When we perform or create an art piece or play a sport, we want to hear: “You did well!” or “That looks awesome!” We want to know that someone important to us—a friend or family member—values what we have done, because that means they think highly of us.

While compliments like this are fleeting, we often seek and desire the affection and appreciation of others (this in itself is a good desire), but we can’t depend on these things for our identity and value. Then when we hear over and over, “You’re stupid,” it will have the same effect: we believe it.

And this will almost never happen so directly. For example, it could take the form of a dad who doesn’t show his daughter she is lovely—and out of this she develops self-destructive dating habits, seeking her identity in boys, when a relationship will never have the power to complete someone—only God can do that. The truth here is that God thinks she is lovely, and therefore she is!

Growing closer to God means knowing Him and knowing what He thinks about us. This is an opinion that is truer than all others and will always hold strong! Knowing the truth about ourselves will free us to do incredible things in Him!

Here are some more verses about God’s opinion of us:

• Colossians 3:12
• Galatians 3:26-27
• Psalm 138:8
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6
• Zephaniah 3:17
• Jeremiah 29:11

When we hear things like “I am a bad son/daughter” or “I won’t amount to anything”—in our own heads, from ourselves or from others or from our spiritual enemies—we need to claim what is true! Remind yourself the things you know to be true of yourself in Christ. Say aloud (or in your head): “I am a child of God. I am cherished by Him and I have a future and a hope in Him” (or any of the truths from this list or last week’s!) We can fight the enemy with truth! And the more we claim these things, the more we will embody this role and become like Jesus!

Really good news.

10:53 am  •  17 November 2011  •  67 notes

In order to do God’s work best, we need to understand how God views us. We often look to friends, family, television, media, etc. for our definition, and because of this many of us have a misunderstanding of ourselves. We cannot be defined by what others say about us, but by how God sees us. Which leads us to ask, “What is His opinion of us?”—this opinion is going to be the truth that can accurately define us.

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)

Free from what? In this case: self-loathing, depression, feelings of insecurity, a lack of faith to do God’s work, bondage and death in sin, and more.

Free to do what? To do God’s work, to love others, to live abundantly!

Look at these verses, and at what they say about who we are and how God views us:

• Psalm 139:13-18
• 1 Peter 2:9
• Ephesians 1:4-5
• Ephesians 2:6
• Ephesians 2:10
• Galatians 4:6-7
• John 15:15

This is exciting stuff! This wave of verses is probably enough to think about for now. I will post more soon in Part II.

12:31 pm  •  10 November 2011  •  85 notes