It is so important for us to have a positive self-image, but a lot of the time we get thrown so many examples of what we should do, how we should react, and how we should live, that we may forget about ourselves in the process. So, how does God say we should live, and how does this affect our self-reflection, our behavior and our relationships?
40 Days to Wholeness, Week 3 from Kaye Brown on Vimeo.
Week 3 Study Scripture: Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I love this scripture because it is God that sets the tone for our lives. He is saying:
- “First, commit yourselves to me!” He did not say that we had to be perfect; He means to commit sacrificially – no matter what state you are in or how you may currently view yourself.
- After your commitment comes your transformation!
TRANSFORMATION \\ A THOROUGH OR DRAMATIC CHANGE IN FORM OR APPEARANCE; CONVERSION, METAMORPHOSIS, CHANGE, ALTERATION
This transformation can only come about through a renewed mind in Christ Jesus after your sacrificial commitment. Sometimes we do not know how to feel the fullness of who we are. So this results in depression, anger, fear, low self-worth, or a lack of commitment within our lives.
We learned how to pray and how to dedicate ourselves to healing. This “coming upon the fullness of who we are,” in other words “getting to know ourselves deeply,” is also a part of our spiritual healing. We have to get to know God by committing ourselves to Him daily (setting up that meeting time and place, reading the Bible), but we have to commit to our own personal change through this new closeness to Him. So we must:
- Desire a change – a newness for ourselves, a metamorphosis
- Commit to God – no matter who you think you are
- Experience true joy within your transformation
Galatians 5:22-24 gives us some insight on Spiritual Maintenance.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
These are the things that help moderate our behavior and interactions with others. As I deal with very personal situations, I had to ask God: “Lord, please show me how to deal with others.” I began to ask God to regulate my anger and to tailor my responses. Sometimes how we feel about ourselves and how we feel about our circumstances is what regulates our responses or our lifestyles. This should not be so. Let’s bring our self-value and our behavior into alignment with God’s Word in order to increase our value and be enlightened and empowered by it – in a Godly manner.
This Week’s Challenge
- Write something positive about yourself each day (M-S, character, skills, attitude, attributes). Then read it back to yourself with affirmation.
- Continue to meet God daily – same time, same place for prayer and reading.
- Take a look at Galatians 5:22-24. Have you crucified your flesh? Ask God to show you what to improve on.
- What relationships do you have that are not the best? Intentionally practice moderation and positivity in those interactions. Record your progress.
