You "Must" Love Yourself
"Love... yourself." Matthew 22:39 NLT
When God saves you, He positions you "in Christ." From that moment on, He views you as being righteous. Not because of your "own righteousness... but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God" (Philippians 3:9 NKJV). When you are growing up, your parents may have given you the impression that if you were good enough they would love and accept you. As a result, you think God feels the same way about you. But He doesn't. In truth, you could never be good enough to earn God's love; that's why He clothes you in Christ's righteousness and says, "I love you unconditionally in spite of all your faults." Now you have a true basis for loving yourself! Think: If God loves you then you are worthy of loving, right? That means you can love yourself! And in fact, you must, because you can only give love to others from the wellspring of your own self-esteem. If you wrestle with insecurity, guilt, self-doubt, and self-loathing, eventually it will manifest itself in your relationships. Swiss Psychologist Paul Tournier said: "If a person will love God the way he ought to... he will then love others the way he ought to... and when he loves God and others the way they ought to be loved, he will never need a psychiatrist." God's love gives you a mental image of yourself that enables and empowers you to give and receive love from others. The truth is, if you had been the only sinner who ever lived, Christ would have died for you. And when that truly dawns on you, you'll start to love yourself and develop into the fullness of your God-given potential.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
When God saves you, He positions you "in Christ." From that moment on, He views you as being righteous. Not because of your "own righteousness... but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God" (Philippians 3:9 NKJV). When you are growing up, your parents may have given you the impression that if you were good enough they would love and accept you. As a result, you think God feels the same way about you. But He doesn't. In truth, you could never be good enough to earn God's love; that's why He clothes you in Christ's righteousness and says, "I love you unconditionally in spite of all your faults." Now you have a true basis for loving yourself! Think: If God loves you then you are worthy of loving, right? That means you can love yourself! And in fact, you must, because you can only give love to others from the wellspring of your own self-esteem. If you wrestle with insecurity, guilt, self-doubt, and self-loathing, eventually it will manifest itself in your relationships. Swiss Psychologist Paul Tournier said: "If a person will love God the way he ought to... he will then love others the way he ought to... and when he loves God and others the way they ought to be loved, he will never need a psychiatrist." God's love gives you a mental image of yourself that enables and empowers you to give and receive love from others. The truth is, if you had been the only sinner who ever lived, Christ would have died for you. And when that truly dawns on you, you'll start to love yourself and develop into the fullness of your God-given potential.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
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January
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February
Keep Believing in ThemSeek God's "Peace" Concerning ItDecide, and Stick With It!Dealing with Your Doubts (1)Dealing with Your Doubts (2)The StingGod Will Provide "All" You NeedLoving and Accepting OthersGenerational BlessingsYou Must Respond With GraceTurn Your Loss Into Gain (1)Turn Your Loss Into Gain (2)Turn Your Loss Into Gain (3)Your Identity Determines Your InheritanceTake it to God in PrayerGiving to Your SupplierHow Are You Coming Across?Get a "Preparation Perspective"Believe it, God's Word is TrueThe Power of Intimacy With ChristLive For Something Greater Than YourselfDealing With Our SinUnderstanding True Holiness"Do" God's WordUse What God Has Given You"Be of Good Courage, And Do It"Always Keep Your Conscience ClearThinking of Yourself Less
March
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April
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