The 40-Day Mirror Fast: Focusing Your Eyes on Jesus and Off Your Appearanceნიმუში

Reflect and Deflect

Thoughts about your appearance may multiply and intensify during the first few weeks of this fast. You may worry that you have something on your face or your hair isn’t right. You may find yourself scanning the expressions of family or co-workers to see if they’re noticing any “flaws” you may have missed since you’re no longer spending quality time with the mirror.

Expect this to happen.

There’s a withdrawal period in the early days of this fast. You may be accustomed to some degree of control in your relationship with the mirror. Even if you didn’t like what it reflected, you may have felt in control because you could inventory what needed to be “fixed.” You could think about those “flaws” and how to correct them. It’s funny how awareness of our perceived body “problems” allows us to feel that sense of control.

But, without regular feedback from the mirror, you may feel untethered. How do you know if you’re okay? This fast is an excellent opportunity to remember who defines your worth and where your true safety comes from. It comes from Christ.

Today, if you feel unsettled and long to check the mirror to see if you’re okay, may I encourage you? The mirror doesn’t have the answers you long for. Only Jesus does.

The thoughts, concerns, worries, and fears will come to mind. Today is a good day to practice “Deflect and Reflect.”

Here’s how it works. Pretend you’re holding a mirror in your hand.

Deflect: You have the negative thought; now, picture it bouncing off the mirror. When the thought comes (“You don’t look good today…”), use God’s truth to deflect it. “My value is more than my appearance today or any day.”

Reflect: Then, meditate on that truth. Why does it feel like your appearance is so important? What else is going on in your life that has you feeling uneasy or unsettled? Are there ways that not knowing how you look makes you feel uncertain or unsafe? Can you believe that the Creator of the universe loves you beyond what you measure?

Ask God to help you keep his truth guarding your mind today.