This is a series of posts about how

God took my shattered self-image

and made me whole again.

 Redeemed

The word redeemed  has been on my mind a lot lately.  I came across it while reading through the book of Ephesians.  I’ve heard the word redeemed before, but this time it took on a whole new meaning.

^“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” -Ephesians 1:7-8

The word redemption is defined as: the act of making something better or more acceptable.  When I think about that definition and how it applies to my life, I am blown away by the abundance of God’s love.  God brought me through an eating disorder, and made me better.  I was redeemed by his grace.  I was released from the bonds of bulimia and bought by the blood of Jesus Christ.  That eating disorder no longer has a hold on my soul.  God has forgiven me and placed a seal of freedom on my life.

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” -Ephesians 1:13-14

Our seal is important to remember.

This seal is our identity in Christ.

Redemption is a huge part of our identity as believers.  And if we are to walk in freedom from our past, we must take on that identity and wave it proudly.  Living in that redemption has caused me to think about my daughter.  I know the battles she’ll have to face, and I pray that God would keep her from the evil of this world.  More than anything, I want her to know the identity that God has given her.  I long for her to proudly wear the seal that God has placed upon her soul.

As her mother, I am purposefully teaching little E to love and know who God says she is.  My hope is that she will remain confident and resilient against those flaming arrows of self-hatred that she’ll face in the upcoming years.