You Are Special
(Recommended Reading: Max Lucado's book, "You Are Special")
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day." (Gen. 1;31)
"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God." (1 John 3:21)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7)
Confidence means to trust, be confident or sure, be bold, secure, sure.
Confidence, by itself, is not the answer to everything. God rewards through confidence. This is one reason why God could use King David.
You are important to God. What we want is to have the right self-image. Remember, you can be confidently wrong. It takes confidence to say "I'm sorry."
Self worth is not based on education, income, culture, skin color, intelligence or by what kind of car you drive or the square footage of your home. A person with low self worth, low self esteem is easy to identify, they are usually the ones whose business card contains all their degrees; their walls are decorated with their degrees and accomplishments; they advertise their credentials. Degrees, experience, education, or position do not make you a good person or a bad person. Billy Graham does not refer to himself as Dr. Billy Graham and he has led more people to Jesus than anyone else in the 20th century. The Biblical view is family: brother/sister...what's wrong with just calling someone "Bill?" We tend to overly emphasize titles.
Paul said he knew how to be content whether he had much or little. Contentment is based more on attitude than on altitude...positionally, if you are a believer, you are in Christ and He is in you!
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Phil. 4:11, 12)
Paul was content because he could see life from God's point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person's life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power.
Your sufficiency is in Christ Jesus. Your inheritance as a believer can only be received in full by taking a stand on what God has said in the face of trials and tribulations, circumstances and situations. The stance of faith eliminates fear and worry and brings the freedom to rejoice evermore. Contentment is a choice.
"The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." (Prov. 19:23)
Those who fear the Lord are "untouched by trouble" because of their healthy habits, their beneficial life-style, and sometimes through God's direct intervention. Nevertheless, the fear of the Lord does not always protect us from trouble in this life: evil things still happen to people who love God. This verse is not a universal promise, but a general guideline. It describes what would happen if this world were sinless, and what will happen in the new earth, when faithful believers will be under God's protection forever.
"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Tim. 6:8)
It is often helpful to distinguish between needs and wants. We may have all we need to live but let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want. Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb. 13:5)
How can you learn to be content? Strive to live with less rather than desiring more; give away out of your abundance rather than accumulating more; relish what you have rather than resent what you're missing. See God's love expressed in what he has provided, and remember that money and possessions will all pass away.
You become content when you realize God's sufficiency for your needs. Christians who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God can't take care of them, or at least that he won't take care of them the way they want. Insecurity and low self esteem can lead to the love of money, whether we are rich or poor. The only antidote is to trust God to meet all your needs.
Your children need to know both sides: poor or rich. Value does not come from current situations: good or bad. Don't measure value on your home, your car or your neighborhood. All of these things enhance life but they should never determine your value.
Build your self worth on what God says about you. His Word will never change. God's opinion is the only opinion that counts. Otherwise we will see others as not valuable. That's why gun shots go off in the night. People don't think they are valuable, so they don't see others as being valuable.
We need to replace these thoughts. Christ died for you and if you were the only person on the face of the Earth, He would have died for you. You are valuable to Him.
Our actions/behavior comes from our confidence or lack of confidence.
God wants you to climb out of negative thinking. He wants you out of sin attitude and insecurity. People say, "I'm not worthy." When we feel insecure, we tend to run away from God and others. When we sin, we run away from the only One who can heal us.
No one can claim to be adequate without God's help. No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God's calling in his or her own strength. Without the Holy Spirit's enabling, our natural talent can carry us only so far. As Christ's witnesses, we need the character and special strength that only God gives.
It is an awesome privilege to be able to approach God with freedom and confidence. Most of us would be apprehensive in the presence of a powerful ruler. But thanks to Christ, by faith we can enter directly into God's presence through prayer. We know we'll be welcomed with open arms because we are God's children through our union with Christ. Don't be afraid of God. Talk with him about everything. He is waiting to hear from you.
Prayer is our approach to God, and we are to come "with confidence." Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung low, afraid to ask him to meet their needs. Others pray flippantly, giving little thought to what they say. Come with reverence because he is your King. But also come with bold assurance because he is your Friend and Counselor.
If your conscience is clear, you can come to God without fear, confident that your requests will be heard. John reaffirms Jesus' promise that whatever we ask for will be given to us (Mth 7:7; 21:22; John 9:31; 15:7). You will receive if you obey and do what pleases him because you will then be asking in line with God's will. Of course this does not mean that you can have anything you want, like instant riches. If you are truly seeking God's will, there are some requests you will not make.
When we communicate with God, we don't demand what we want; rather we discuss with him what he wants for us. If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen; and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer. Start praying with confidence!
Seven Steps To Restore Confidence
1. Think of yourself as a person of great worth: (Mth. 25:) Use what God has given you. Do something! We look at others and base our self worth on what they have and what we don't have. Thank God for what He's given to you. When you're feeling weak, don't be negative:
"Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, 'I am strong! (Joel 3:10)
My confidence is based on what He has said about me. The enemy will always accuse you and say you're worthless. God wants you to say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" I am strong. I am His son. I am going to break this sin state off in my generation. I'm not going to receive a contradiction against God's Word about me. You have a higher authority. Make a good, positive confession.
2. When something bad happens use it to find opportunity to grow: it's not failure but opportunity. When you have a sticker in your foot, it's not failure, it's identification that something is wrong. Get it out. A crisis is an opportunity to grow. Identify the problem and grow. It it's in the area of finances, get some help. Read books. We hate to admit failure, but it's an opportunity to grow.
3. Treat everyone you meet with great respect: it is the golden rule. What you sow into someone else becomes your investment for your harvest.
4. Invest in yourself: take some classes, read some books. If you stop learning, you stop growing. Keep growing. We spend more time and energy on insignificant things like washing our cars and changing oil than we do on our own self improvement. Invest in your wife. Invest in your family. Remember, your wife is a reflection of you.
5. Be a generous giver: ask yourself if God is using you as a conduit. Loan without expecting repayment. Lev. 25 says God will repay you. There is a rich blessing in helping someone who can't repay you. Help people. Remember, hurt people hurt people. Let's be a blessing. If you see a need, meet it as the Holy Spirit moves you. Don't ask for it, let someone come to you and offer assistance.
6. Be true to God's plan for your life: (Mth. 7) integrity, build a life of integrity, honesty, truth. If you're job requires you to steal, lie, or cheat, get out. Get counsel and find another job. God's is faithful.
7. Put your best effort in what you believe in: everyone wants to feel needed. People who are needed are those who do something and others recognize it. Do something and you'll feel needed. Make a contribution instead of just taking all the time. Excellence does not just happen, it is purposed; it is a lifestyle dedicated to doing everything as unto the Lord.
Remember: you are the apple of His eye; you have everlasting life; you have abundant life; you are an heir of God; you are a coheir with Christ; God is working for your good; you are being conformed into Christ's likeness; you are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world; you are chosen in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight; your body is his temple; you are marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit; you are God's workmanship; you are an overcomer; you have been given fullness in Christ; you are strong in the Lord; you can do all things through him who gives you strength; you are more than conquerors through him who loves you; you are called to a holy life; you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul; you are a chosen person; a royal priesthood; a holy nation; a person belonging to God. (PSA 17:8; JER 31:3; JOH 6:47; JOH 10:10; ROM 8:17; ROM 8:28; ROM 8:29; MAT 5:13; MAT 5:14; EPH 1:4; 1CO 6:19; EPH 1:13; EPH 2:10; 1JO 5:4; COL 2:10; EPH 1:7; EPH 6:10; PHI 4:13; ROM 8:37; 2TI 1:9; 1PE 1:9; 1PE 2:9)
You Are Special In Christ: As You Think, So You Become
Read The Following Out Loud To Yourself Each Night
Just Before Bedtime For Thirty Days And Begin Realizing
Who You Are In Christ Jesus
I Am Accepted In Christ Jesus
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
I have been justified (Rom. 5:1)
I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit (1 Cor. 6:17)
I have been bought with a price; I belong to God (1 Cor. 6:20)
I am a member of Christ's Body (1 Cor. 12:27)
I am a saint (Eph. 1:1)
I have been adopted as God's child (Eph. 1:5)
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Col. 1:14)
I am complete in Christ (Col. 2:10)
I Am Secure In Christ
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8:12)
I am assured that all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28)
I am free from any condemning charges against me (Rom. 8:33, 34)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:35)
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3)
I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1:6)
I am a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20)
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7)
I can find grace and mercy in time of need (Heb. 4:16)
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)
I Am Special In Christ Jesus
I am the salt and light of the earth (Mth. 5:13, 14)
I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15:15)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I am a personal witness of Christ's (Acts 1:8)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3:16)
I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor. 17:20)
I am God's coworker (2 Cor. 6:1)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph. 2:6)
I am God's workmanshhip (Eph. 2:10)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3:12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
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