“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Ps 139:14 (NLT)
LOVE SERIES – PART 7
I don’t often say to myself “I am fearfully and wonderfully made… and my soul knows it good and proper!” Loving myself has been a challenge through different seasons and moments of my life.
I have found over the years that the tension between arrogance and self-confidence has been somewhat skewed, and many today replace boldness for self-righteousness, confidence for arrogance, and a healthy self esteem with a hunger for winning. On the flip side, low self esteem and a desperate lack of confidence are on the rise. Both perspectives come from not knowing your true value and who holds it for you. We strive for perfection, performance, reputation, popularity, comedy, acceptability and more, thinking that they are the gauge and setter of our worth.
But our value is not generated by us or anything we do, there is nothing we can do to increase it or devalue it… Our worth is founded in Jesus Christ, and is held in place by Father God – the author of our lives. It is not based on our performance, on our achievements, or on our popularity… or lack there of.
There is no need for either arrogance or self loathing – both misunderstand that our value is generated by God the Father, who made us marvellously and wonderfully…
When we understand where our true value is generated from, it gives us the freedom to humbly be ourselves, and to humbly but confidently LOVE who we are… Free from the labels and words spoken over us by others, free from the pressure of perfection and performance, free from having to measure up to someone’s idea of success.
One of my favourite quotes is by EE Cummings who says “It takes courage to grow up and become you really are.” But I challenge you today to step out in faith and courage and learn to see yourself the way Christ sees you and to LOVE who you are.
You are here on purpose, for a purpose… You are valued and loved, so don’t allow yourself to be pumped up with pride or shrunken down by low self-esteem. You are free to be you and to LOVE and enjoy who you are.
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