Self-esteem has a lot to do with comparison. What or who are we trying to measure up to? The person who lives next door? Our professors or boss? A colleague at work…? The standard we chose will define our success or failure in how we see ourselves. Competition can be a dangerous thing. One of the big problems with defining ourselves by other people is that the standard changes.
But with God, the standard is always the same. The standard is perfection, but, and this is a HUGE but: God knows we fail miserably and he loves us perfectly, not matter what, always. Christ’s death and resurrection gives us free and open access to the throne room of the Creator!
We have to understand how God sees us. It is crucial! Because of the sacrifice of Jesus and His blood poured out for us, God does not sees us as sinful people. God sees us as redeemed children, chosen and perfectly loved.
In spite of what we may have been told about our worth by people, we are completely accepted by God. As the creation narrative in Genesis tells us, each day of creation ends with the statement, “And God saw that it was good.” That includes humankind. What God makes is good. I am good because of God, not because of what I have done. You are good because God loves you!
How do any of us begin to change the way we think about ourselves? In part 1 we prayed for it.
This time I ask you to declare the truth, out loud! God created everything by speaking it into existence. As people created in the image of God, our speech has power, to tear down and build up. So, I encourage you to read this out loud, every day for at least a week. No need to site the Bible references, just the truths themselves are sufficient.
Take note if any of them tug at you or are hard to say. Those are places to pray about, then declare those all the more the next day. THESE STATEMENTS ARE WHAT GOD SAYS IS TRUE OF YOU! BELIEVE AND ACCEPT! Look them up in context when you have time. Please let me know how it goes. You are in my prayers.
WHO I AM IN CHRIST*
I AM ACCEPTED…
JN 1:12 I AM GOD’S CHILD
JN 15:15 I AM CHRIST’S FRIEND
ROM. 5:1 I HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED
1COR. 6:17 I AM UNITED WITH THE LORD (ONE SPIRIT)
1COR. 19-20 I AM BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; I BELONG TO GOD
1COR. 12:27 I AM A MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY
EPH. 1:1 I AM A SAINT
EPH. 1:5 I HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AS GOD’S CHILD
EPH 2:18 I HAVE ACCESS TO GOD THRU THE HOLY SPIRIT
COL. 1:14 I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED AND FORGIVEN
COL. 2:10 I AM COMPLETE IN CHRIST
I AM SECURE…
ROM. 8:12 I AM FREE FOREVER FROM CONDEMNATION
ROM. 8:28 I AM ASSURED ALL WORKS TOGETHER FOR GOOD
ROM. 8:31-34 I AM FREE FROM ANY CHARGE AGAINST ME
ROM. 8:35-39 I CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
2COR. 1:21-22 I AM ESTABLISHED, ANOINTED, SEALED BY GOD
COL 3:3 I AM HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD
PHIL. 1:6 I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE GOOD WORK GOD HAS
BEGUN IN ME WILL BE PERFECTED
PHIL. 3:20 I AM A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
2TIM. 1:7 I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF
POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND
HEB. 4:16 I CAN FIND GRACE AND MERCY IN TIME OF NEED
1JN. 5:18 I AM BORN OF GOD; THE EVIL ONE CANNOT TOUCH ME
I AM SIGNIFICANT…
MATT. 5:13-14 I AM THE SALT & LIGHT OF THE EARTH
JN 15:1, 5 I AM A BRANCH OF THE TRUE VINE, A CHANNEL OF
HIS LIFE
John 15:16 I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND APPOINTED TO BEAR FRUIT
ACTS 1:8 I AM A PERSONAL WITNESS OF CHRIST’S
1COR. 3:16 I AM GOD’S TEMPLE
2COR. 5:17-21 I AM A MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION FOR GOD
2COR. 6:1 I AM GOD’S CO-WORKER (1COR.3:9)
EPH. 2:6 I AM SEATED WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLY REALM
EPH. 2:10 I AM GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
EPH. 3:12 I MAY APPROACH GOD WITH FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE
PHIL. 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST WHO
STRENGTHENS ME
*From Neil T. Anderson, Freedom in Christ Ministries: info@ficm.org; www.ficm.org
