Self-Esteem: A Healthy You
Self-Esteem is how each individual values there self. Poor
self-esteem (condemning feelings about you) are weights that keep believers
under condemnation and cause them to be less than what God intends. Believers
are to fight the feelings of inferiority.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles. And let us rub with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
–Hebrews 12:1
Proper Self-esteem in a follower of Christ is a matter of
recognizing and confronting yourself in your humanity, including the tendency of
sin, “going astray”.
“For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have
returned to the Shepherded the Overseer of your souls.”- 1 Peter 2:25
It is also a matter of embracing Jesus’ work on the
cross-His grace that covers a multitude of sins. The process of comprehending
God’s infinite care for the individual-each with unique strengths and
weaknesses- puts a perspective of self-esteem.
Psalm 139 expresses the wonder of being uniquely created by
God and the intimate care of His
presence at all times, Jesus tenderly described His love for His children.
“Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you
will eat, what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not
life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26. Look at the birds in
the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27. Can one of you
by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28. And why do you worry about the
clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor and spin. 29.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon, in his entire splendor, was dressed like
one of these. 30. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is
here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe
you-you of little faith? 31. So do not worry saying ‘what shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32. For the pagans run after
all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33. But
seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given
to you as well. 34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:25-34
Ways to a healthy self esteem include:
· Recognize the need of a Savior[Isa 53:6]
·
Accept being “in the One he loves” [Eph 1:6 Rom
8:1]
·
Move forward in God’s plan for your life[Php
3:13-14]
·
Have a realistic view of yourself[Rom 12:3]
·
Avoid comparison to others [2Co 10:12]
A person with healthy self-esteem is marked
by these characteristics:
·
Resting on ownership of God[1Co 3:16]
·
Submitting being the “handiwork” of God[Eph
2:10]
·
Appreciating the differences of others[1Co
12:1-31
·
Willingness to take risks, steps of faith[Est
4:13-16]
·
Forging good relationships with others[Ru
1:16-17]
God does not evaluate human worth as we do.
He looks to our heart within, while we tend to look only on the outer frame.
The heart of a healthy self-esteem is recognizing that “self” must be seen as
created for God’s glory. We must be willing to change weakness into strength
when possible- and when it’s not possible, we are to look for opportunities for
God to be glorified even in our failures and suffering. God does not make mistakes
and He is never finished working in us as He continues to refine and edify,
Helping each woman reach her maximum potential. Negatives can be changed into
positives, and tragedies into triumphs with the saviors touch. He made you
worth dying for.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to
His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffers a little while, will
Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” -1 Peter 5:10
