Building Self-Esteem

By building self-esteem through God's Word you will come to know who you are with confidence.  No one will be able to shatter or break you again!

11 Timothy 2:15

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."

We're told in the Bible that we're more than conquerors and that we're victors in Jesus Christ.  God tells us that we can have what we say and that everything that is His belongs to us (Gal. 3:29).  

If this is true, then why do many of us act like whipped puppies that don't deserve the best in life?

Why do we feel inadequate in the midst of difficult times or a tough environment?  God's Word is true and it will work for you, but you must put forth the corresponding actions to your beliefs.

God's Word has life, but it is dead if you don't act upon it.  It won't automatically change you, you must make the decision for change and then use God's Word to actively participate in your development or growth from the point of your salvation to become the "new man in Christ."

We are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Ephesians 4:23-24 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind: 24. And that ye put on the "new man" which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." 

You grow in Christ by changing your thoughts (Ephesians 4:23) with God's Word. As you act upon those thoughts you will be following Christ to receive your victory.  So the process is easy by speaking the Word, hearing the Word and acting upon it.  As you continue to do this, you will begin to see His blessings manifested within your life.

Because the Word of God is spirit (John 6:63), it must enter into the human spirit before it can take affect or germinate just as a seed that has been planted into the ground.   It cannot and will not germinate in the mind.  However, the mind is the place at which it begins its journey to your spirit.  So you must take time to get the Word into your mind so that it will transfer to your spirit where the Holy spirit waters it for spiritual or inner growth/strength.

  
In order to become the "new creature" in Christ or "new man" to make this process really come alive in you for greater change, you must identify with Christ and see yourself with Him now, hid from all the troubles and ifficulties that come against you. 

This does not mean that you are hid away and they can't find you, but instead it means that you are empowered to rest in Christ and let the confidence of the Word see you through, all the while knowing that nothing can harm you no matter what you're going through.

Identifying with Christ also means that you deserve to have high self-esteem because God sees you through Christ.  He sees you as redeemed and sanctified and as someone worthy of all His blessings.

So if you were abused as a child, for example, and believe it was because you are an inferior person, or you believe you are a failure because of past mistakes, you can automatically change how you think by seeing yourself as God sees you, not as the person you've been conditioned to believe that you are.

Romans 8:37  "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

At this writing I am currently facing times which could cause others to give up, but as I identify with Christ, I know that I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.  I know that I am safe and I know that I am delivered.  This is the kind of attitude we must take to have victory and we can have it on the strength of the Word which we put within our hearts.  

This is not a one-time process.  I am daily confessing scripture, seeing myself with Christ, and daily seeing my life and circumstances victorious.

Is this hard to do?  NOT FOR ME!  Because I have built a strong confidence in Jesus Christ through the Word and I have a high self-esteem that causes me to feel good about myself and my life no matter what is happening around me.

Through Jesus Christ we can go to the Father and He will hear us and answer our prayers.  Christ is our mediator.  How can we know for sure that this is true and that we can do all things through Him? 

Ephesians tells us clearly that Christ has broken the partition between us and God that existed during the Old Testament days.  Through Christ we have access to God. 

Ephesians 3:14  "For He (Jesus) is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us:... Read 15-17

Ephesians 3:18 "For through Him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

Christ is where we should keep our attention above everyone and everything.  One of the greatest ways to get off track in life is to follow people instead of God's will.  However, put Jesus first and you will identify with Him for good success.

Colossians 3:23  "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men."

Identify with Christ daily.  See yourself crucified with Him, raised from the dead with Him, and resurrected with Him sitting at the right hand of God with Him.  This will allow you to see that you can do all things through Him, by Him and for Him.  You can see yourself safe from all harm, healthy and healed, and capable of accomplishing all things!

I'll close this lesson with Philemon 1:6 which says that your faith becomes effective through the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus.

Do this now and continue to do this.  Be thankful always for what Christ has done for you and you will begin to love yourself as God does with a strong faith to accomplish all things!

Remember, as you continue building self-esteem that God sees you as He sees Christ.

Continue to Part II, Building Self-Esteem Part II