[Disclaimer.... I wrote this for a dorm devotional a while back and I thought it would be good for people to read it outside of that dorm devotional. If you're a christian, please read it and tell me what you think. Give me comments. If you're not a christian, please do the same. Read it and give me comments. Hope to hear feedback soon. It's my prayer that this is a blessing to someone out there. Also, all the scriptures I include are from the English Standard Version. Much Love, SBK]
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Self Image
Do you like the person you see in the mirror? You should. After all, the person in the mirror is a very special person, who is made and loved by God. And God precicely knew what He was doing when he gave you a unique set of talents and opportunities. Now, it's up to you to discover what those talents are and to use them, but sometimes the world will encourage otherwise. At times, society will attempt to force you into a particular, performed mold. Yet God may have other plans in store for you.
The world will attemtp to define you- how you should look, how you should act, and how you should think. And because you're an imperfect human being, you may become so wrapped up in meeting the world's expectiations that you fail to focus on God's expectations He has for you. To do so is a mistake of major proportions. Instead of trying to please the world, try to please God by becoming the very best 'you' that you can be.
Thousands of books have been written about ways to improve self-esteem, yet maintaining a healthy self-image is, to a surprising extent, the matter of doing three things: 1. Obeying God, 2. Thinking healthy thoughts, 3. Finding a purpose for your life that pleases your Creator and yourself.
The following ideas can help you build the kind of self-image and the kind of life that both you and God will be proud of:
1. Behave yourself. If you're not behaving yourself, how can you possibly expect to feel good about yourself? 1 Peter 3:12 says, "For the eyese of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
2. Guard your thoughts and guard your heart. Eventhough you can't control every thought, you can usually control the direction of your thoughts. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
3. Spend time with people who are upbeat, enthusiastic and encouraging. If you and your friends always seem to end up in 'the critics corner', it's time to find new friends... and a new corner! James 4:11 says, "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."
4. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you're willing to firgive other people's mistakes, then you should be willing to forgive your own mistakes, as well. Romans 14:22 says, "The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves."
5. Find something you're passionate about. Become so wrapped up in something that you don't have time to worry about self-esteem. Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men,..."
6. Beware of addictions. Addictions of whatever type lead to misery, grief and low self-esteem. Exodus 20:3 says, "You shall have no other gods before me."
7. Finally, here's a word of caution. Don't spend too much time focused on self-esteem. Instead, you should focus on using your talents and pleasing your God. You should learn to direct your thoughts in positive ways. You should learn to find something to do and someone to love. When you accomplish these things, your self esteem will, on myst days, take care of itself.
Additional Bible Readings:
Ephesians 2:10- "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Psalm 139:13-14- "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wondefully made."
Psalm 8:5- "Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned him over with glory and Honor."
Phillipians 1:6- "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to chopelation at the day of Jesus Christ."
Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6- "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. [...] In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or wheter both alike will be good."
2 Timothy 1:6- "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,..."
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