The Truth About Me

It dawned on me one day recently, that my sense of worth was tied up with a ton of "must do's" and "must not do's". It became clear to me suddenly that my sense of worth was intricately entwined with production / success / action. So when I did not produce something that I deemed "worthwhile" in a day (perhaps because I was tired, or because a few unexpected things happened) then I felt very badly about myself, in the sense of who I was as a person. I pulled up an amazing quote from Rev. P. Feenstra in his devotional "Unseen Footprints" that I had saved and realized then the real truth of his statement. “Our identity is not defined by what we achieve but by what we have become – a precious pearl in the necklace of Christ.” (Feenstra, 2021, p.212)

I have noticed in my life that criticism is unusually hard for me to take. Not because I don't believe the words being said, but because I am already thinking low of myself. So it's a double wammy, so to speak. l also noticed that as soon as I make a mistake I speak very negatively to myself. To others I am pretty gracious, but to myself very unforgiving. After a little inner self-reflection I realized there were some very negative things that I believed about myself, which I now recognize as lies! Satan wants me to believe them instead of embracing the truth. I began to wonder, "What does God actually say about who I am? What does God say about me?" Since I believe the Word of God to be the truth and the standard for living, I knew that's where I would find what I was looking for. This is what I came up with...   

THE TRUTH ABOUT ME:

v I was created in God’s image.

Gen.1:27: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

v I was created for a purpose.

Jer.29:11: “’For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’”

v I am unique.

Ps.139:13: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

v I am beautiful.

Ps. 139:14a: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

Ps. 45:11: “Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”

v I am loved.

Jer.31:31: “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

v I am God’s workmanship.

Eph.2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

v I am forgiven.

Ps. 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

v I have Christ in my heart.

Eph.3:17a: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…”

v I am the righteousness of God.

2 Cor. 5:21: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

v I am a child of God.

1 John 3:1(a): “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”

v I am precious.

I Cor. 6:20(a):“you were bought at a price…”

v I am holy.

I Pet.2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

v I am valued.

Luke 12:7: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

v I am chosen.

John 15:16(a): “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit…

v I belong.

Isaiah 43:1(b): “…’Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’”

v I am protected.

Ps. 121:3: “He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber.”

v I am a new creation.

2 Cor.5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

v I can do all things.

Phil. 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

I find it absolutely fascinating what happens in our subconscious minds, what can sometimes "lurk" there, without our fully being aware of it. It took me years to realize the negative things that were there, concerning who I am. When I searched in God's Word and found all the above statements I was floored and very excited! I knew all those statements individually as "knowledge" but I had not accepted them in my heart. Every day, when I open my eyes in the morning, and at night before I go to sleep, I now read these statements and verses OUT LOUD. It is making a world of difference. We often hear words like, "Think positive!" But you cannot just tell someone to be positive. If they think negatively about themselves deep down at the core of their being, they will not be able to think positive about their test, exam, job interview, marriage, kids, the weather, the future, and so forth. Thinking positive about life can only start when we think positive about ourselves. And fortunately, when we have been created by an awesome God, and the stain of our sins has been wiped away by the blood of a precious Savior, we CAN and MUST think positively about ourselves!!