Through Him I have learned to see myself in a new light, as the wonderful person He has made me. I have become more confident in myself. I have been able to approach others, talk with them without fear and have made new friends as a result - something previously I had been terrified to do. I have been able to truly be myself without fear of what others think. I have broken out of the shell that I had placed around myself. What a freeing and amazingly wonderful feeling!
Satan has an arsenal of weapons that he uses against
us. Some of his most powerful are
psychological. These are things such as
fear, worry, guilt, pride, shame, doubt, anger, insecurity, selfishness and low
self-esteem.
Low self-esteem is a feeling of inadequacy and low
self-worth. Low self-esteem individuals
are critical of themselves. They may depend
on the approval of others for their own evaluation of self-worth. Individuals with low self-esteem may view themselves
in terms of successes – others will accept them if they succeed but will not
accept them if they fail.
We normally think, act, speak and react as the person we
perceive ourselves to be. Yielding to low
self-esteem can rob us of the sense of well-being that God has intended for us. We must base our self-worth on what God’s
Word says about us, rather than the standards of society. Through God, we can rebuild our self-worth
and perception.
We are not to base our self-image based on worldly
standards, but on God’s standards. It is
against God’s will for us to have a low self-image. His Word states that he loves us deeply,
honors us highly, values us highly, provides for us fully, plans for us carefully,
delights in us, and does not condemn us.
How can we think poorly of ourselves when God regards us in such a way?!
God has proven our worth by – His creation of us, His love
for us, His plans for us, the talents He has given us and by the sacrifice He
made for us. He sacrificed His only Son
to die on the cross for our sins. What
God has done for us cannot be changed.
He has accepted us and we can be confident in who we are. We don’t have to earn this worth…we simply
have to accept it.
We must never forget who we are, what we are, and how much
God loves us! We must give God the opportunity
to shine his perfection through us! Because
of what Christ has done on our behalf, we are complete!
Here are a few tips for those that struggle with
self-esteem:
- Stop comparing yourself with other people. You are wonderful in God’s eyes and we are all uniquely made by him.
- Stop putting yourself down. Bring all your thoughts to be obedient to Christ. Remove negative thinking and replace it with positive thinking.
- Don’t be critical of others. You can’t be granted the gift of seeing yourself through God’s eyes if you are unwilling to see everyone else – including those you don’t like – through God’s eyes as well.
- Use affirmations to enhance your self-esteem. Carry scripture with you that speak of God’s love for you. Pick several of your favorites that breed positive feelings.
- Fellowship with other Christians, both inside and outside of church. When you are accepted and encouraged, you are in the best possible environment to raise your self-esteem.
- Focus on your positive traits and the talents the Lord has bestowed upon you.
- Give more of yourself to those around you. Be of service to others.
- Learn to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake. Look at it as a learning opportunity rather than a reason to beat yourself up.
- Create a “thankful” list. Write down all of the things you are thankful for. You will quickly realize just how wonderful you have it!
- Spend time giving God heartfelt praise. Put your focus on Him and release your faith in His ability to help you succeed.
- Remember, what God has done for us cannot be changed. He has accepted us and we can be confident in who we are. We don’t have to earn this worth…we simply have to accept it. God made you uniquely and wonderfully!
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