How do you see yourself?
How does God see you?
Are the answers to those two questions the same?
For many years after I became a Christian, I operated under a false sense of who I really was. I had no idea the change that occurred in me the moment I accepted Christ. I did not see myself as God saw me and had no idea His truth was different from my perception of it. It was like I had a grid system or a sieve of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy over my mind. When I processed information about my circumstances or myself, it had to first filter it through that negative grid system.
It wasn’t until my mid-thirties that I began to realize that how God saw me and how I saw myself were very different. Like a hungry child, I began to research and write down verses about who I really was in Christ – my new identity as a child of God. Here’s a bit of what I learned and if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then this is also true about you:
I am the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13
I am the light of the world. Matthews 5:14
I am valuable to God. Matthew 6:26
I am indwelled by Christ. His Spirit lives in me. John 14:20
I am Christ’s friend. John 15:15
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to go and bear fruit. John 15:16
I am a child of God and a co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17
I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37
I am accepted by Christ. Romans 15:7
I have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
I am a temple of God. I Corinthians 3:16
I am washed, justified, and sanctified through Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11
I also learned that it was Satan who held that negative self perception in place and told me lies. He knows exactly who we are in Christ, but if he can keep us from believing it, then he’s won. Let’s don’t let him.
I came to a crossroads in my spiritual journey. One that we all need to come to, maybe today. I could continue believing the lies or I could begin believing the truth. I decided to believe the truth.
It was difficult and uncomfortable at first. Like the lame woman who regains the movement of her legs, or a blind man who receives his sight, I had to adjust to my new belief system. A bit wobbly. Somewhat blurry.
Oh, my friend, God has so much planned for us to do and to be, but if we are operating with a false sense of who we really are, we may be paralyzed by feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy.
On Jesus’ first day of public ministry, He walked down to the Jordan river and was baptized by His cousin, John. As Jesus came up out of the water, a voice spoke from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). That is the same thing God says to you…and to me.
“You are my child…whom I love…with you I am well pleased.”
You and I are exactly who God says we are. It’s simply up to us to believe it.
Dear LORD, I have believed the enemy far too long. I have seen myself as not good enough, not smart enough, not spiritual enough. But today, I am going to start replacing those lies with Your truth! I am a child of God – a new creation – empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells in me! In Jesus powerful Name, Amen
Go back and look at the list of your identity in Christ listed above. Which one of those means the most to you? I’d also love to hear why you chose that one! Just click on comment below and share.
Digging Deeper
Changing the way you think is a process. In my book, Enough: Silencing the Lies that Steal Your Confidence, you’ll learn how to:
- Silence the voice inside that whispers you’re not good enough
- Accept God’s grace and move past failures that have defined and confined you
- Preload your heart with truth to fight your deepest insecurities.
For a complete list of your true identity
in Christ, check out my laminated card filled front and back with affirmations of how God sees you!
Comments 28
So much truth. Help us Lord Jesus see ourselves as you see us in Jesus mighty name. Thank you Lord
So much truth. Help us Lord Jesus see ourselves as you see us in Jesus mighty name. Thank you Lord.
I am accepted by Christ- Romans 15:7. is the one that means the most, because I don’t have to put up a front, He accepts me for who I am.
Chosen♥️
Thank you for your beautiful devotional and I am more than a conqueror through Christ.
I wish I could believe that “”I’m valuable to God “
You are valuable to Christ. I pray that you will see yourself as Christ sees you. You are so special to Him.
You are most valuable to God, Connie. Read Psalm 139:13-16 everyday in the Voice or Message versions of the Bible. He is clearly nuts about you. Read it every day even when you don’t feel like it and let it seep into your spirit!
Keep trusting Him He says the Holy Spirit does a work on the inside of us to bring us to the places we need to go including belief in whose we r and what we r, so r one job is to follow n cooperate with Him, never forget you have a real enemy who doesn’t want u to believe let alone know who you R!! You are not alone in this battle stay connected and honest and real always truth is your key to the helper always b in it you are loved more than you could ever know and FYI noone has it all down!!! I will b praying for you!! Keep seeking knocking asking never stop the world needs what you have, what He put in You!! There is only one you!!! Love and Blessings your sister in Christ Gina M
I choose to believe them all they are all my favorite because I am in Christ Jesus my Lord and as He is in this world so am I. I would like to have your book. Thank you.
I am washed, justified, and sanctified through Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11
I struggle with believing this for me…
I know God answers prayer but not feeling worthy of my prayers being answered…
Thank you Sharon for this 💕
He calls us saints because of Him because of what He did for us and He chose you because He Lives you and knows what He put in you for His purposes and glory, so really it’s all about Him and we don’t ever have to question are worth because it’s all in Him! I struggle as well but Holy Spirit helps me when I’m not thinking right thoughts I say Holy Spirit shit off the lies what is the truth He answers also the Word speaking it aloud reading it that’s what helps renew your mind whether u understand it or not there is a reason it is active and alive like a two edge sword cutting down to the marrow n sinuows forgive my spelling so keep going b encouraged every day in the Word and stay connected , he says in Revelations in the last days we have to stay connected with the body cuz you can’t see what’s on your back anymore than I can see what’s on mine we are meant to be there for each other so God bless you and I’ll be praying for you and pray for me please I too struggle but the Lord is winning and you can have that too!!
In Christ your sister Gina
I am accepted by Christ, means themost to me. All my life i wasn’t accepted by family, people I trusted, so called friends. I had poor vision of who I was. Because of that I didn’t like myself very much. I’m 67 years old now, and it took me until now to believe that God, the creator of everyone and everything loves me. I thought He didn’t. But once I stopped identifying Him like people I realized that His love was what I’ve been looking for all along. Therefore, I can believe that I am what He says I’m am and it doesn’t matter what the enemy says.
Kim, I’m 68 and I’m right there with you, just realizing who I really am in Christ & friends are not really friends.
I am Christ’s friend. It took me a while to realize I don’t have to pray with flowery phrases or big words. He sees my heart, my intent and he’s my friend. Because of that, I talk to Him the way I would my best friend. I talk to him all day, about everything! He truly is my very best friend!!
John 15:16 is exactly what I needed to claim today over my life! God is so good and he has used you many times to speak right to me . Thank you lord,and God you !
I am valuable to God. Matthew 6:26
I am the light of the world. Matthews 5:14
Because my children see me and through me, God shines the most. I want the world to see God through me, not seeing me for who I am. Becasue who I am in this world is nothing. But through God I am whole and loved.
Sharon
Thank you so much for this message today! This is exactly what I am struggling with!
The scripture that means the most to me today is:
“I am accepted by Christ” Rom 15-7
I chose this scripture because I allow Satan to whisper the lies that I am not worthy enough, that I can’t measure up, that I have to be perfect in all things to get God’s approval!
I am so grateful to finally learn that
God “accepts me just as I am!”
I am a child of God Romans 8:17
I have had to tell myself that many times over the years because I did not feel I lived up to being the child of my earthly parents.
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to go and bear fruit.
To be chosen by God is powerful. It gives me the confidence to live for him and make a difference.
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to go and bear fruit.
To be chosen by God is powerful. It gives me the confidence to live for him and make a difference.
“You are my child…whom I love…with you I am well pleased.”
This is a treasure to me. I just lost my mom and I was never shown love let alone she was pleased by me. Very sad and this has invaded my life to a degree I never realized until she passed away.
I am accepted by Christ. Romans 5:7
This means so much to me because, thru bad decisions, I am not living as He would have me live. His love means the world to me!
I claim the text-I am chosen and appointed by Christ to go and bear fruit. John 15:16. As I begin my walk as an administrator, this text reminds me that I have a purpose and I need not be afraid of what the future brings. I am chosen and appointed.
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to go and bear fruit. John 15:16
I know God has chosen me to lead others to Him. I was afraid at one time how people would view me as a vessel for God. I praise God and give Him all the Glory for being chosen and appointed by Christ to go and bear fruit.
I have the mind of Christ. The older I get, the less my mind wants to work. Father, help me to remember!
My favorite passage is “You are the light of the world” I was given that passage by Pastor Ernie when I was in high school. Let’s all share our lights and let them shine!
I have the mind of Christ.-1 Corinthians 2:16.
Having the mind of Christ keeps me centered, grounded and rooted in Christian love.