As a man thinks lesson #2 part 2

What happens however is that when we stay in that state we are unwilling to do what God wants us to do!

As we said last lesson, we have to view ourselves as God views us! God sees not as a man sees! While we look in the mirror and emphasize the failures, weaknesses and lack of ability, God sees the inner strengths, the desires of the spirit and the life He can transform to His glory! When Jesus Christ met Peter he told him something and reminds us today as well: John 1:42-"You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas." Men see you as a little pebble or piece of a rock, I see you as something strong, the whole rock!

1. 1 Corinthians 12:22-24! God gives more honour to the parts of the body which lack it! God is not a parent who like so many, lavish more attention on praise to the child that "deserves" it more! The story of Jacob and the 12! He was partly to blame for the other children's hatred of Joseph. Story of a young boy I grew up with! He has lived his life in that same belief! God instead lavishes praise on the parts that are less visible! To overcome low self-esteem we must begin to accept who we are with our limitations! You see a lot of times when we say we are not worth much, what we are really saying is I'm not worth AS much! Limitations do not equal less worth! Fanny J.Crosby said, "I am the happiest soul living. If I had not been deprived of my sight, I would never have received so good an education, nor have been able to do good to so many people."(2) If you have been given 10 talents, 5 talents or 1 talent you are still worth quite a bit to the body of Christ!
2. Rev.3:8- God is aware of the good you do. Someone says "the elders or the preacher often compliment others but I never seem to get noticed" God notices! God does not only notice when you do what is wrong; He notices when you do right! To overcome low self-esteem we must begin to accept the fact that others are noticing our life and it's important to them! As you live this life, you think it is of no worth to people but you'll find someone, a spouse, kids, friends, a boss, a relative, a fellow church member and of course God above who is very interested in what you are doing!
3. 1 Cor.6:19,20- God paid for our redemption at a serious price! If anything should remind Christians how important they are in the world, it is the price that enabled them to be Christians! Though all other reasons fall, there is one reason to believe that your life is worth something, that its worth the effort to wake up and face the day, God paid for you! What price? Not money- Isa.52:3, but the blood of His Son! 1 Pet.1:18,19, Matt.20:28, Acts 20:28! To overcome low self-esteem we must accept the fact that God thought we were worth the shedding of His Son's precious blood!
4. Rom.8:28-30- God knew you before you were you and He had a plan for you! Does anything that I do mean anything? What difference do I make in the world? If I'm not the smartest or the best looking, or the best talker or the one publicly praised, am I worth anything? God says, "remember I'm leading you somewhere, and the people I want you to make an impact on, you'll make an impact on if you follow my Son"! Isaiah 64:8- I am the potter you are the clay! The point is, somehow and we don't have all the answers, but despite what all other voices might tell you, You make a difference! You have to believe that! William James the noted psychologist once said "believe that life is worth living, and your belief will create the fact."(3) Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23 To overcome low self-esteem, we have to believe that our life is one of Divine purpose and if I follow His call, it will be played out right to the end!

As we look into our mirrors and are reminded that we are the apples of God's eye. Despite whatever limitations we have, we must remember this: Jesus said if you are faithful over a little you are faithful in much!

(1) Taken from, Rosemary Whittle McKnight, I Love Me, I Love Me Not... a study of the Christian Woman's self-esteem (Rosemary Whittle McKnight , Montgomery, Alabama, 1984) p.2

(2) Leroy Brownlow, Better than Medicine a merry heart (Brownlow Publishing Company, Inc.: Fort Worth, Texas, 1967) p.23