Loving the Skin That I’m In

I was honored to be invited to speak at a women’s conference, and as I reflected on what to share, God kept bringing me back to the title, "Loving the Skin That I’m In."

In my quiet moments of prayer, I felt led to focus on the word “skin.” It became clear that many of us struggle to love the skin we’re in because we may need to shed the old skin that no longer serves us. As we step into new seasons of our lives, it’s essential to recognize the power of our skin.

A Deep Dive into Skin

Did you know that your skin is the body’s largest organ? It accounts for 10% to 15% of our total body weight. It’s not just a surface; it’s a complex, life-sustaining system that protects us and helps maintain our internal balance. If our skin fails, we become vulnerable to dehydration and infection, which speaks volumes about its importance.

Here are some key roles our skin plays:

• First Line of Defense: Think of your skin as a protective shield. It keeps harmful bacteria and viruses at bay while safeguarding our internal organs.

• Temperature Regulation: Our skin acts like a radiator, cooling us down when we’re hot and conserving warmth when it’s cold.

• Dehydration Prevention: It creates a watertight seal, preventing the loss of vital fluids.

• Immune System Support: Our skin houses immune cells that fight off invaders and maintains an acidic surface to keep harmful microorganisms in check.

The Power of Shedding

I couldn't help but wonder: if skin is so vital, why do some creatures shed it? This process, known as ecdysis or molting, allows many animals to grow, remove parasites, and adapt to new life stages.

Shedding serves several beautiful purposes:

• Wound Healing: It’s a fresh start.

• Parasite Removal: Letting go of what no longer serves us.

• Reproduction: Making way for new possibilities.

• Nutrient Recycling: Allowing growth and renewal.

• Hiding from Predators: Staying safe and unseen.

God’s Gentle Reminder

Here’s the beautiful message I received: to truly love the skin we are in, we may need to shed our old skin. This means letting go of:

• Old beliefs that weigh us down

• Patterns that no longer serve us

• Behaviors that keep us stuck

• Ways of thinking that limit our potential

We are living in a time of change, witnessing things we’ve never seen before. Many of us cling to the past, but God is reminding us that this is a new day. We can’t pour old wine into new wineskins. Our transformation begins in our minds; where our minds go, our bodies and spirits will follow.

The Urgency of Letting Go

The need to shed our old skin is pressing. The enemy is finding new ways to attack us, and we can’t face him with outdated strategies. Shedding can literally save our lives.

• Healing Old Wounds: It’s time to release past hurts. Why are we still holding onto pain from years ago?

• Removing Parasites: Let go of people or habits that cling to us but offer no growth. It’s scary to think of who we might be without them, but we must trust in the process.

• Reproducing Blessings: We often ask God for more, yet we cling to old habits. Shedding those habits allows us to multiply our blessings.

• Camouflaging from the Enemy: The enemy expects us to show up as our old selves. Shedding allows us to appear new and fresh, making his old tricks ineffective.

• Resetting for Growth: Shedding clears out the clutter in our minds and hearts, making space for new experiences and growth.

Embrace Your New Skin

So today, I encourage you pray and ask God if you need to shed some of your old skin in order to love your new skin. If the answer is yes, then embrace it, stand tall in it, and trust that God is completing the good work He has started in you.

Let’s step forward together, ready to embrace the beautiful transformation that awaits us.