How often do you get complimented throughout your day or week? Or how many times do you recognize a strength you have or a personally trait that you like within yourself?
Okay, now seriously think about this, how often do you take those compliments or positive thoughts and down play them or even dismiss them?
……..Have you thought about that or can you recall a time when you’ve done that?
What would happen if instead of writing it off and rationalizing why that compliment is not actually true, or correcting yourself for thinking so highly of well, yourself, you actually took a minute to recognize those strengths, traits, or characteristics as truth and even embraced them?
It would rock your world, that’s what would happen.
God says very early on in His word that He created YOU in His image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:27) and that’s pretty incredible. Now I understand that some of you may not get the significance behind being created in His image, I’m still learning too, but know that you are incredible, and you were created that way. That’s a fact. And He wants us to like ourselves (Luke 10:27).
In every inch of you there is intricate detail and a uniqueness that prevents you from being like anyone else. Not to mention that every single one of your experiences and the way you perceive them and the world around you ultimately affects who you are too, and I’m pretty confident that no two people think about or see things exactly the same way. We were built and created as individuals, and that’s a beautiful thing.
I heard it put this way once, if your thoughts about yourself were a person, you probably would have stopped talking to that person a long time ago.
So, decide to take a stand today. Decide to purposefully recognize your true value and call out those lies that you’ve allowed yourself to believe for so long, even if that means waking up every morning and thanking God for the very things that you see in yourself as flawed. Force yourself to see them as good!
Something I’ve done and still do in order to combat the lies in my thoughts is literally admit that they’re what I’m thinking, and usually to a close friend, then speak truth to combat that lie and it makes a tremendous difference. For example, something I do not like about myself is that sometimes I stumble over my words when I speak and part of the reason is because I get nervous and worry that what I have to say is not important and that it probably doesn’t make sense. Not to mention that sometimes I spit when I talk (sorry for those of you who have experienced that) so I get incredibly self-conscious and then just want to shut down all together. So, to combat that I’ve thanked God out loud and said something like this, “Father, I thank you for the sound mind that you’ve given me and I thank you that I matter and that I am intelligent and that what I say matters too. You have not given me a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I also have tried to remind myself that life is not an emergency so I can slow down when I speak which helps prevent that awkward saliva issue.
In summary, the choice is really yours. Choose today, and every day, to not take the abusive thoughts you think about yourself, about your intelligence, the kind of person you are (gentle, caring, etc.), your capabilities, or whatever it may be. Choose to stop assuming that others are thinking negative thoughts about you or that they do not really mean the compliments they pay you. Face those things head on and call them out for the lies that they are. Ask God to show you the truth about who you are and how He see’s you, then do whatever it takes to change your thought patterns which will change the way you see yourself. Do that long enough and you’ll be walking around filled with joy and the freedom to love yourself and others. The more free you are to receive love the more freedom you will have to give love. 😉
So make the choice to see the good because you are worth it and it’s your time for freedom.
Oh and the video below is to help you get started <3
Can you relate to this post at all? Have you gained victory in this area? If so, please share praise reports below! It can be a column of joyful praise and truth! 🙂
