My question for you today is are you good at being you? Do you let your true identity shine? Are you real and authentic, not only with others but with yourself? Do you like who you are?

I sat down this morning to have my quiet time with the Lord and I was all prepared to spill out my heart and intercede for my family, myself and others like I do on most mornings. But, God had a different agenda for me. I heard Him say, “Just talk to me like you’re talking to your friend. I listen better.” I had to laugh. So, I began telling Him some things on my heart. After a couple minutes He stopped me and told me something that took me by surprise. He said, “I like you.”

“Huh? What do you mean, you like me?”

“I like you. And you need to learn to like yourself. Your children won’t learn to like themselves until you learn to like yourself. They need to know you like them and that you like yourself. They know you love them, but they need to know you like them.”

He went on to show me that all my negative thoughts are lies. People I have thought don’t like me, actually do like me. All the imaginary things I make up are just that, imaginary. My disappointment in and my dislike of myself are all based on lies.The people who really don’t like me, also don’t determine my worth. Their opinion doesn’t really matter. I am valuable because I belong to God.

All my life I have hidden behind huge walls I built to protect myself but those walls of protection became a prison. I had to be who others thought I should be, to please others and earn their approval. I became what I thought others wanted me to be. Yet, I knew what I was really like on the inside and I didn’t like what I saw. I was filled with shame and regret and anger because I couldn’t live up to some standard I thought God required of me. I knew I would never be good enough. EVER. But, that’s why Jesus came to earth and died on the cross. He knew I would never be able to do it on my own, and neither can anyone else, so He did it for us. The work is done and I don’t have to try to earn my way anymore. I can just be me. The real me. I can be honest with myself and with others.

Because of what Jesus did , it is OK for us to like ourselves. We need to because we can’t truly love others unless we love ourselves. Matt 22:39b says, “… Love your neighbor as yourself.” (NIV)  Jesus expected us to love ourselves so we could love others. You may be thinking, “But we are supposed to be humble and think of others more highly than ourselves.” Yes, we are to be humble and think of others, but being humble doesn’t mean we bash ourselves. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (NIV) When we dislike ourselves, we are disliking what God has made. God made each and every one of us; we are His work. And His works are wonderful, therefore we are wonderful.

I read this illustration somewhere. Suppose you were looking at a piece of artwork. What is more honoring to the artist who painted the picture, saying how awful the painting is or how wonderful it is? Of course, the artist is more honored when their work is praised. If we are God’s workmanship, then it is more honoring to our Father to admire what He has created, not tear it down.

Please hear me, our focus needs to be on Christ, not on ourselves at all. However, it isn’t honoring to God if we tear ourselves down. We can focus on Jesus and put others before ourselves. But, we can also like ourselves. And, it’s ok.

So today I am going to write out some verses to focus on and when I begin to tell myself that I am stupid, or ugly or a failure, I will instead praise God that I am His workmanship. I will thank Him that He has already done all the work for me. I will praise Him because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I will replace my lies with truth.

Will you join me?