So, I really wanted to get a tattoo. Two, actually - one for each wrist. I've been praying about them since last July and have been trying to muster up the courage (and pain tolerance) to get them. My friend has also been wanting to get one, so we planned to get them next week, the Friday of Spring Break. As that date has drawn near, however, I've felt prompted against the idea (at least for now). Still not sure why, but I'm choosing to be obedient on this one. But I want to share with you what they were going to be. Though the purpose for them was to serve mainly as a personal reminder for me, I was really excited to share them with people. They both hold a significant amount of meaning to me in many different ways (hence, the reason I wanted to get them permanently tattooed on my body). Psalm 18:16-19 On my left wrist I wanted "Psalm 18:16-19" written plainly in white ink. I've mentioned this verse before, and the significance it holds in my life. 16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. 17 He delivered me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. 18 They attacked me at a moment when I was weakest, but the Lord upheld me. 19 He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me. It's my life verse. It perfectly describes what God has done in my life, and it is very, very dear to my heart. It serves as a constant reminder of His grace, His love, His comfort, His faithfulness, and if there's ever any doubts, it's a reminder that He is very real, and has proved all of that to me. It's not about you. On my right wrist I wanted "It's not about you" written plainly in white ink. I've mentioned this phrase before as well . . . It's a phrase that God really laid on my heart last year. It serves as a reminder that, well, it's not about me haha. It's about God, and glorifying Him and obeying Him. And as a part of that, putting others before myself - not being selfish, but selfless. Now, why the wrists and why white ink? White ink because it's very subtle; it's not in-your-face. Also, white ink tattoos often look like scars. This is especially significant for the one on my left wrist (Psalm 18:16-19). It's a verse I hold so dearly because it's a reminder of how God saved my life; it's a reminder of how He rescued me from myself, depression, suicide, and countless demon encounters/attacks. All of those things left scars - beautiful scars, I think. To have that verse in the form of a "scar" on my wrist . . . it would just be beautiful to me. The wrists because it's a convenient location for reminders. You see them everyday, but it's not a spot necessarily in-your-face to others. But that's not it. Having "scars" on my wrists would be an everyday reminder of what Christ did on the cross for me. That in itself is significant enough, but it also ties into my other reasons perfectly. What He did on the cross is why I'm still here today (Psalm 18:16-19) and why I want to live for Him and serve Him (It's not about me). So much symbolism in just two tattoos!! Ah, I love it ^.^ I was pretty bummed when I felt God nudging me to wait (most likely indefinitely). I really wanted those constant reminders tattooed on my wrists. During the past 9 months I would often look at my wrists and imagine them there.
But God reminded me that I don't NEED them written on my wrists, because He's written them on my heart. They're tattooed on my heart. I realize that sounds AWFULly cheesy, but that's something I've often prayed for. There's a verse about hiding God's Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11) and another about writing His laws on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Often times I've heard the phrase "Write it on my heart" when people really want to remember something and want it impressed upon them. I took to saying "Tattoo it on my heart" because that, to me at least, is more meaningful. Writing fades; it's often erasable. But a tattoo . . . a tattoo is permanently there - it ain't going anywhere. You have to go to great lengths to get it removed. What I want tattooed on my wrists are things that God has tattooed on my heart. And though I'd love that outward representation of them, no matter what, they will forever be inked on my heart.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Archives
November 2016
|