Jesus warns us that we
have an enemy whose strategy is to steal our self-worth by whispering small,
but believable, lies into our minds. “You’re not valuable. You’re not worth
anything. You’re not beautiful. You’re not smart enough.” These lies begin to pile
up, slowly and methodically destroying our passion for life.
Before long we become
victims to our own negative self-talk. If you start to believe the lies, you
will base your actions and decisions on a foundation of lies and never discover
your true beauty. But Jesus tells us the truth will set us free.
This truth, found in
the Bible, offers us three very practical steps for eliminating negative
self-talk from our minds.
- Discover how God sees you.
Christ tells us to find
our true worth in him. In Ephesians 2:10, he tells us that we are “God’s
masterpiece.” God loves you completely and unconditionally, and he designed you
for a purpose! The way you look, think, and act is part of his special plan for
you.
Think about the night
sky for a moment. When you look at the stars, you can’t help but stand in awe
of the intricate detail and love put into them by the Creator. Every star is
individually gorgeous and unique just the way it is. God feels the same way
about you! He designed you exactly the way he wanted you to be. You’re designed
to play a unique part in this world.
Look to the one who
designed you and called you his “masterpiece” to find out who you really are.
When you begin to explore the truth of who God made you to be, you’ll be set
free from the chains of negativity to experience a meaningful life full of joy,
full of peace, and full of value!
2. Choose the right
friends.
In this hurting world
we live in, it’s vital to surround ourselves with friends who will stand in the
struggle with us, and who will build us up in the battle. We have to choose our
friends wisely because, whether we want to or not, we will become like the
people we hang around. When I started my freshman year of college, I didn’t
know anyone. I felt totally out of the loop, as if I was never going to find a
close group of friends. It was awful. But I felt God telling me that if I would
just wait, he would bring the right people into my life at the right time. So
while everyone around me seemed to have found their lifelong friends, I
patiently waited for mine. Was it easy? Not at all. I hated it, actually. But
was it worth it? More than anything! It was worth being lonely for a semester
to receive those beautiful friends.
If you are a student
changing schools or going off to college, it’s tempting to rush into the first
group you find; none of us want to feel awkward or unwanted. But I encourage
you to wait on God. Hold out for the friendships that he has selected for you.
When you surround yourself with positive, godly friends, you’ll start
reflecting Christ’s love and eliminate a lot of negative self-talk.
3. Focus on your eternal
character.
All of the hours I
spend in front of the mirror trying to look pretty have no value for eternity.
But the time I spend reflecting the beauty and love of Christ to others will
make a lasting difference.
We all waste so much
time trying to make our temporary bodies look good, but we spend very little
time making sure our eternal character is attractive. Jesus said the only
things that matter and are eternal are loving God and loving others. Love is
our purpose and calling on this earth.
When you spend your
time getting to know God and becoming more like him, negative thoughts about
yourself will dissipate. You will become more joyful as your focus turns
outward to helping and encouraging others.
So the question is: Are
you going to spend most of your time on things that won’t last, like being
popular, partying, and changing your body, or will you dedicate your time to
things that will last forever? When you change your perspective and think about
life in light of eternity, negativity will be replaced by a radiant joy that
has no other explanation but God!
Discovering how God
sees you, choosing the right friends, and focusing on your eternal character
all promote positive self-talk based on the truth of God’s word. Each of these
steps enable us to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. So
who are you listening to? The negative self-talk of the enemy’s lies or the
truth that sets you free? Be intentional. Make the choice to believe God’s
truth about you.
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