Do You?

‘I love myself.’ I was sort of surprised that it flowed out of me onto my computer screen. I was leaving a comment and I typed. ‘I love myself’ ‘I love who I am and who God is making me into’

It sort of shocked me. You see, for years, and years, probably my whole life, I have really not liked myself. Actually, I hated myself, or at least parts of me.

Armed with the understanding that these are ALL lies from the enemy, freedom has and is coming. As I continue to walk out my healing and deliverance, more and more lies are exposed and chain after chain falls off of me.

With the recent release from a spirit of guilt, my eyes have been opened to even more lies I have listened to. Once guilt was gone, I realized that God created me, is pleased with me right now, at this level of sanctification and maturity, and loves me with an everlasting love. (I know we all give ‘lip-service’ to these truths, but until we really believe them and act upon them, it is just that, lip-service.) In fact, He loved me at my absolute lowest level of sanctification!

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. . . But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

“without strength” in the above verse means, ‘powerless, in a state of wretchedness’

“commendeth” means, to ‘declare, show, make known’

Furthermore,

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-7)

When I was dead in my sins!!

Do you know that it is actually a sin to hate or even dislike yourself? A sin to not love yourself? What is the greatest and first commandment?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

I believe this implies that we are to love ourselves. If our Father loves us . . . if He sent His Son to die for us . . . if He created us, fearfully and wonderfully . . . if in Him, we are the righteousness of God . . . what right do we have to hate ourselves?

Are you hard on yourself? Your own worst critic?

Does the sound of your own voice make you cringe?

Do you always feel like ‘it’ is your fault? (whatever ‘it’ is)

Do you feel like you never do it good enough?

Like you will never get it right?

Do you hate to have your picture taken because you are so, {fill in the blank}?

Do you never measure up in your own mind?

Do you struggle with perfectionism, competition, comparison, guilt, self-condemnation, constant need for approval???

These are lies that we have believed for years. They are so much a part of us that we don’t even recognize them. If we really believed the Truth, the above questions would be shocking to us, but they aren’t, are they?

I encourage you to take this to the Lord and have Him search your heart. Ask Him to reveal the core lies that you have been listening to for years. Recognize and take responsibility for listening to these lies. Repent for participating with them and believing them. Remove them in the name of Jesus.

Begin to renew your mind with the Truth. It is the Truth that makes us free. Let your Father speak to your heart. Wash your mind with the water of the Word. Refuse to listen to the lies anymore!