But What Does God Say About Me?

Our identity and how we view ourselves affects our lives on a daily basis in how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.  It also has an effect on our achievements, our goals and our desires.

Much of our sense of our value is derived from what others have said to us and about us throughout our lives, starting in childhood and up to present day.  No matter what others have said to us, it is necessary that we unlearn anything we have believed that is contrary to what God says about us...no matter how long we have believed it and no matter who taught us those beliefs. We must negate anything we have believed about ourselves that does not line up with God’s Word, and then replace it with His Truth.  We must learn and believe what our Heavenly Father says about us.  The more we look to God for our identity, the less we will look to others for it and the less we will need to look to others for it.  Peoples’ opinions of us differ and are always subject to change. Therefore, if we look to others for our identity, we will constantly be confused.  But God’s opinion of us never changes nor does His Love for us.  When He is the source of who we are, we can walk and live in security and confidence.

Many people use their achievements, who their parents are, who their spouse is, etc. as a basis for their self worth.  But those things do not provide a solid foundation.  Accomplishments can enhance our self esteem but when they become the root, we are walking on shaky ground.  And attributing our sense of value to our relationship to another person does not always prove stable either. Once we know our true value in Christ, then our foundation is strong and our lives are enhanced.  By having our value in Christ as our foundation, we are protected from the “winds of change” which are inevitable in life. If our sense of value is based upon what we do, who we are, what we own, our accomplishments, our abilities, our age, our looks, etc., all of these are subject to change.  Therefore, when they do change and are not in our life anymore, then our sense of worth becomes shaky or nonexistent.  On the contrary, when we know that our true value comes through who we are in Christ and His Love for us and how He sees us, then we are able to actually accomplish more in life. But our self esteem will not be rooted in those other changeable things...it will be established in our value to God...which is never changing.   Because of our human weaknesses and frailties we need to look to God as our source of confidence and esteem. 

So what does God say about this matter of how we view ourselves and its effect on how we treat others? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind--”  By choosing to read this book and begin this journey, you have taken a step toward that.  Congratulations!  The benefits are well worth the effort.

People who are well established in their identity with the Lord can handle fame and acceptance as well as rejection and failure because they see themselves through God’s Eyes and not the world’s eyes.  Becoming well known or popular will not throw them off the track to become arrogant or conceited.   Nor will being disliked or rejected cause them to crumble.  I’m not saying it doesn’t hurt to be rejected.  Of course it does.  We are human and God gave us emotions.  Being wanted and liked by others feels good, and being cast aside by people does hurt.  But in life, we all experience both ends of that.  The difference in how we deal with these feelings and the effect they have on us is based on our foundation.  Do we see our worth through God’s Eyes or through the eyes of others?

The more we come to see ourselves as God sees us, the more we are aware of and embrace our true identity in Him.  And then the less we will be tossed about by the ever changing world around us, because we are anchored to Him.  He never changes and His Love for us is everlasting. 

Malachi 3:6 – “I, the Lord, do not change.”

James 1:17 – “--Who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Jeremiah 31:3 – “--I have loved you with an everlasting love--”

The title of this book begins with the word “but”.  This was done to make a very strong point. Anytime the word but is used, it automatically negates or casts doubt on or discredits or weakens whatever was said prior.  More emphasis is always put on what comes after but.  So things that have been or are being said to you, or things you have believed about yourself, should start causing you to think, “But what does God say about me?”

The purpose of this book is to help walk you throug