You Are Special

You truly are special, but do you believe it? When you looked in the mirror this morning , did you notice a new wrinkle and dark circles under your eyes or did you say aloud , "WOW! I am beautiful ! " If you are anything like me , you probably groaned and went to work to make yourself a little more "presentable": curling your hair, applying makeup and vowing to start your diet today . Sometimes it's easier to tell a friend,you are special ," than to say it to ourselves. But God wants us to see us the way He see us-as the most beautiful creation He made! "You are precious in My eyes and honored, and I.. . love you," declares the Lord! (Isaiah 43:4) . Say aloud: "I am special." Say it again with an exclamation point!


1. I am created in God's image.
There are no two people exactly like me . God created all things, and all things were very good including YOU . You are fearfully and wonderfully made, knitted by hand by the Master Creator himself ! Delight in His masterpiece !


2. God loves ME.
Of course you know that! But do you sometimes feel that or wonder if God really has you personally in mind? After all, He has created more than several billion people through the centuries. Could He possibly love little me with all my faults and sins? Feast on God's Word when you wonder if God really loves you. He'll tell you over and over again how much. Recently, I noticed something new as I read I John 3:1: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! What I noticed for the first time were the exclamation points! This is something that John wanted to shout from the rooftops! God loves us so much because we are His own dear children! He knows ME. He loves ME! He knows I'm not perfect,that I sin and fall short of His expectations, but He loved me so much He sent His own dear Son to this world to show me just how much! Think of the familiar John 3:16 verse: For God so loved the world... Replace "the world"that big, abstract thing with your own name. God so loved ME. Claim His love for you today. Look up and read out a favorite Bible verse that speaks directly to your heart, reminding you of God's great love for you. Here are some of my favorites: Jeremiah 31:3, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 46:1, Jeremiah 15:16, John 14:27, Romans 8:28. Write out several others and place His loving promises all around you: tape them to your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator door, your computer screen at work. Remind yourself daily that God loves you and rejoice!


3. You count! You are talented! You are average!
Now that you are reminded that God created you, that He loves you , do you know that you have special gifts? You may think you're average when you compare yourself to others who sing better, lead with more confidence or socialize effortlessly with everyone. Should we not compare ourselves with others? Well, no and yes. No, if we are putting ourselves below others in a way that makes us feel like we got "short-changed" when God was passing out talents. We may sometimes wish God had given us naturally curly hair or singing talents like Sally in our church choir who seems to be just perfect. But be careful. Paul warns us not to allow our differences to divide the church, to compare ourselves with each other in a way that exalts too high or diminishes too low one another's unique appointments in God's kingdom (I Corinthians 12:12-31). God has given each of us our own unique set of gifts to expand His kingdom.If we put ourselves or others down,we are putting down the
very thing God created and sees as beautiful and purposeful. If we give glory to our-selves, we display sinful pride. When we recognize our talents and appreciate those gifts as coming from God rather than our own merit, with confidence we can rejoice. When is it ok to compare ourselves to others? When we can look at another person's gifts with praise to God. For example, we can say,"Praise God that He gifted Sally with a beautiful voice. Her music lifts my soul!" When we rejoice with each other, rather than compare what we have or don't have that others do, we can have so much fun spreading God's love to others! That's what unity in one body means.


4.You are joyful!
When you look at all God has done for you and all He's given you,can you help but smile? Sometimes, it's hard to feel the joy we know we should have. I have always loved the song, "A Few of My Favorite Things," from the musical, "Sound of Music." When I'm feeling sad,remembering a few of my favorite things can make all the difference. I have a Thanks giving Jar on my kitchen table where I write out blessings as I receive them from the Lord. Every now and then, I pull out some of the slips to remind me to laugh and give praise.


5. I can be all I can be!
Even after an inventory of all our gifts and blessings, we still can't ignore those things in our lives that need improvement. Do you know the Serenity Prayer? "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Recognizing our faults and shortcomings is just as important as recognizing our gifts. But rather than allow those things to defeat or discourage us, turn them into positives. Either accept them, or change them and move on. If you really want to change a habit, rather than throw up your arms and say, "I can never change,"tell yourself that you can.


6. I am my own friend!
If you're single, you've learned this one well. You know that if you want to be happy, you have to do it yourself. Sure, it would be nice to have someone to come home to and eat dinner with, but rather than cry in your soup, you either make a new recipe or calla friend. If l have learned anything about being single, I have learned to be my own friend and to buy my own yellow roses. That doesn't mean I don't need or want to be around other people.Rather, it means, learning to enjoy my time alone and be content with God. Even in our busy families, wives need to learn to be.


7. I am a blessing to others!
When we help others, we often help ourselves, too. l am a gift-giver. I have more fun sometimes choosing the perfect gift for someone and watching them open it than I do receiving gifts. When those gifts are appreciated and have made a difference to that person,I am elated. Gifts do not have to be purchased. Kind words,compliments, an offer to baby sit, a meal delivered to a grieving family, a letter, a phone call, a personal visit, a prayer, a hug are all gifts that not only bless the person we love, but also boomerang right back to us. Can you recall a time when you were filled with new joy after receiving an unexpected "gift" from a friend at just the right time? Give someone you know that gift.


8. Personal Prayer
As you take the time to love yourself and rejoice with God for making you the wonderful person that you are, remember to include God in each step of the process with faithful prayer and petitions.Ask God to forgive your sinful pride, for the times you've put yourself down unfairly or thought of yourself too highly. Ask Him to show you how to see yourself the way He sees you, to learn to be humble while appreciating the glorious gifts of His creation. Ask Him to help you in your personal struggles of self-worth and ask Him to help you help others.

And finally, praise Him with exclamation points! You are a child
of God! A member of His royal Kingdom! You really are special!


Taken from The Lutheran Woman's Quarterly


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