Matthew 10:28-31; Luke 12:4-7; Psalm 139: 13-17

Recurrent Thought

How you view yourself impacts everything about your life; it impacts such things as achievement, relationships and your visions in life.

The starting of Sin into the earth distorted human identity. From that time onwards human self-worth, which is derived from the image of God was marred such that it is either exaggerated or demeaned due to the faulty beliefs one has themselves. When people exaggerate their self-worth and show a propensity to be above others, it is because they operate with the wrong self-belief that they are inherently good. This is a lie Satan instills in human beings. For human beings to perform at their highest level, their understanding of self, that is who they are and what they are endowed with must be re-created.

Self-esteem, also known as Self-respect, is considered an attitude, specifically an attitude towards oneself. Self-esteem encompasses a person's overall evaluation of their worth and value, including their beliefs about their capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Self-esteem impacts perception, performance, creativity and capacity to interact with the environment more than most known attitudes. It consists of one’s view and perception of themselves.

Self-esteem is the capacity to assess who you are as seen through the constellation of your significant beliefs about yourself, values that undergird your life and activities including your perceived capacities (seen through strengths and weaknesses). Ultimately, Self-Respect, is the confidence and assurance one has in their worth, capacities (potential) and abilities (actual skills). This is more than having an idea about oneself but the conviction that one can perform based on what they perceive themselves. Self-respect is an incredible component to what we call ones Identity.

The teenage years are the periods when one increasingly to wrestle with the concept of Identity. Who am I, becomes a bothersome question. When the teenage journey is not properly navigated can create a lot of confusion of personhood as a young person grows. The formulation of ideas of who one is and what they increasingly possess in capacities is the anchor that keeps them in life’s journey. Therefore, it is incredibly essential for adults (parents) to understand the importance of this period and firmly support the young people as they grow in understanding who they are (Identity).

Beliefs about ourselves are the building blocks of our human experiences. How we View ourselves is what we ultimately make our lives to become. Ordinarily, Significant people within an environment influences others, whether for good or for bad. Beyond the influence from outside ourselves, as human beings we are deeply influenced and directed by the inner beliefs from within ourselves. The beliefs about who we are and the opinions we hold about what we possess as our capacities and abilities shape how we look at ourselves. Remember as biblical text states that as a man thinks so is he (Prov 23:7KJV)

One important reality is that Self-esteem or the lack thereof, does not come from the sense of preparedness or confidence from within oneself. Self-respect comes from knowing. It comes from knowing your worth, which is granted to you by God. You have to be confident in Him. For Christ devoted followers, they find their sense of self-worth, purpose, and value in Jesus. Their identity is not defined by personal achievements, status, possessions, but rather by their position as beloved children of God.

Jesus when encouraging the disciples never to be afraid of persecution in the process of harvesting souls for the kingdom of God, spoke on the importance of having the right sense of self-worth (Math 10:28-31; Luke 12:4-7). In a sense he told them that if God is able know the tiny stuff such as the graveyard of the sparrows and the number of hair on our heads, we should be aware that are of more value than many sparrows. It is so with us; we are More than Sparrows.

Three beliefs that we need to understand about our re-created self-respect

1. You are intentionally created, you are not an accident
   • You were formed with intentionality (139:13)
   • You were created with God’s oversight.
   • Your value is in the fact that God set you into the earth with intentions. You came to fulfill purpose
2. You are carefully created; you are a masterpiece
   • You are wonderfully made.
   • Your form was carefully knitted by a Master himself
   • Your value is in the fact that God created you and you are connected to him
3. You are created with God-given Potentials, you are massively Endowed
   • You are created with God’s endowments set as his thoughts for you
   • The Potential in you is so massive that you can’t fully comprehend. They are like sandy on the shore
   • Your value is in the fact that God has set you up with capacities

Remember Self-esteem or the lack thereof, does not come from the sense of preparedness or confidence from within oneself. Self-respect comes from knowing.

This calls for you to know God and understand what he has done for you

Altar

Appreciate him with Knowledge of what he has done to restore Self-respect