Do You Dislike Yourself?
Did you know that self loathing is still a form of pride? Thinking too highly of ourselves or thinking too lowly of ourselves, are both still focusing more on yourself and your abilities, or lack of, rather than focusing on God and His Power. He created you! You are capable of great things but only through Him and the gifts and talents He gave you. He did not mess up when He made you! We are all a work in progress and when we see God as the One who is molding us into the best version of ourselves, that is when we will find peace, joy and purpose. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished...” Philippians 1:6
It’s where we find our identity...our true identity. The identity we were created for, instead of the identity we seek out when we identify with someone other than ourselves. Yes, it’s great to have someone we look up to but don’t confuse identifying with or admiring someone else with your own individual identity. Your identity in God. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 How can we be anything but beautiful, magnificent and brilliant when we were created in the image of The One who created ALL things? Beauty and wisdom are not determined by the ever-changing opinions and fads of the World but by God...throughout all time...it’s timeless! “You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” 1 Peter 3:4 Wisdom “So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace (these) my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don’t squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God’s good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.” Proverbs 8:32 Love God Love others Love Yourself (You are a masterpiece made by God) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” Psalm 139:13-18 Our flaws, weaknesses and brokenness are all part of His ultimate plan for our lives here...and for the impact our lives have for all time, here and in eternity! Our struggles lead us down the path that leads us to God’s finishing Work in us and through us. Life can be tough, especially with Sin in the world. The pain we endure from the sin of others is not from God! However, when we hand over and release our hurt and brokenness to God, He can take what was intended for evil and use it for good. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20