Low self-esteem is a condition that has a solution.<\/p>\n
Last week I said low self-esteem is the result of thoughts, temperament, and treatment. And I suggested memorizing these truths:<\/p>\n
Let me explain how I came to live those life-changing statements.<\/p>\n
While beating myself up for all the things I\u2019m not, I read this awesome passage. \u201cYou created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother\u2019s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!\u201d (Psalm 139:13-17 NIV). Fearfully and wonderfully<\/em> made by God himself! That gives me value.<\/p>\n While the enemy went overboard with his bashing, the Lord whispered in my heart, \u201cI put you here\u2014on this earth, in this family, in these circumstances\u2014because you have something to contribute.\u201d His Word clarifies we are created with differences to fulfill specific assignments in the body of Christ, as the different parts of the body\u2014eyes, ears, hands, and feet\u2014contribute to its function (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We each have a purpose in his huge plan.<\/p>\n Years ago I learned an unforgettable lesson when our pastor\u2019s wife, Wanda, had minor surgery and wanted me to stay with her while her husband led prayer meeting. She asked me to get an item out of her closet. Opening the door I saw unbelievable organization. That small space looked like a magazine advertisement. Overwhelmed with discouragement, I went home and cried. The tears stopped abruptly when I heard God\u2019s voice in my heart. Don\u2019t compare your weakness with someone else\u2019s strength.<\/em> He brought me to this verse. \u201cTry to have a sane estimate of your capabilities\u201d (Romans 12:3 Phillips). A temperament analysis and spiritual-gifts inventory helped me identify and appreciate my talents and abilities and stop protesting over what I didn\u2019t get. It isn\u2019t egotistical to have a sane estimate of our capabilities.<\/p>\n Not all things, but some things. I wanted to exchange temperaments, but which would I choose? Nobody got all strengths. Changing temperaments would give me a different set of strengths and<\/em> weaknesses. Reading Exodus gave me an appreciation for God\u2019s personal stamp on my life. \u201cThe Lord said to Moses, See, I have called by name Bezalel…And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, To devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver and in bronze, And in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship…I have appointed with him Aholiab…and to all who are wisehearted I have given wisdom and ability to make all that I have commanded\u00a0 you\u201d (Exodus 31:1-6 Amplified). God equips us for the work he designs. Our concern is to use our strengths for his maximum glory.<\/p>\n During college my daughter Leanne competed in several beauty pageants. One evening she returned from practice a little discouraged because all of the contestants had amazing talent performances. Moments later her bubbly personality kicked in as she shared how the Lord\u2019s sweet assurance in her heart had lifted her despondency. \u201cI\u2019m not competing with anyone else for God\u2019s will for my life.\u201d That\u2019s awesome truth.<\/p>\n A bumper sticker brought a smile.<\/p>\n If perfection is the expectation, measuring up is impossible\u2014but I can please God. Listen to this. \u201cWhen a man\u2019s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him\u201d (Proverbs 16:7 NIV). My only responsibility is pleasing the Lord. His responsibility is making people (even those with an unrealistic expectation of perfection) live at peace with me.<\/p>\n Basing my esteem on the opinion and approval\u2014or lack of it\u2014of other people and their treatment of me kept me locked in inferiority and insecurity\u2026until I learned what God thinks of me. Review that list https:\/\/diannebarker.com\/?p=686<\/a>.<\/p>\n God\u2019s truth seared my inferior interior.<\/em> \u201cYou must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot\u201d (1 Peter 1:18-19 Amp.). \u201cYou were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body\u201d (1 Corinthians 6:20 Amp.).<\/p>\n Purchased with a preciousness!<\/p>\n I broke free from the prison of low self-esteem by changing my thinking. What I think is my choice. I can choose to wallow in negative thoughts or I can choose to believe and live God\u2019s truth\u2014the choice that leads to freedom.<\/p>\n I\u2019d love to hear comments. Please respond below. And I\u2019d be grateful if you\u2019d share this article with your friend-list.<\/p>\n (Adapted from I Don\u2019t Chase the Garbage Truck Down the Street in My Bathrobe Anymore! Organizing for the Maximum Life.<\/em>)<\/p>\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2018<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Low self-esteem is a condition that has a solution. Last week I said low self-esteem is the result of thoughts, temperament, and treatment. And I suggested memorizing these truths: I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am here on purpose. I won\u2019t compare my weakness with someone else\u2019s strength. I do some things well. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[152,9,65,151,43,71,149],"class_list":["post-694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-comparison","tag-dianne-barker","tag-freedom","tag-low-self-esteem-a-condition-with-a-solution","tag-negative-thinking","tag-purpose","tag-self-bashing"],"yoast_head":"\nRealizing I am here on purpose<\/em> flooded me with hope.<\/strong><\/h3>\nRealizing I am here on purpose flooded me with hope. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n
My sane estimate revealed I do some things well<\/em>.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t like what you see, lower your expectations.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Giving in to low self-esteem insults the Christ who bought us with his own blood.<\/strong><\/h3>\nGiving in to inferiority insults the Christ who bought us with his own blood. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n