The Real Remedy to Low Self-Esteem

Accepting God's Design
Chapter 3 -- Pages 68-73

Many people try to tell us that we need to "love ourselves," and that will solve all our problems. The problem is that we already do love ourselves. That comes naturally. What often appears as a lack of self-love is actually a faulty view of God and our value to Him. We need to learn to receive God's love so His love can fill us and then overflow to others.

8. The lie: I need to learn to love myself.

The Truth: By faith, I need to receive God's love for me.

Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

The Truth: I already love myself. I need to deny myself and let God love others through me.

Matthew 16:24-26, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?'"

Another lie is found in this phrase that sometimes spills out of our mouths without even a thought, "I can't help the way I am." We have built a nation full of victims -- whenever someone does something wrong, it's usually someone else's fault.

While it's true that our circumstances do shape us, we are responsible for the choices we make. As Christians, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the power to obey God.

9. The lie: I can't help the way I am.

The Truth: If I am a child of God, I can choose to obey God.

The Truth: I am responsible for my own choices.

Joshua 24:15,"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

The Truth: I can be changed through the power of God's Spirit.

Philippians 2:13, "...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

A Final Thought

God pursued a relationship with you and me when we were estranged from Him. Apart from the Lord, there is no good thing in us; yet, He did not give up on us. He loves with an unconditional love and proved it by sending His Son to die for our sins. Jesus paid the penalty and died in our place -- and He did nothing wrong!

How can we respond to such a love as this? By offering ourselves to Him.

Lord, have Your way with me. Mold me and make me into what pleases you. I offer myself to you. Change me into the image of Christ. Amen.