Let God Affirm Your Worth!
Each time you look in the mirror - any mirror - be grateful for what you see: an individual created in the image and likeness of God, redeemed at a very high cost by Christ, provided with talents and gifts by the Holy Spirit, enabling you to have a significant impact in the world! Don’t let Satan tell you anything differently. Be sure to act in light of your true identity!
The Bible warns against those who think too highly of themselves. It is also not in favor of those who deprecate themselves either, by thinking too little of who they are. Remember, you cannot glorify the Creator by insulting His creatures, even if it is your own self.
So, a balance needs to be observed: you cannot exalt yourself nor debase your own person. You simply need to follow God’s guidelines for living, do the best you can, under His guidance, and wait on Him to provide the only valid verdict.
Not to be forgotten is that we all have our moments of doubt - those occasional crises of insecurity. But it is then when God sends us new affirmations of our value, that we are eternally special to Him, and that His plan and purpose for our life is still unfolding at His own pace, even if sometimes unnoticeable to us.
In the words of author Lisa Engelhardt, “You are constantly becoming. Honor all that you have been, all that you are, and all that you will be.” And the latter will be real and meaningful only to the extent that you allow God Himself to do the necessary surgeries and re-shaping to bring you into what you can truly be!
Sometimes I have my low moments, not knowing if my efforts are leading anywhere, not fully conscious if I am making a positive contribution to society and for the Kingdom of God. I know myself to be an “unprofitable servant.”
But long before those thoughts are fully crystallized in my imagination, God Himself sends His comfort and re-affirmation, via several of His agents whose lives I may have positively touched.
Just recently, while traversing some low, emotional valleys, a friend in California alluded to some writings of mine, which had touched him in some vital ways. Former parishioners who moved to Tennessee phone me often just to thank me for things I did or said, which have made a world of difference in their own lives, besides my continual availability to them in spite of distance. Through letters, cards, phone calls, e-mails, visits, and other face-to-face encounters, many others, from near and far, voluntarily share their thoughts which re-ignite my sense of not laboring in vain, on account of what my efforts did on their behalf!
Most of all, God Himself leads my sights away from gloom, into concrete situations where my meager attempts have made a significant difference in other persons. And that is my main desire in life, since each new day my first prayer to the Almighty is that I may be a blessing in other people’s lives, as a true representative of Christ on earth.
Being where God has put us, and doing what He expects from us is what counts most in life, ensuring His affirmative verdict, no matter what others may think or say.
November 26th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
wow, powerful, quality material as always dear dr. i just left a time with 2 different people who need to read this & i will pass it on to them for there own source of encouragement.
thank you for your candid, real talk. your triumph & tragedy through the adventure of life lends a perspective that i shall always treasure.
far to often i look to people for affirmation when i should only look to Christ, for i am a child of God.
always becoming,
ja
November 27th, 2006 at 10:45 am
Dear Dr. Lyra,
As usual your words are very poignant and timely. I have recently left a mega-church where the focus is on a man rather than Christ. It is easy to think about being on the lookout for the evils of man, but often one doesn’t expect to find them in their own church. These evils of pride and arrogance often squash the well meaning follower of Christ disguised as the “ministry of the church�, when in reality they are the “ministry of a man�, who is often driven by pride.
The key phase in your commentary is “no matter what others say�. This is very important and being able to distinguish right from wrong is sometimes difficult inside the church. One should always be prepared to follow the truths God has instilled in one’s heart, even if it means going against the mainstream.
Thanks