Dare to Believe You Are God’s Treasure and of Great Value to God
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| I related to Sarah! |
It was sixth grade, and we were studying our new vocabulary words for a literature assignment. The next word was “homely.” As we were writing our new word, the definition, and a sentence for it, I overheard a girl say to the one next to her, “Sharon is homely, isn’t she?”
I had broken teeth from a bicycle accident, wild frizzy hair, glasses, and I didn’t have a clue about fashion or make up. I was already self conscious about my appearance just because of the uncertainty of that awkward age anyway, so the other factors against me didn’t help!
This was the year of Saturday Night Fever, and we used to pretend we were the Bee Gees and would sing and dance to their songs. I wanted to be Barry, but I looked more like Robin!
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| Would you believe that is me on the left? 🙂 |
All of the above spoke a message to me loud and clear that I am not pretty, popular, or valuable as a person. I struggled with my self-esteem throughout middle school and battled self-consciousness and loneliness. I thought I was weird or something, and certainly not as cool or normal as my peers. I was also the only girl who had not started my period yet and was still flat as a board, even into eighth grade. I got some teasing that was meant in good fun, but it solidified the message in my mind that there was something wrong with me.
Fast forward to high school and everything began to change. I began to blossom around tenth grade and set in motion a tremendous maturing process in my relationship with God. I became very passionate about Jesus at this time and drew close to a group of mature and Godly teens who were a positive influence on my life. I began to break out of that self-conscious shell I was hiding in and began to discover that I had worth and gifts given to me through Christ. God did a work on me first on the inside, but then the outside began to come together.
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One day while I was at my locker between classes, I overheard two guys talking. I was floored when I heard what they said! One said, “Sharon Seymour has really turned into a fox, hasn’t she?” Me?! The one who was homely in sixth grade? I couldn’t accept it, but hearing it helped to negate the earlier messages a bit that had hounded me as an awkward middle schooler. However, I was still battling those inner insecurities that continually repeated in my mind over and over again that I was nothing special or valuable. I was making progress, but it would be a very long journey of self-discovery and deprogramming to really grasp the truth of who I am in Christ.
You see, words can cut deeply. We have an enemy who wants nothing more than to steal from us and keep us bound in the prison of insecurity and worthlessness. He fills our minds with exaggerations and lies about ourselves, and the more we replay these messages, the more we become our thoughts. However, the antidote to this is to dwell on and internalize the truths about ourselves in God’s Word.
I have included a list of affirmations here that have really made a difference in how I see myself and therefore, how I live. Please use these “Power Thoughts for Women,” and see what a huge difference they can make in your life. Try it every day for thirty days in a row and see how you can train your thinking and learn to live in victory over insecurity. Truth is powerful!
When my kids were younger, if I ever caught them saying something mean or something that would tear each other down, they would have to say five things to encourage that one. For example, when Stephen called Natalie a troll, he would then have to say five nice things about her: “Natalie, you are pretty; you are good at soccer; you are a great reader; you are good at drawing; you are a princess.”
I was very strict about that rule because I did not want them to struggle with the same insecurities that had held me down. I think they grew up with much stronger self-images than I ever did, but I had learned that none of us are immune to Satan’s schemes. I believe everyone struggles at some time or another with the concept of their value, and are thusly held so far down below their potential. My hope is that my thoughts here can help someone step out of that shell and walk in the freedom and confidence that belongs to God’s beloved – us!
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| More Face in Hole fun to show my change in identity |
Answers to Today’s Questions… (from The Faith Dare, by Debbie Alsdorf)
Today’s truth is speaking to me…
I have struggled with insecurity all my life. I had internalized lies and created false messages about myself from misinterpretation of words and events throughout my childhood, and yes, even into adulthood. I have felt the sting of rejection and used it to create a belief that I am less than valuable. All of this is a tool of our enemy who uses these to keep us bound to a “les than” life. That is his job – to “steal, kill, and destroy.” However, we can be completely healed from these damaging thoughts and emotions by understanding what God’s Word says about us.
He says I am “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”
I am His child, and therefore a princess, true royalty.
I was created in His image. He formed my intricate parts and “made me in an amazing and wonderful way.” Psalms 139.
He planned me ahead of time and gave me a wonderful and very important purpose.
He values me. I am His treasure. He loves me. He placed a high value on me when He gave His life for mine.
I was created for his pleasure. God accepts me and is pleased with me!
For more truths about who you really are, read through these “Power Thoughts for Women.” Really internalize what God says about you and reject the lies that have made you believe you are less than who God says you are.
God is asking me to…
Intentionally meditate on the power truths He has given me on a daily basis, and begin to truly believe what he says about me.
Replace the insecurities and lies with these truths and no longer allow them creep back in.
Walk into my calling and destiny with confidence.
Help others discover their value in Christ.
Write about God’s love for us so others may also learn this valuable truth.
My challenge is to…
To shoot down these old mind sets and to allow myself to be solid in the knowledge of what God’s Word says about me.
To act like the child of God and woman of value and purpose that I truly am.
Today’s Prayer…(Debbie Alsdorf)
Lord, worth is an interesting thing. It is measured in many ways and measured differently by many people. Worth to you is measured in who you see when you look at me. You see the woman you created, and you see the death of Christ, which redeemed me and made me new. You see creation and you see re-creation. You see Christ and you see the cross. Help me to see me the way you see me, and in seeing the truth may I settle into my worth as your treasure.
Favorite Quotes…(from The Faith Dare, by Debbie Alsdorf)
“God, your God, chose you out of all the people on Earth for himself as a cherished, personal treasure.” Deut. 7:6 The Message
“As long as we are searching for significance and value in things other than our Creator, we will always be searching.”
“God values those whom He has made.”
W – wonderful worth
O – ordained for God’s purposes
M – managing life by faith
A – attitude of thanks and praise
N – nearer to God each day
“…We are his wonderful work, and He values us and has a design for our lives. From this starting point we build a life…”
“Tell yourself the truth: I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I am his, I am his treasure, I am his possession.”
“…Just as you are God’s treasure, so are they. What could you do today to express to them that they are valuable to you and to God?”
Great article! We are God's chosen, dearly loved and cherished. The enemy lies to us trying to get us to believe we are not good enough, not pretty enough, just not enough. But we are God's!
I LOVE Sarah, Plain and Tall!! 🙂
Thanks for linking up with Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday!
Wow thanks for this! I love it!
Wow! You hit the nail on the head when you talk about believing lies and living from that place. We are created in God's image, beautiful in every way and the enemy of our souls will do whatever he can to trip us up in our walk of faith. So glad you have stepped into the glorious light of God's favor and blessing and radiate HIM!