How do you see yourself? Do you believe you are valuable and worthy of love? I have been asking myself things this past month, especially after the weight gain I have had with all the medicines I am on. I found I had built my self esteem on what others told me, or what the Media said I should look like. It’s kind of a self defeating prophecy. The more you try, the worse you feel.
I think it’s the Devil’s trap myself. Yeah, ” Let’s get them to hate themselves and then they will never learn to love God, or people, or themselves. Then they will wake up every day thinking negative thoughts. Sounds like a plan…It’s taken me over 50 years to kick that Devil and his thoughts out of my head! And I am still attacked in my thoughts. I wanted a way to change the thoughts in my head – they were not helping me.
Self esteem, as the Mayo Clinic describes it is:
Self-esteem is your overall opinion of yourself — how you feel about your abilities and limitations. When you have healthy self-esteem, you feel good about yourself and see yourself as deserving the respect of others. When you have low self-esteem, you put little value on your opinions and ideas.
I want to base my self esteem not on me, not on negative thoughts, not on what other people say, not what the Devil says, but on what God says about me. I had to ( and still do) rewrite the script in my head! I was putting more value on what other people said, and not enough value on what God said. I mean, I read the Bible and know these verses, but there is a big difference when you actually use it to change your thoughts.
These are the verses from God that have helped me to boost my self esteem and change my thoughts.
You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. (Song of Solomon 4:7 NLT)
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP)
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. (Ephesians 2:10 AMP)
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12 NKJV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) AMP)
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles,
expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe
yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the
unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to
God. (1Peter 3:3-4 NLT)
‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;
I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’(Isaiah 41:10AMP)
For You formed my innermost parts;
You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was being formed in secret,
And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were appointed for me,
When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape]. (Psalm 139:13-16AMP)
I still have the 3×5 index cards I wrote to myself to reprogram my thoughts. I would carry them in my purse everywhere I went. When I had a moment I would get them out and read them, especially out loud. Yeah, this was way before my iPhone! I have to share that this was the only way that helped me change my thoughts and boost my self esteem. God’s word cuts through the negative and replaces it with positive. Try it for yourself and enjoy your transformation!
