"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."
Proverbs 27:19 · NIV
This verse is a lesson in ancient psychology. It establishes that our outer life is simply a reflection of our inner reality.
Back then, without glass mirrors, people looked at their reflection in still water. If the water was clean, the reflection was accurate. There were no Instagram filters.
We often try to change the "reflection" (our behavior, results, finances) without changing the "original image" (the heart, our beliefs). It's impossible.
"The Knight in Rusty Armor" — Robert Fisher
This is the essence of the "Castle of Silence" and the "Castle of Knowledge." The Knight avoided looking at himself (avoided the reflection) because he was afraid of what he would see. The armor was an attempt to create a false reflection (of a strong hero) to hide a weak, needy heart. Healing only came when he found the courage to look into the mirror of truth.
"O Poder da Autorresponsabilidade" — Paulo Vieira
If I look in the mirror and my face is dirty, does it help to clean the mirror? No. I have to clean my face. Self-responsibility means understanding that my results (the reflection in the water) are created by who I am and what I do (the heart). To change life on the outside, I need to change what's programmed on the inside.
"The Root of Rejection" — Joyce Meyer
A heart wounded by rejection projects a distorted self-image onto the "water" of life. The person sees themselves as small, ugly, or incapable, and life reflects that back in abusive relationships or failures. God's Word cleans the water and heals the heart, so that the reflection becomes that of a beloved child.
If our natural heart reflects our flaws, how do we change that image? By looking to Christ. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that we, "with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image".
Jesus is the only one who looked into the "water" of life and reflected the Father perfectly. When we hand over our heart to Him, He begins to change the image. The goal of the Christian life is that when people look into the "water" of our life, they see less and less of our ego and more and more of the reflection of Jesus.
Wisdom Pill
For reading with children
References
· NIV