Our desire for approval often drives us to do whatever it takes to gain the world's approval. We change our habits, clothes, hairstyle, etc. in an attempt to gain value in the world's eyes. The change is only on the outside and often temporary leaving us feeling dissatisfied and worthless. Basing our sense of worth on the world is not healthy. It will cause us to judge ourselves and everyone else based on some arbitrary ideas of whatever the world says is 'in' at the moment. In today's world, what is considered 'in' often changes every few days.
Sometimes men achieve a sense of worth by attributing all their success to themselves. In their pride, they think that they have the power to control their own destinies. My favorite explanation of the ridiculousness of thinking this way comes from a fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson.
"How foolish it would be for the violin and the bow to boast of their greatness! And yet, we men often do the same foolish thing - the poet, the artist, the scientist, the general - we all do it. We are only the instruments which the Almighty uses. He alone deserves the honor! We have nothing to be proud of. To Him be all the honor!" ~ The Pen and the Inkstand
Everyone has value but it does not come from anything they did. It comes from God.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 ESV
A simple but profound truth. God created you in HIS image. Nothing can ever change that. You are not a mistake so stop listening to the lies of the enemy. He hates you because he sees God's image in you.
Sometimes we feel worthless but God sees us as His special creation who is worth every single drop of His Son's blood. Sometimes we feel hopeless but God gives us a hope that will never fail. Sometimes we feel depressed but God has given us a joy that is deeper than sorrow, despair, pain, sickness, and hardships combined.
"Father, make us more like Jesus. Help us bear difficulty, pain, disappointment, and sorrow, knowing that in Your perfect working and design You can use such bitter experiences to mold our characters and make us more like our Lord. We look with hope to the day when we will be completely like Christ, because we will see Him as He is." ~ Ignatius
Sometimes men achieve a sense of worth by attributing all their success to themselves. In their pride, they think that they have the power to control their own destinies. My favorite explanation of the ridiculousness of thinking this way comes from a fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson.
"How foolish it would be for the violin and the bow to boast of their greatness! And yet, we men often do the same foolish thing - the poet, the artist, the scientist, the general - we all do it. We are only the instruments which the Almighty uses. He alone deserves the honor! We have nothing to be proud of. To Him be all the honor!" ~ The Pen and the Inkstand
Everyone has value but it does not come from anything they did. It comes from God.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 ESV
A simple but profound truth. God created you in HIS image. Nothing can ever change that. You are not a mistake so stop listening to the lies of the enemy. He hates you because he sees God's image in you.
Sometimes we feel worthless but God sees us as His special creation who is worth every single drop of His Son's blood. Sometimes we feel hopeless but God gives us a hope that will never fail. Sometimes we feel depressed but God has given us a joy that is deeper than sorrow, despair, pain, sickness, and hardships combined.
"Father, make us more like Jesus. Help us bear difficulty, pain, disappointment, and sorrow, knowing that in Your perfect working and design You can use such bitter experiences to mold our characters and make us more like our Lord. We look with hope to the day when we will be completely like Christ, because we will see Him as He is." ~ Ignatius
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