We struggle
all of our life with our self-worth. We try to value our contribution to
society, but well-meaning people diminish our efforts by speaking their truth
about us with unkind, disparaging words.
We crumble
under their criticism, ridicule and rejection. Their opinion matters to us,
even if we do not know them very well, or they do not know the real us at all.
We end up basing our identity on their assessment of who we are.
People come
and go in our life - some take us for granted and others rarely take the time
to know us for who we really are inside. They make snap judgments about us, and
we foolishly accept their opinion of our nature as truth.
God's Holy
Word is filled with His promises that help us to abolish Satan's lies, a
well-meaning person's insults, and our own feelings of inferiority and
insecurity. When Christ abides within us, we are no longer inadequate, insecure
or inferior.
God's
opinion of us is the only one that truly matters. In Christ, we are a new
creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We benefit from His redemptive work on Calvary's
cross, as well as His Spirit's sanctification of our soul (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Covered with
the armor of Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18), we withstand every onslaught from the
world, the devil and our flesh when they attempt to discourage us. We do not allow
these entities to nullify our commitment to God or to drain our energy to serve
the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2).
As we resist
these attempts to sidetrack our faith, we march ahead with the Army of God's
Saints in the miracle of our forgiven sins and in God's chosen path for us (Isaiah
44:24; Jeremiah 1:5).
We prove our
love for God by obeying His precepts (John 14:15) and following His will for
our life. His endless, steadfast, unconditional love victoriously sees us
through every moment of our day, regardless of our circumstances.
Prayer:
Father God,
as our faith in Your faithfulness increases over our lifetime of trials and
traumas, Your Spirit helps us to uncover and replace Satan's lies, as well as to
discover Your truth about who we are now and during the buried memories of our
past. Your truth withstands the winds of adversity we encounter, and You make
us more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39).
Your love
frees us from sin, and makes us: valued, good enough, affirmed, sealed by Your
Spirit, and so much more. We are Your workmanship, whom You created. We submit
to You as You do good works through us every moment of the day (Ephesians 2:10;
1 Corinthians 1:2). Teach us to construct our identity on Christ in us, rather
than on our accomplishments and good works. Give us the desire to live a
Christ-centered life rather than a selfish life based on our desires, dreams
and goals.
Thought for
the Day:
We are who
God says we are: His chosen children, His holy priesthood, His heirs with
Christ of His entire, eternal Kingdom; He enables us to walk by His Spirit's
direction each moment of the day, to enjoy the fellowship of His Son, and to
garner our power from our intimate relationship with Him.
