Embrace God's Image of You
By Ro Lashua
Parents may have the best of intentions but they end up making their kids look bad. They have difficulty making their kids look cool especially during their children’s awkward stages. To parents their children are beautiful.
The question is how is a poor self-image developed and how can we improve it?
Dr. Davidicus Wong wrote in the Vancouver Courier in Vancouver B.C. on December 19, 2007 that there was a particular family photo that his mother had set out when a girl he liked came to visit, however he was mortified because he felt he looked goofy in the photo.
As a physician, he sees a lot of patients who are focused on the small imperfections on their body. Some see minor skin discolorations and this causes great discontent. Some see their body as fat when they are emancipated due to anorexia.
We may feel we do not have any difficulty in this area because we do not have any of these issues. However, the truth is we do not see ourselves as others see us or more importantly, as we really are. We might say there are three views.
1. How we see ourselves
2. How others see us, and that differs from person to person
3. How we really are, what we really have and this is how God sees us
Development of Self-Image
Self-Image is defined as “the conception that one has of oneself, including an assessment of qualities and personal worth” (http://www.dictionary.com).
The difficulty with our self-image is that it is conceptualized. That means it is our concept that we form about ourselves. It is very subjective. It is not necessarily based on facts but on our concept. It is based on our viewpoint of what others say about us, how others treat us, and what opportunities we are given in life.
Perhaps many believe that our self-image is formed when we are young and then we live with that for the remainder of our lives.
Our self-image can and does change as we live out our lives.
How We Can Improve Our Self-Image
We can be confident with a positive self-image and believe we have a great deal of skills to do specific jobs and yet we can be changed by external oppression and harassment. There can be times when someone has power over aspects of our lives and we are subject to them. This is a powerful position. Their input negative or positive can change our self-image.
If we perform certain tasks and get constant negative feedback, we can begin to shy away from that activity because we begin to change our self-image and we succumb to others molding our self-image for us.
Preventing this negative input from changing our self-image is very difficult. It take a concerted effort to change the negative input effects. However, the good news is it can be done.
We can be around people who build us up and encourage us. These people choose to see the good in us. These are people we will be attracted to. This is a good thing.
Another positive venue for the Christian is the opinion of God. That would be what God has to say about us. He has a lot to say about us and He is for us and NOT against us.
John 3:17-18 the Bible states (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That is encouraging that God is for us and not against us. He sent Jesus here to save us. That is why he came. He came to pay for our sins. He came to give us freedom from guilt and condemnation. If we are living under guilt and condemnation then we are not, as a Christian, living the victorious life God intended for us.
One of the most powerful scriptures in the Bible on this topic is Romans 8:1 the Bible states: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (KJV).
Another scripture to consider is Psalm 32:5, which states: (5) I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah (KJV).
Consider also this Scripture. Psalm 32:1, which states, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Living without guilt is very important to keep our self-image positive.
Satan wants to keep Christians down. He knows he cannot stop us so he tries to get us to stop ourselves. He does not want us to live a victorious life because we can do great things for God if we are walking in victory. If we
Scripture says that a thief comes to lie, steal, kill and destroy. Satan is the chief thieft. In John 10:10 we read: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Satan lies to us to steal our victory and wants to kill our hope and us physically as he seeks to destroy us for eternity. He is trying to change our self-image in the negative direction to stop us from living the victory God wants for us.
When we realize it is Satan’s plan to thwart our victory we can change the direction of our self-image if it is going down the tubes.
An important part of how to change anything or to get negative out is to put positive in. If we have an empty glass full of air, how do we get the air out? Of course, we put something in. That is a good analogy to help us understand the how-to of self-image.
Positive input is powerful, especially when it is from the word of God. We should be searching the Scriptures for the words from God to encourage and uplift us to the place of victory God our Father intends for us.
If we are a Child of God, He is our Father. As our Father he is not as concerned about making us look cool but more concerned with us being encouraged and exhorted to live the life of victory. Remember, to God we are beautiful and the Bible is His love book for us.
Our greatest need is to focus on God’s view of us. We need to embrace God’s image of us through studying His word and learning about how God views us. As we examine the Scripture we will begin to see His awesome love and acceptance as a Child of the most-high God.
II Timothy 1:7 God did not give us a spirit of fear but the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind (KJV).
May God Bless You Always!
Ro Lashua is a motivational speaker and freelance writer. She enjoys encouraging others to be all that God has for them to be. Please visit her Web site at: www.RoLashua.com.
By Ro Lashua
Parents may have the best of intentions but they end up making their kids look bad. They have difficulty making their kids look cool especially during their children’s awkward stages. To parents their children are beautiful.
The question is how is a poor self-image developed and how can we improve it?
Dr. Davidicus Wong wrote in the Vancouver Courier in Vancouver B.C. on December 19, 2007 that there was a particular family photo that his mother had set out when a girl he liked came to visit, however he was mortified because he felt he looked goofy in the photo.
As a physician, he sees a lot of patients who are focused on the small imperfections on their body. Some see minor skin discolorations and this causes great discontent. Some see their body as fat when they are emancipated due to anorexia.
We may feel we do not have any difficulty in this area because we do not have any of these issues. However, the truth is we do not see ourselves as others see us or more importantly, as we really are. We might say there are three views.
1. How we see ourselves
2. How others see us, and that differs from person to person
3. How we really are, what we really have and this is how God sees us
Development of Self-Image
Self-Image is defined as “the conception that one has of oneself, including an assessment of qualities and personal worth” (http://www.dictionary.com).
The difficulty with our self-image is that it is conceptualized. That means it is our concept that we form about ourselves. It is very subjective. It is not necessarily based on facts but on our concept. It is based on our viewpoint of what others say about us, how others treat us, and what opportunities we are given in life.
Perhaps many believe that our self-image is formed when we are young and then we live with that for the remainder of our lives.
Our self-image can and does change as we live out our lives.
How We Can Improve Our Self-Image
We can be confident with a positive self-image and believe we have a great deal of skills to do specific jobs and yet we can be changed by external oppression and harassment. There can be times when someone has power over aspects of our lives and we are subject to them. This is a powerful position. Their input negative or positive can change our self-image.
If we perform certain tasks and get constant negative feedback, we can begin to shy away from that activity because we begin to change our self-image and we succumb to others molding our self-image for us.
Preventing this negative input from changing our self-image is very difficult. It take a concerted effort to change the negative input effects. However, the good news is it can be done.
We can be around people who build us up and encourage us. These people choose to see the good in us. These are people we will be attracted to. This is a good thing.
Another positive venue for the Christian is the opinion of God. That would be what God has to say about us. He has a lot to say about us and He is for us and NOT against us.
John 3:17-18 the Bible states (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That is encouraging that God is for us and not against us. He sent Jesus here to save us. That is why he came. He came to pay for our sins. He came to give us freedom from guilt and condemnation. If we are living under guilt and condemnation then we are not, as a Christian, living the victorious life God intended for us.
One of the most powerful scriptures in the Bible on this topic is Romans 8:1 the Bible states: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (KJV).
Another scripture to consider is Psalm 32:5, which states: (5) I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah (KJV).
Consider also this Scripture. Psalm 32:1, which states, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Living without guilt is very important to keep our self-image positive.
Satan wants to keep Christians down. He knows he cannot stop us so he tries to get us to stop ourselves. He does not want us to live a victorious life because we can do great things for God if we are walking in victory. If we
Scripture says that a thief comes to lie, steal, kill and destroy. Satan is the chief thieft. In John 10:10 we read: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Satan lies to us to steal our victory and wants to kill our hope and us physically as he seeks to destroy us for eternity. He is trying to change our self-image in the negative direction to stop us from living the victory God wants for us.
When we realize it is Satan’s plan to thwart our victory we can change the direction of our self-image if it is going down the tubes.
An important part of how to change anything or to get negative out is to put positive in. If we have an empty glass full of air, how do we get the air out? Of course, we put something in. That is a good analogy to help us understand the how-to of self-image.
Positive input is powerful, especially when it is from the word of God. We should be searching the Scriptures for the words from God to encourage and uplift us to the place of victory God our Father intends for us.
If we are a Child of God, He is our Father. As our Father he is not as concerned about making us look cool but more concerned with us being encouraged and exhorted to live the life of victory. Remember, to God we are beautiful and the Bible is His love book for us.
Our greatest need is to focus on God’s view of us. We need to embrace God’s image of us through studying His word and learning about how God views us. As we examine the Scripture we will begin to see His awesome love and acceptance as a Child of the most-high God.
II Timothy 1:7 God did not give us a spirit of fear but the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind (KJV).
May God Bless You Always!
Ro Lashua is a motivational speaker and freelance writer. She enjoys encouraging others to be all that God has for them to be. Please visit her Web site at: www.RoLashua.com.
copyright © 2008 Ro Lashua. All rights reserved.