When I share about the goodness of the Lord, I’m not just telling folks about something that I have heard. I’m telling them something that I know, personally and intimately. You cannot face a life or death moment and not be changed somehow, and I’m grateful that God has used the experience to speak life to His daughters. The Manna Chef resulted from what I have learned and experienced from God Himself through His Word and His lifesaving power. Being my authentic self is the only way I know to be. Anything less would misrepresent who I am to God and what He’s done in my life.
That scar leaves me no room to pretend. I have to be real because the pain I suffered was real and the process of healing and wholeness that resulted was real, too. And you know what? It was all worth it. The pain, the tears, the loss, the healing, the deliverance, and the path to wholeness. It was worth it because it produced an anointing that is profoundly real. And becoming a warrior for the Lord requires some earned scars, the evidence from battles won.
God is looking for real people. He is not interested in us putting on a show to entertain one another. God is looking for us to change lives from our own lived experiences. You can’t teach what you don’t know. And that also means we have to spend time in His Word to really get to know Him more intimately, whether you’ve just been introduced to the Lord today or if you have been walking with Him for decades. We all need to move closer to His Spirit to get to know Him on a deeper level. It’s in those moments, time spent in His Presence, that He takes those ugly scars and makes them beautiful.
Take a moment to appreciate the battle scars you’ve earned in your spiritual journey. Don’t hide them. Wear them like badge of honor. They’re so beautiful.
The Manna Chef 