Around this time of year we celebrate Valentine’s Day and people’s thoughts often turn to love.
But I want to talk to you about one kind of love that doesn’t come up very often, and that is loving yourself.
I don’t mean that you should have an inflated ego. But most of the time I don’t see people with overly inflated egos, loving themselves too much. Instead I see people, even Christians, who are struggling with their self-worth, not believing that they are valuable and precious to God.
Don’t Believe the Lie
Matthew 22:39 NIV says, Love your neighbor as yourself. But how can you love your neighbor until you have completed the process of loving yourself?
Too many of us are suffering from a low self-esteem when we don’t have to. If satan is trying to put low self-esteem on you, don’t accept the package! The Bible says, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).
You can begin to love yourself when you realize that God has made you a brand new creation, and He has created you in His own image. You are a reflection of Him!
Not only that, but you are worth the price that Jesus paid for you on the Cross. God sent His only Son as a ransom for you, and that makes you very valuable. You are God’s prize, His treasure. He paid no higher price for anything than He paid for you.
If you’ve struggled with self-esteem, it’s time to stop believing the lie that you’re inferior or worthless. As the body of Christ, we’ve learned to refute the lie that we have to be sick or that we have to be poor. So let’s refute the lie that we are worthless. You are so valuable to God that He sent His Son to buy you back from the hands of the enemy!
Forgive Yourself
Sometimes there’s unforgiveness blocking you from realizing your value and loving yourself. Often it’s easier to forgive someone who has done you wrong than it is to forgive yourself.
But I pray for God to release you today and for forgiveness to begin with you. Whatever you’ve done, or whatever has happened, ask God for forgiveness and release yourself from it.
First John 1:9 NKJV says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Receive God’s forgiveness and then say, “God, I forgive me. I plead the blood of Jesus and I release myself.” Let yourself go free and let the cleansing blood of Jesus work in you and wash away your sin.
You Are a Child of God
The Bible says that we are to believe the report of the Lord (Isaiah 53:1). Don’t listen to the report of the devil (or someone who’s acting like the devil!) that says you aren’t worth anything, you’ve done everything wrong, or you’ll never amount to much. That’s a lie, because it’s not what the Bible says about you.
The Bible says you’re the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). It says you have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). You are a highly esteemed child of God! Put your head up, square your shoulders, and start seeing yourself through His eyes!
Now join your faith with mine and let the love of God come into your heart as I pray for you :
In the name of Jesus, I strip off the words and piercing arrows that have wounded your self-image. I pull those hurts out of your soul and your spirit, and I command satan to release you. I ask God to infuse you with His presence and cause you to see yourself the way He sees you, as His valuable and precious child! Amen.
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