A Christian quote on self-esteem:
“Sin is believing the lie that you are self-created, self-dependent and self-sustained.”
By Augustine
Self-esteem is how much value we place on ourselves. It is Being confident in your own worth or in your own ability. As a Christian, this might sound bad, and it can be bad if you do it in a wrong manner.
Self-confidence or self-esteem could be wrong if on the one hand we think too highly of ourselves or on the other hand too low of ourselves.
Everyone is three-dimensionally viewed:
- The view God Almighty has of us.
- The perception we have of ourselves.
- The opinions that other people hold concerning us.
All of these are important. In the order of priority, the way God sees us is the most important, followed by how we see ourselves and lastly the way people see us.
So, according to biblical definition of self-esteem, it is understanding that our worth is derived from being created in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 (ESV) – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
- God’s View of Us
From God’s divine vantage point, 1 Samuel 16:7b gives us a very accurate assessment:
The Lord does not observe people merely outwardly, as humans tend to do; rather, “Jehovah looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). TLB – “I don’t make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.”
The Lord “knows the hearts of the children of men” (1 Kings 8:39). As the godly Hannah acknowledged in her prayer: “Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3).
Similarly, Christ once affirmed that he did not need to be educated regarding the inner workings of the human personality, because he himself “knew what was in man” (John 2:25).
If some of the world’s “beautiful people” were turned inside out, and revealed as God sees them, how distorted they might appear.
- The perception we have of ourselves
Many times, we decide how we feel about ourselves by comparing ourselves to others or listening to what others say about us, but the truth is that not one bit of our self-worth should depend on how others accept or view who we are. Whenever we find ourselves continually trying to prove our worth to anyone, then we have already forgotten our value.
Questions to ask ourselves are: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? These are familiar questions in our day and age. But has our search for answers led us too far from the true biblical position of self? The last 15 years has seen the rise of a powerful and influential movement within the church. Easily identified by labels such as “self-image”, “self-esteem”, “self-worth”, and “self-love”, this movement has one common denominator–the emphasis on self.
Our value does not decrease because someone does not value who we are. Our value does not increase because of what others think about you. Our self-esteem comes from acknowledging our identity in Christ. You must find your value in who God says you are. The truth is We truly see ourselves as valuable when we see ourselves through the lens of God!
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) tells us “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
As part of my personal growth and spiritual maturation, I have come to understand the battles we face and how believers act, react and respond to the fight. You see, most battles begin in the battlefield of the mind.
If there is an area of vulnerability in most of us, it is in the mind. The devil’s agenda is to attack our thought processes with fear doubt, wrong environmental programming, fine sounding arguments, wandering unfocused and distracting thoughts, self-condemnation also known imposter syndrome, questioning God’s faithfulness which leads to worry, confusion, anxiety, stress, and even depression. Two verses to meditate on to fill your mind with are shared below;
–Hebrews 13:5 tells us “…for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” – (AMP)
–Isaiah 43:2 says “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins. I repent of my sins. Lord Jesus come into my life and be my Lord now and forever in Jesus Name“
Prayer: Every dark spirit ministering low self esteem thoughts in my mind, I bind you and cast you out now, in Jesus Name
Feast of Light Word Ministry
