As a Christian, how can I develop a healthy self-image?
Image: Dundee Photographics / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
THE PROBLEM:
Very few people have an accurate and healthy view of themselves.
THE SYMPTOMS:
When you receive a compliment what do you do? Have you ever caught yourself thinking or saying something to cancel it out?
- “You wouldn’t say that if you really knew me.”
- “You just said that because you feel sorry for me.”
- “Wait until you know me better.”
- “My husband only tells me I’m beautiful to make me feel better. I wish he’d just tell me the truth.”
- “My wife says she’s proud of me but we both know better.”
- “It really wasn’t me who did it. It was the Lord.”
YOU MAY HAVE AN UNHEALTHY SELF-IMAGE IF…
- You don’t have a sense of humor.
- You avoid new ideas and experiences.
- You project an attitude of rigidity.
- You tend to lose it under stress.
- You hate talking to people especially strangers.
- You are uncomfortable giving and receiving compliments or affection.
THE CAUSES:
Your unhealthy self-image a result of TOXIC SELF-TALK. “Self-talk” is the way you talk to yourself about yourself. This internal almost unconscious conversation takes on different forms. FOR EXAMPLE: one person may focus on what she thinks others are thinking about her while another might concentrate on “I am” statements.
Your experiences as a child, and even as an adult, shape your self-talk. If your parents, teachers and friends said, “You’re worthless; you’re bad; you’ll never make it in life” then your adult self-talk tends to say, “I’m worthless; I’m bad; I’ll never make it.”
TOXIC SELF-TALK tears you down and negates all that God says about you. In other words, you’ve been lying to yourself about yourself.
GOD PROVIDES RESOURCES:
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (Romans 12:3)
Here’s the secret to having a healthy self-image: TELL YOURSELF THE TRUTH ABOUT YOURSELF.
Fill your mind with what God says about you.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)
The LORD said … “I have loved you with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
We are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Will you tell yourself the truth today?
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