Recognizing Your Value

May 8, 2017 by FH

from JO’s sermon tonight:

too often, we base our value on how someone is treating us, how successful we are, or how perfect of
a life we’ve lived; the problem is, all of those things can change. if you’re getting your value out of
how people treat you, if they hurt or disappoint you you’re going to feel devalued. if you’re basing
your value on your achievements, how much you make, what kind of car you drive, the title behind
your name, then if something happens and you no longer have that position, your business goes
down, then your value will go down. some people don’t feel good about themselves because they’ve
made mistakes in life, they’re not where they thought they would be; now they’re living insecure,
feeling inferior; they’re basing their value on their performance.

your value should be based solely on the fact that you are a child of the most high God; the Creator of
the universe breathed His life into you. how someone treats you doesn’t change your value; what they
say or do doesn’t lessen who you are. the mistakes you’ve made don’t decrease your value; that’s
what you did, not who you are. you can buy a bigger house, drive a better car, but that doesn’t make
you any more valuable; that increases your net worth, not your self-worth. you were already valuable
when you had a small apartment and no title behind your name; that new position may give you more
influence, but not more value. you can be a stay at home mom raising your children; you may not
have the influence of a CEO, but you have the same value.

value is not based on what you do, what you make, who you know; that’s superficial, those things can
change. your value comes from your Creator. God breathed His life into you; you have the DNA of
Almighty God, royalty in your blood.

but the enemy works overtime trying to devalue us; he’d love for you to go through life letting what
people say make you feel inferior, comparing your life to someone else’s, thinking that you’ll feel good
about yourself when you catch up to them, live in that neighborhood, perform perfectly, break the
addiction. nothing you do, achieve, overcome, will make you any more valuable; you are valuable
right now. God calls you a masterpiece. you are one of a kind; you didn’t come off of an assembly
line, mass-produced, God made you unique. put your shoulders back, start carrying yourself with
confidence; you have been fearfully and wonderfully made.

Luke 4:1-3 (NIV)

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where
for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of
them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

he was trying to make his value be based on his performance, his ability to perform a miracle.

Luke 4:4 (NIV)

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’
he was saying, in effect, “I don’t have to do anything to prove who I am, or perform to feel good
about myself; I know who I am.” the enemy couldn’t deceive him into basing his value on
performance, so he tried to get him to base his value on possessions:

Luke 4:5-8 (NIV)

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6
And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can
give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

he was saying, “I don’t need possessions to prove my worth and value. I don’t have to have what you
think is important to feel good about who I am”

the enemy tried one final thing, popularity:

Luke 4:9-11 (NIV)

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the
Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

he was trying to get Jesus to show off; everybody would see and be amazed, he’d gain instant
popularity, but Jesus didn’t need popularity to know who he was, the son of the living God.

the enemy tried to deceive Jesus into proving who he was. a lot of people live in a proving mode; they
can’t feel good about themselves unless they prove to people that they’re important, talented. it’s a
constant struggle to out-do, out-perform, out-dress; it’s very freeing when you realize that you don’t
have to prove anything, impress people. take the pressure off. it takes a lot of energy to compete,
prove, impress. if you live in a proving mode, it’s like you’re on a treadmill; as soon as you prove to
one person that you’re OK, you’ll see somebody else that you need to impress, it’s a never-ending
cycle. get off the treadmill; you don’t have to prove anything.

these days, there’s so much emphasis on name brands; sometimes, we have so many other names on
us, we don’t know our own name. we’re counting on all the name brands, outside labels, to make us
feel important. there’s nothing wrong with owning them, but don’t let them be the reason that you
feel good about who you are. the latest thing will soon be outdated; if you live possession-based, you
have to keep running from thing to thing, and it will wear you out.

relax; you can’t get any more valuable. you can buy more clothes, get more friends, but that doesn’t
change your value. are you trying to prove your worth, value, by who you know, what you wear? or,
can you say like Jesus, “I don’t have to have popularity, possessions, or performance to feel good
about myself; I am secure in who I am, who God made me to be”?

when Jesus was riding into town on Palm Sunday:

Matthew 21:7-9 (NIV)
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very
large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread
them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

he received a hero’s welcome, but a few days later, those same people…:

Matthew 27:22 (NIV)

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”

when Jesus went to trial, and needed his closest friends to support him, his disciples, the ones that he
had poured his life into, weren’t anywhere around.

if you base your value on people’s support, how much they approve and encourage you, if they stop
doing that, you’ll feel devalued. if they tell you that you’re great, you’ll feel great, but if they change
their mind, you won’t feel great anymore. people will say that you’re beautiful one day, and not care
for you the next. if you don’t know who you are without them, if they leave, you’ll be lost; your
identity was caught up in who they made you to be, and you’ll try to find somebody else to tell you
who you are.

let your heavenly Father tell you who you are; get your value, self-worth, approval, from Him. He says
that you’re a masterpiece, one of a kind, a prized possession. it doesn’t matter if somebody criticizes
you; they don’t determine your value, and they can’t change it, so what they say doesn’t make you
any less a masterpiece. you don’t need their approval, encouragement, or validation; don’t give away
your power, and put your value and identity into somebody else’s hands. even good people can’t give
you everything you need; somebody that loves you very much cannot keep you approved, validated,
feeling secure. sometimes, we’re putting pressure on people to keep us fixed; let them off the hook,
they’re not your savior.

people have issues, they don’t know any better; messed-up people can mess you up. if you’re basing
your value on what they give you, you could end up dysfunctional. don’t let messed-up people ruin the
rest of your life; if somebody hurt you, there’s a tendency to internalize it, and think that there’s
something wrong with you; no, they’re treating you out of their hurts. hurting people end up hurting
other people; that’s the enemy trying to steal your sense of value. if somebody did you wrong, instead
of internalizing it, think that maybe they felt so unlovable that they tried to project it on you. if your
parents didn’t approve you, don’t let that keep you from your destiny. base your value on what God
said about you; that’s going to lift you up.

Isaiah 49:16 (NLT)

16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

He’s always thinking about you.

don’t spend your life trying to get something that people cannot give; let it go, or you’ll be frustrated.
David didn’t have his father’s approval; when the prophet Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s son’s,
Jesse didn’t even bring David in from the fields. sometimes, the people closest to you can’t see the
greatness in you, they discount and dismiss you; don’t take it personally, just keep being your best
and getting your approval from your heavenly Father.

Jesus’ brothers, the people that should’ve supported him the most:

John 7:5 (NIV)

5 his own brothers did not believe in him.

people may leave you out, but God doesn’t. if David had to have his family’s approval, he would never
have taken the throne. quit trying to make people be for you who are never going to be for you. if you
needed their approval, you would get it; if you’re not getting it, that means that you don’t need it to
become who you were meant to be. sometimes, it’s God teaching us to go to Him and not to people;
David’s brothers made fun of him, his father discounted him, he was stuck out in the fields, but
instead of complaining or feeling inferior, he turned to God. He’s the one that wrote:

Psalm 27:10 (AMPC)

10 Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as
His child].

we all have people that are not giving us their approval. don’t live frustrated, trying to convince them
to affirm you; let it go, keep your head held high, knowing that you’re approved by your Creator. you
may feel average, ordinary, but because of your Maker, you are extremely valuable.

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful

if you’re going to recognize your value, you have to see yourself as wonderful, not because of who you
are, because of Who made you. life will try to make you feel like you’re anything but amazing;
disappointments, betrayal, rejection, will try to steal your sense of value. people may try to make you
feel average; do you want to believe what they say about you, or what God says about you? the
scripture says:

1 John 4:4 (NLT)

4 you belong to God

you may feel average, think you look ordinary, nothing special about you, but because of who you
belong to, that makes you extremely valuable. don’t let people discount you, or your own thoughts
push you down; put your shoulders back, you belong to God. you don’t have to prove anything, try to
impress people, just be who you are; be amazing. if you’ll do this, every chain that’s held you back is
being broken; you’re going to live free, confident, secure, valuable, and become the masterpiece that
God created you to be.
I want to talk to you today about recognizing your value. Too often, we base our value on how
someone is treating us, how successful we are, or how perfect of a life we've lived. The
problem is all of those if you're getting your value out of how people treat you, then if they
hurt you, they disappoint you, you're going to feel devalued. 

If you're basing your value off of your achievements, how much you make, what you drive, the title
behind your name, then if something happens and you don't have that position, your business goes
down, then your value don't feel good about themselves 'cause they've made mistakes in life, they're
not where they thought they would be. Now, they're living insecure, feeling inferior. They're basing
their value on their performance. 

Here's the key. Your value should be based solely on the fact that you are a child of the most high
God. The Creator of the universe how someone treats you doesn't change your value. What they
say or do doesn't lessen who you are. Mistakes you've made doesn't decrease your value. That's
what you did, that's not who you are. 

You can buy a bigger house, drive a better car, but that doesn't make you any more valuable. That
increases your net worth, not your self-worth. You were already valuable when you had the small
apartment and no title behind your name. That position may give you more influence, but not more
value. You can be a stay-at-home mom raising your children. You may not have the influence of the
CEO, but you have the same value. 

Value is not based on what you do, what you make, who those things can change. Your value
comes from your Creator. God breathed his life into you. You have the DNA of almighty God. You
have royalty in your blood. But the enemy works overtime trying to devalue us. He'd love for you to
go through life letting what people say make you feel inferior, comparing your life to somebody
else's, thinking you'll feel good about yourself when you catch up to them, when you live in that
neighborhood, or when you perform perfectly. 

When you break the addiction, then you'll feel valuable. But nothing you do will make you any
more valuable, nothing you achieve, nothing you overcome. God calls you a masterpiece.
You are one of a kind. You didn't come off an assembly line. You weren't mass produced.
God made you unique. There will never be another you. Put your shoulders back, start
carrying yourself with confidence. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made.

In luke chapter 4, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted three times.
He'd been out there for 40 days and hadn't eaten anything. The enemy said to him, "If you're the
Son of God, turn these stones into bread". He was trying to make his value be based on his
performance. "If you turn these stones into bread, you can prove you're the Son of God, then you
could feel good about yourself. You performed a miracle". He said, "Man doesn't live by bread
alone". He was saying, in effect, "I don't have to do anything to prove who I am. I don't have to
perform to feel good about myself. I know who I am". 

The enemy couldn't deceive him into getting his value out of being performance-based, so he he
took Jesus to a high place, showed him all the kingdoms of the world. He said, "You could have it all
if you'll just bow down and worship me". Jesus said, "No thanks, I don't need possessions to prove
my worth and value. I don't have to have what you think is important to feel good about who I am". 

Possession-based didn't work, performance-based didn't work, so the enemy tried he took Jesus to
the highest place in the temple, was very crowded below, all kinds of people. He said, "If you're the
Son of God, jump off this building. You said your angels would protect you". He was trying to get
Jesus to show off. Everybody would see and be amazed. He'd gain instant popularity. Jesus said it
again. "I don't need possessions, I don't need popularity, I don't need performance to feel valuable. I
know who I am. I'm the Son of a living God".

The enemy tried to deceive Jesus into proving who he was, and a lot of people live in a proving
mode. They can't feel good about themselves unless they prove to people they're important. There's
a constant struggle. They're always having to outdo, outperform, outdrive, outdress. 

It's very freeing when you realize you don't have to you don't have to impress people. Take
the pressure off. It takes a lot of energy to compete, to prove, to impress, and if you live in a
proving mode, it's like you're on a treadmill. As soon as you prove to one person you're okay,
you'll see somebody else you need to impress. Get off that treadmill. You're working hard,
but not going anywhere. You don't have to prove anything.

In these days, there's so much emphasis on name brands. We're wearing so-and-so designer
shoes, and so-and-so's sunglasses, and carrying a so-and-so purse, and driving a so-and-so car,
and talking on a so-and-so cell phone. If you're really cool, you got on so-and-so underwear. You
can feel good about yourself. Sometimes we have so many other names on us, we don't know our
own name. We're counting on all the name brands, all the outside labels to make us feel important. 

Can I tell you, your name is more important than all those names combined? No disrespect to them,
but the difference between you and a name brand is God breathed his life into you. You're a son,
you're a daughter of the most high God, and there's nothing wrong with owning it, driving it, wearing
it, but don't let it be the reason you feel good about who you are. Because what's hot today, what's
the latest, greatest, in a few years it'll be outdated, and if you live possession-based, you have to run
from name to name, position to position, friend to friend. That's going to wear you out. Why don't you
relax? 

You can't get any more valuable. You can buy more clothes, get more friends, that doesn't whether
you're wearing Gucci or Goodwill, whether it's Calvin Klein or Fruit of the Loom, your value never
changes. Your clapping 'cause you wear Fruit of the Loom like me. 

I went to the sporting goods store the other day to buy some new T-shirts to work out in, and there
were probably ten racks of shirts. Practically every one had the manufacturer's name on the front in
big, bold letters. I thought to myself, "You want me to buy your shirt and then go around as a
billboard for you? No offense, but I don't want to wear your name, I like my own name". Do you need
somebody else's name to make you feel good are you trying to prove your worth, your value by who
you know, what you wear, what you drive? Or can you say, like Jesus, "I don't have to have
popularity, possessions, or performance to feel good about myself. I am secure in who I am. I know
who God made me". 

When Jesus was riding into town on palm sunday, the people laid down branches as he passed by.
They celebrated, shouting, "Hosanna!". From the young to the old, waving, cheering, they were so
excited to see him. He received a hero's welcome. But a few days later, those same people instead
of shouting, "Hosanna," they were shouting, "Crucify him. We don't want him here". When Jesus
went to trial and needed his closest friends to support him, his disciples, the ones he had poured his
life into, they weren't anywhere around. He asked them to stay up and pray, but they were too tired
fell asleep. 

If you base your value on people's support, how much they approve you, encourage you,
then if for some reason they stop doing that, you'll feel devalued. As long as they're telling
you you're great, you'll feel great. The problem is if they change their mind, they're not telling
you that, you're not going to feel great. You can't base your value on people are funny. They'll
say, "You're beautiful," one day and, "I don't care for you," the next. "Hosanna," on sunday,
"Crucify him," on friday. If you don't know who you are without them, then if they leave, you'll
be lost. They'll take you with them. Your identity was caught up and you'll try to find
somebody else to tell you who you are.

You don't need people to tell you who you are. People will let you down, people will get jealous,
people have their own issues. Let your Heavenly Father tell you who you are. Get your value, your
self-worth, your approval from him. He says, "You're a masterpiece". He says, "You're one of a kind,
a prized possession". Somebody may have told you the opposite. "You're not talented, you're not
attractive. You don't have a good personality". Let that go in one ear and out the other. They don't
determine your value. What they say or do doesn't make you any less a masterpiece. 

Quit letting how people treat you make you feel inferior. They don't control your destiny. They didn't
breathe life into you. They didn't call you, they didn't anoint you, they didn't approve you. Your value
came from your Creator, from the God who spoke worlds into existence, and the good news is they
can't change your value and you can't change it. God put it in you before you showed up. You don't
need their approval, you don't need their encouragement. They don't have to validate you. 

It's good when it happens, but if you're depending on it to feel secure, then if they don't do it, you're
going to feel inferior. Don't give away your power. Don't put your identity, your value into somebody
else's hands. Even good people can't give you everything you need. Somebody that loves you very
much, they cannot keep you approved, validated, feeling secure. You have to go to your Heavenly
Father, and sometimes, we're putting pressure on people to keep us fixed, keep us validated. Let
them off the hook. You already have a savior. He's on the throne. Go to him and not to people. 
The problem with trying to get this from people is people have issues. People are dealing
with insecurities, fears, hurts, wounds, prejudice, dysfunction. They don't know any better.
That's normal to them. Messed up people can mess you up. That's not profound, but it's
good, isn't it? If you base your value on what they're giving you, you can end up
dysfunctional.

I talked to a lady recently that had a very bad childhood, neglect, abuse, and she'd just gone through
her second divorce, and her ex-husband told her that she didn't deserve to be loved, and I could tell
that she believed it 'cause she was down on herself, and I told her what I'm telling you. Don't let
messed up people ruin the rest of your life. If somebody hurt you, there's a tendency to internalize it
and think, "There's something wrong with me. If I was more attractive, he wouldn't have left. If I was
smarter, I wouldn't have had a bad childhood". 

No, it has nothing to do with you. They're treating you out of their hurts, their wounds. Hurting people
end up hurting other people. Don't let what they say define who you are. Don't let what you didn't get
make you feel like you're to blame. They said, "You don't deserve to be loved," that's a lie. They
said, "You're not attractive," another lie. But if you base your value on these lies, you won't have any
kind of self-worth. 

Studies even show that children that went through neglect, abuse, a bad childhood, very often they
take the blame on themselves. They think there's something wrong with them. This lady did the
same thing. She didn't think she deserved to be loved. That's the enemy trying to steal your sense of
value, and if somebody did you wrong, instead of internalizing it, have you ever thought about
maybe they were messed up? Maybe they felt so bad about themselves, so unlovable that they tried
to project it on you? 

I know a young man that never felt like he fit in. Growing up, there's very little love in his home, he
never felt approved or celebrated. It was like he was a burden, and he found out in his early teens
that his parents always wanted a girl. They were disappointed when he was born. 

Now he's in his 20s, had his head down, insecure, feeling unworthy, and I told him "Your parents
may have wanted a girl, but the Creator of and God doesn't make mistakes. You're not an accident.
He hand-picked you. He chose you before you could choose him. Your parents may not have known
any better, but don't let their lack of approval you didn't come from your mother, you came through
your mother. You came from almighty God". I began to tell him how he was a masterpiece, called,
chosen, equipped, one of a kind, with seeds of greatness. Nobody had ever spoken faith over his
life. He lifted his head, he put his shoulders back, I could see a smile starting to form. 

When you base your value on what people say or do, that's going to push you down. But
when you base it on what God says about you, it's going to lift you up. You're going to have a
smile on your face, a spring in your step. You're not going to be put off by what you didn't
get, by who's not supporting you. Like him, maybe nobody ever told you what God says
about you. God says you're amazing. He says he's proud of you. He says you're the apple of
his eye, and people may not be celebrating you, but you need to know God celebrates you.

I've heard it said, if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a computer, you'd
be on the homepage. The scripture says God has on the palm of his hand. He's always thinking
about you. You may feel like you never really got the approval from your parents, from your family.
Even now, they don't want to celebrate you, they don't affirm you. But the truth is it's not about you,
it's about their issues, their insecurities. Don't spend your life trying to get something that they can't
give.

I know people working 80 hours a week trying to prove to their parents they're successful, prove to
their family they're good enough. You have to let it go or you'll be frustrated. Turn to your Heavenly
Father, get your approval from him. He's smiling down on you. He sees you excelling. You don't
have to have their approval to be happy. God approves you. He's the one that matters. 

In the scripture, David didn't have his father's approval. When the prophet Samuel came in to anoint
one of Jesse's sons, Jesse didn't even bring David in from the shepherd's fields. He saw David as
being inferior, not talented, too young, too small. Sometimes the people closest to you can't see the
greatness in you. Jesse didn't see a king in David, he didn't see a giant killer, a strategic leader. He
saw a young boy with not much to offer. He dismissed him, didn't pay much attention. 

Your family may discount you, they may leave you out. Don't take it personally, just keep being your
best, getting your approval from this happened with Jesus. His brothers didn't believe in him. They
saw him as average, what's the big deal? What's all the commotion? It's just Jesus. The people that
should've supported him the most tried and the people closest to you may not acknowledge your
gifts, they may not see your value, but God does. David was left out, it wasn't fair. But when Samuel
looked at the other seven sons, he said, "Jesse, it's none of these. Do you have any more sons"?. 

People may leave you out, but God doesn't leave you out. If David had to have his family's
approval, he would've never taken the throne. Quit trying to make people be for you that are
never going to be for you. Quit feeling inferior because somebody close to you is not
celebrating you. If you needed their approval, you would get it. If you're not getting it, that
means you don't need it to become who you were created to be.

And I know many of us had great parents that did their best, but we all have people that are not
giving us their approval. They don't acknowledge our gifts, they don't see what we have to offer.
Don't live frustrated, thinking that there's something wrong with you, trying to prove to them who you
are, trying to convince them to affirm you. Let it go. There's nothing wrong with you. If you had to
have it, they would give it. Since you don't, shake it off, keep your head held high knowing that your
Heavenly Father has approved you, accepted you, and anointed you. Your value doesn't come from
people, it comes from a while back, somebody gave a watch to the ministry. 

I was out of town at one of our events, and a man came up and handed me this nice box. I opened
it, it was a beautiful watch. It wasn't super fancy, but it was attractive and sporty, and of course I
thanked him, I'm very grateful, and I brought it back and put it in my desk drawer. A couple of
months later, I opened the drawer to get something out, and there was the watch, I had forgotten
about it. 

I looked at it again, and I thought it cost a couple hundred dollars. I didn't notice the name brand, but
for some reason, I googled it, and when I did, I nearly passed out. The exact watch came up, it was
over $10,000. It's from a very famous, prestigious watchmaker. It looked like to me a lot of other
watches that I'd seen that costs several hundred dollars, but because of the manufacturer, this watch
was extremely valuable. 

You could put it side by side and you wouldn't see much difference. Looked averaged, ordinary.
People had copied it, there were knock-offs. On the surface, it seemed the same. But what gave it its
value was who made it, and sometimes, we don't realize who we are. 

You may feel average, ordinary, like nothing stands out. But because of your maker, there's
something about you that makes you extremely valuable. You're not a copy, you're not a
knock-off, the Creator of the universe is your manufacturer. You can't get any more
prestigious than that. But if you don't know who you are, like I did with the watch, you'll
discount yourself, thinking, "Oh man, I'm ordinary. Nothing much to offer, nothing special
about me". You need to google your you have the fingerprints of God all over you.

Psalm 139 says, "God, I praise you because you have made me in an amazing way. What you have
done is wonderful," and if you're going to recognize your value, you have to see yourself as
amazing, as wonderful, not because of who you are, but because of now, life will try to make you
feel like you're anything but amazing. 

Disappointments, betrayals, rejection will try to steal your sense of value, but all through the day,
despite what thoughts are telling you, despite who left you out, you need to remind yourself, "I am
amazing, I am a masterpiece, I have been wonderfully made". Don't discount what God has created.
Don't go around feeling ordinary when in fact you're extraordinary. 

People may try to make you feel average, like David's father, you don't have much to offer. Are you
going to believe what people say about you, or believe what God says about you? God says you're
amazing. Have you ever said that to yourself? 

It has to start on I read where tom Brady's Jersey that he wore during the super bowl is worth
$500,000. I can go online and buy that same Jersey for $49. What's the difference? Who it belongs
to. Same Jersey, same size, same color, but one belongs to Tom Brady. That makes it extremely
valuable. The scripture says, you belong to God. You may feel average, think you look ordinary,
nothing special about you, but because of who you belong to, that makes you extremely valuable.

Now, my challenge, don't let people discount you, don't let your own thoughts push you
down. Put your shoulders back, you belong to God. You don't have to prove anything, you
don't have to try to impress people, just be who you are. Be amazing. If you'll do this, I
believe and declare every chain is being broken. You're going to live free, and become the
masterpiece that God created you to be in Jesus' name.

lmost two years ago, I was the director of investments for a $2 billion real
estate portfolio on the 16th floor of a sexy Santa Monica office building
overlooking the ocean. Even though I was grateful for the work and team that I
had, every night I’d crash on the couch after a long workday feeling drained.
Wondering how I would transition from a safe 9-5 job to a life I loved, I knew
that I had to create a life that I’d wake up excited for.

I think a lot of people feel stuck where they are in life -- maybe you’re there
right now.

It’s true that a less fulfilling day job can take both your energy and time, but
what’s holding you back might not just be the long hours you’re putting in at
the office.

Today I want to dive a little bit deeper. I’ve learned from my own personal
experience and also from many people I’ve worked with internationally, that
there’s one very common -- yet not often discussed -- struggle that may be
holding you back more than anything else.

A $5 Car

Imagine this: You just bought your favorite luxury car at a dealership in Santa
Monica -- say, a Porsche 911 in black or a Rolls Royce Phantom in white.

I walk up to you, slap a five dollar bill in your hand and say, “Here’s $5 for
your car.”

Obviously, you’d laugh in my face because you know full well that your leather
seated, Bose-speakered piece of heaven is worth way more. You would never
settle for anything less than it’s worth.

But, what about you? I’ve seen countless times that the biggest obstacle to a
person’s success is not that they don’t have the resources (time, money,
energy, etc.) but that they don’t have a clear understanding of their own value.
And as a result, people settle for less. They settle for $5 lives, $5 careers and
$5 relationships -- even a $5 bank account.

Your Self-Worth

You don’t have to settle for a $5 dollar anything. In fact, I’ve seen people’s
lives change in an instant once they recognize the truth of who they really are
and the value they truly have to offer.

The truth is, you carry your own gifts, strengths, talents and experiences.
There’s no one else like you who can give the world exactly what you have to
offer. You’re rare. Like the Mona Lisa or a Jackson Pollack, you’re literally
irreplaceable: one of a kind.

Yet, you may be walking through life thinking you’re common, that you have
to fit in a box and be like someone else who the world or the media tells you
that you should be. But the real truth is, the more you try to be like everyone
else, the more you actually diminish your own self-worth and the more
common or replaceable you become.

The Secret To Self-Worth

The secret to self-worth lies in a few simple decisions you can make at any
time.

1. The first decision is to take back ownership of your self-worth. It’s

called self-worth for a reason.

There’s a simple truth I use and speak daily: “Confidence isn’t what other
people think about you -- it’s what you think about you.” Once you accept
yourself as the true decider of your self-worth and stop allowing what other
people think to validate you, you’re instantly in control of your self-worth and
ready for the next decision.

2. The second decision is to recognize, celebrate and love the parts of you that
make you special, unique and different.

Take a few minutes to take a true inventory of your gifts, talents and unique
life experiences. Embrace and be grateful for them. You’ve already overcome
so much that has brought you to where you are right now in your life. Fully
recognize the wins and achievements you’ve already experienced. The more
you become self-aware in these, the more you can lean in and maximize them.

3. As you become more self-aware, the third decision is to make sure you look
at your strengths and weaknesses from the right perspective.

Everyone has both strengths and weaknesses. As you see yourself clearly, the
secret is to lean into and maximize your strengths and not allow your
weaknesses to define you. You can honor and benefit from both.

Many people do the opposite of what is most productive. They are quick to
diminish their strengths and emphasize their weaknesses, making themselves
feel as though they are never enough. You cannot allow your weaknesses to
determine your value. Instead, you can know that you are unique with
something truly valuable to give the world right now, leaning into your
strengths and learning to use your weaknesses as opportunities to grow.

Remember this: There’s no limit to where you can go because there’s no limit
to where you can grow.

Key Takeaways
Self-worth is already available within you now; it’s just a matter of you
recognizing it. Your life is already worth more than you can imagine. These
three decisions will help you more clearly recognize your value so you no
longer accept or settle for $5 lives, $5 careers, $5 fulfillment, $5 health, $5
relationships and $5 bank accounts. It’s time to see yourself as you truly are.
Not through the distorted lens of what others think and say about you, but
through a self-aware and empowered lens that shows you truth and real
perspective. And, as you fully embrace yourself as you are, you will step into a
higher level of self-worth as the greatest leader of your own life, your family,
your business and in the world.

Remember, this is your life. You live life once, so don’t live it playing small or
looking at it through a lens of diminished value. The truth is that you are
valuable and have something incredible to give the world. So go out there, live
life awake, and live life fully.

Self-Worth Value #1: You have positive self-esteem.

You believe in and like yourself. Self-esteem is confidence in one’s own worth or
abilities. You are comfortable with who you are — your weight, height, and everything
that makes and represents you. You are confident in the work you deliver and your
sense of professionalism. You like and have a great relationship with people. I think that
without positive self-esteem it would be difficult to know your value.

Self-Worth Value #2: You recognise the difference you

make.
When you know your value, you will confidently approach a negotiation with full belief in
your knowledge, skills, and experience and the difference you can make. For example if
you help a client introduce a new process within their organisation, you are not too
consumed by the process used but in how much they have benefited. Have they had an
increase in sales or productivity or have they saved money? Or it might be that you’re
the main carer for a disabled or elderly relative and your presence and support is
invaluable.

Self-Worth Value #3: You see yourself as a peer.

In any given situation, knowing your value means feeling that you are an equal with
anyone you interact with: clients, bosses, colleagues, or friends. You are not a
supplicant. Nor do you feel privileged to be with someone or to work in a particular type
of organisation. You have a personal sense of value and deservedness and assert
yourself as an equal in personal and business relationships.

Self-Worth Value #4: You do not undercharge for your

services.
Quite often out of fear of losing business or the desire to win more business, people will
undercharge for their services. This is a classic situation where they end up doing much
more than they’re paid to do. But, somehow, in a desire to prove themselves, these
people still feel that they are not doing enough in relation to how much they are being
paid. This can set a precedent which could be hard to remove. I recall many years ago
driving to a client site and deep inside I was unhappy and annoyed. This was because I
was hugely undercharging and unhappy with myself for continually doing so. 

Self-Worth Value #5:You are clear about your values.

You know your boundaries. You are clear about what is acceptable behavior, how you
like to be treated and spoken to, and you have the courage to speak out when
necessary. You don’t need external validation to prove your value — instead, you have
an internal compass of what is right and wrong.

Read on to find out more about core values and how to find our values.

Self-Worth Value #6: You are engaged in work that is

exciting and fulfilling.
When you are involved in work that is fulfilling as well as financially rewarding, you are
more inclined to work with even greater commitment. I believe that when you love what
you do, you are prepared to do more and to become more.

Understanding Your Value

Growing up, I played baseball all through little league and junior high. I always made the All-Star
Team. Like any little league player, I dreamed of playing second base in the big leagues. But when I
got to high school, it was a whole new level of talent. I came from a very large high school. There
were 800 people in my graduating class. When I tried out for the baseball team, there were 150
other young men trying out for 20 positions on the team.

I’ll never forget the day the coach called us into the gym to tell us who made the team. He began to
call out the names one by one. I didn’t hear my name, but I was sure I was going to be next, or next,
or next... The more names he called out, the lower I sank. He finally said, “Alright, here’s the last
name.” He called it out, and it wasn’t my name. I was so disappointed. He told me later, “Joel, I’d
love to have you on the team. You’re just too small. You’re not big enough.” Back then I was very
small. I grew six inches after high school.

Over the next few weeks and months, those words rang out in my mind again and again. “You heard
what the coach said. You’re too small. There’s something wrong with you. You’re not good enough.”
Have you noticed how the negative voices will always play the loudest? If you don’t take control of
your thought life, then every hurt, every criticism, every derogatory comment will play again and
again. I was tempted to be insecure, to feel inferior, and lose my confidence. But I had to keep
reminding myself, “He may have said I’m too small, but I know God made me like I am on purpose.
He may have said I’m not good enough, but God says I’m a masterpiece. They may have rejected
me, but God says He accepts me.”

It says in 1 Peter 2:9, “You have been chosen by God Himself.” People may leave you out. People
may overlook you. But always remember, the One who matters most chooses you. That means you
weren’t randomly chosen. God, on purpose, looked at you and said, “I choose him. I choose her.
They’re My son. They’re My daughter. That’s who I want on My team.”
People may tell you, “You’re just too small.” But God says, “You’re just the right size for Me.” People
may say, “You’re not talented. We don’t need you. You don’t have anything to offer.” But God says,
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are talented. You are creative. You are anointed. You
are smart. You are intelligent. You are amazing.”

Whenever we feel that sting of rejection, instead of getting down on ourselves and losing our sense
of value, our attitude should be, “I may be disappointed. This may hurt. But I’m not going to sink
down into self-pity and start thinking that there is something wrong with me. I know the One who
matters most, the One who controls the universe, handpicked me. I may not have been chosen by
the coach, the boss, or a friend, but I was chosen by the Most High God; and He says that His plans
for me are for good and not evil, to give me a future and a hope.”

I know some of you have gone through more than your share of unfair situations. But here’s what
I’ve learned. Even though life is not fair, God is fair. If you will not go around thinking there is
something wrong with you, but instead start seeing yourself as handpicked by God — valuable,
lovable, with something great to offer — then God said He will pay you back double for your former
shame. That means He’ll make the rest of your life twice as good as it would have been if that had
never even happened to you.

But you’ve got to dig your heels in. Don’t allow what somebody did or didn’t do steal your destiny
and cause you to go through life feeling not good enough, not talented, not attractive. No, realize
that you’re a child of the Most High God. Your value doesn’t come from people or accomplishments;
it comes from your Creator. Put your shoulders back. Hold your head up high. Live with confidence.
God said He will take what was meant for your harm and use it for your advantage.

If you will keep this attitude of faith, God will always give you the last laugh. He’ll get you where
you’re supposed to be. No, I didn’t get chosen for the baseball team that year. My dreams of playing
second base didn’t work out. But do you know 30 years later, I did stand at second base at Yankee
Stadium? I wasn’t playing baseball. God had something else for me to do. God opened the door for
our ministry to conduct a Night of Hope event, and I was able to stand boldly on second base and
tell thousands of people about God’s goodness and His good plan for their lives. It was a time I will
never forget and was one of the greatest moments of my life.

Friends, people may reject you, but God accepts you. He’s already chosen you, and He’s the One
that matters most. He has a way of working everything out for our good! And it’s always better than
we could have ever imagined!

Bible verses about self worth

Often we put our self-worth in the type of clothes that we wear, the type of
car that we drive, our accomplishments, our financial status, our
relationship status, our talents, our appearance, etc. If you do this you will
end up feeling broken and depressed.

You will feel like you’re in shackles until you realize that Christ has set you
free. Yes Christ has saved us from sin, but He has also saved us from the
brokenness of having the world’s mindset.

Don’t let sin take away your joy. Don’t let the world take away your joy. The
world will not take away your joy if your joy doesn’t come from the world.
Allow it to come from the perfect merit of Christ.

Christ is the answer to all self-worth issues that may arise in your life. You
are more to God than you can ever imagine!

Quotes

 “Not one drop of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me.”

 “If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone,
you have already forgotten your value.”
 “Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see
your worth.”
 “Make sure you don’t start seeing yourself through the eyes of those
who don’t value you. Know your worth even if they don’t.”
 “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
 
God created man in His own image. 

As a result of the fall we are all broken. God’s image has been perverted by
sin. Through the first Adam the image of God was tarnished. Through the
second Adam Jesus Christ believers have been redeemed. Adam’s
disobedience resulted in brokenness. Christ’s perfection results in
restoration. The gospel reveals your value. You are to die for! Christ bore
our sins on the cross.

Though we struggle at times due to the effects of the fall. Through Christ
we are being renewed daily. We were once a people plagued by that
broken image, but through Christ we are being transformed to the perfect
image of our Creator. For those struggling with self-esteem we must pray
for the Lord to continue to conform us into His image. This takes our focus
off of self and puts it on the Lord. We were made for God not the world.

The world says we need this, we need this, we need this. No! We were
made for Him, we were made in His image, and we were made for His will.
We have a purpose. We are fearfully and wonderfully made! It’s amazing
that we get to be image bearers of a glorious God! The world teaches that
we need to work on ourselves and that is the problem. How can the
problem be the solution?

We don’t have the answers and all of these man made solutions are
temporary, but the Lord is eternal! It’s either you create a temporary identity
for yourself or you can choose the everlasting identity for yourself that is
found and secure in Christ.

1. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our
likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the
sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures
that move along the ground.”

2. Romans 5:11-12 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through
Him. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

3. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory
of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

4. Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully

made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
5. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

You’re so loved and beautiful beyond imagination!

The world will never comprehend. Even you will never comprehend the
great love that God has for you! That is why we must look to Him. You are
not in the world for nothing. Your life is not meaningless. Before creation
God created you for Himself. He wants you to experience His love, He
wants to spend time with you, He wants to tell you the special things of His
heart. He never intended for you to look for confidence in yourself.

God says, “I’m going to be your confidence.” It is important on our walk of

faith that we get alone with God so we can allow God to work in us and
through us. Before the world was created God looked forward to you. He
anticipated to have time with you and to reveal Himself to you. He waited in
anticipation! The Bible tells us that God’s heart beats faster and faster for
you. Christians are the bride of Christ. Christ is the bridegroom. On a
bridegroom’s wedding night all it takes is one look at his bride and his heart
beats faster and faster for the love of his life.

Now imagine the love of Christ! Our love grows dull, but the love of Christ
never wavers. Before creation the Lord had many plans for you. He wanted
to share His love with you so you would love Him more, He wanted to
remove your doubts, your feelings of worthlessness, your feelings of
hopelessness, and more. We have to get alone with God!

We struggle with so many things, but the one thing we need we

neglect! We choose things that never wanted us, that want to alter us, and
that never satisfy us over a God who died to be with us! We choose them
over a God that says you are wonderfully made. Before the world looked at
you and said you are not good enough God said I want him/her. He/she is
going to be my treasure.

6. Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world
to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption
to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–
to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One
he loves.

7. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy

nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
8. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9. John 15:15-16 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not
know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for
everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You
did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go
and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my
name the Father will give you.

10. Song of Solomon 4:9 “You have made my heart beat faster, my sister,
my bride; You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your
eyes, With a single strand of your necklace.”

You don’t need to prove to anyone how valuable you are.

The cross speaks louder than your words, your doubts, your
accomplishments, and your possessions. The Creator of the Universe died
for you on the cross! Jesus shed His blood. Don’t you understand that the
simple fact that you are alive right now shows that He knows you and He
loves you? God has not forsaken you. He hears you! You feel forsaken, but
on the cross Jesus felt forsaken. He has been in your position and He
knows how to comfort you.

You are not your past mistakes, you are not your past sins. You have been
redeemed by the blood. Keep on pressing on. God is working through your
struggles. He knows! God knew you and I were going to be messy. God
isn’t frustrated with you so take that out of your head. God hasn’t
abandoned you. God’s love is not based on your performance. God’s
mercy is not dependent on you. Christ has become our righteousness. He
did what you and I could never do.

You were bought with the precious blood of Christ. Not only has God
chosen you, not only has God saved you, but God is working in your
struggles to make you more like Christ. Don’t let things like sin discourage
you. You were bought with the blood of Christ. Now press on. Keep on
fighting! Don’t give up. Go to the Lord, confess your sins, and press on!
God is not done working yet! If you could have saved yourself by your
performance, then you would have never needed a Savior! Jesus is our
only claim.

He thought about you when He died on the cross! He saw you living in sin
and He said I want him. “I’m dying for him!” You must be so valuable that
the Creator would come down from His throne, live the life you couldn’t live,
suffer for you, die for you, and rise again for you. He was forsaken so you
could be forgiven. Even if you tried to run away from Him you would never
be able to get away from Him!

His love would catch you, cover you, and bring you back! His love is going
to keep you to the end. He sees every tear, He knows your name, He
knows the number of hairs on your head, He knows your faults, He knows
every detail about you. Hold on to Christ.

11. 1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God

with your bodies.

12. Romans 8:32-35 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up
for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all
things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It
is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ
Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand
of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword?

13. Luke 12:7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not
be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

14. Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have
called you by name, you are mine.

15. Isaiah 43:4 Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored
and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in
exchange for your life.

This world teaches us to focus on self and that is the problem.

It’s all about self-help. Even in Christian bookstores you will find popular
books titled “5 Steps For The New You!” We can’t fix ourselves. Until you
realize you were not created for yourself you will always struggle with self-
esteem issues. The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s all about Him!

Rather than looking to the world to patch up spiritual wounds which it can
never do, we should look to God to change our heart. When you take the
focus off of self and put all of your focus on Christ you will be so consumed
in His love. You will be so busy in loving Him that you will lose the doubt
and the feeling of rejection.
You will genuinely love yourself. We always tell people to trust in the Lord,
but we forget to tell people that it’s hard to trust in Him when we are not
focused on Him. We need to work on our humility. Make that your goal.
Think less of yourself and think more of Him.

16. Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone
among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to
think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a
measure of faith.

17. Philippians 2:3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain

conceit.Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

18. Isaiah 61:3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland
instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of
praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of
righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

The world has us comparing ourselves to each other.

This is hurting us. We are not to be like the world. We are to be like Christ.
Everyone wants to be like someone. The person who you compare yourself
to is comparing himself/herself to someone else. It’s meaningless and it will
make you weary. It’s time to say enough is enough.

When you compare yourself to the world you allow Satan to plant seeds of
doubt, insecurity, rejection, loneliness, etc. Nothing in this world will satisfy.
Find satisfaction and joy in Christ which remains forever. You can’t try to
substitute the joy found in Christ. All other joy is only temporary.

19. Ecclesiastes 4:4 Then I observed that most people are motivated to

success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless–
like chasing the wind.

20. Philippians 4:12-13 I know how to get along with humble means, and I
also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have
learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having
abundance and suffering need. I can do all things  through Him who
strengthens me.

21. 2 Corinthians 10:12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves

with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by
themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
 

Setbacks bring down our self-esteem.

Throughout life we make expectations for ourselves. I do it all the time in

my mind. I expect to accomplish this at this time. I expect this to be a
certain way. I don’t expect setbacks or roadblocks, but sometimes we need
a reality check. We are not to trust in our expectations. We are to trust in
the Lord because when our expectations prove to be unfaithful we know
that the Lord is faithful. We trust our future with our Almighty Father.

Proverbs 3 tells us to not trust in our thoughts. Expectations are dangerous

because once you don’t meet your expectations you start to struggle in
different areas. You start to struggle with your identity in Christ. You
become disappointed in who you are. You start to lose the love of God.
“God doesn’t care about me. He doesn’t hear my prayers. I am not fit to do
this.”

Maybe you struggle with self-esteem and self-worth because you have
encountered a few setbacks. I’ve been there before so I know how it feels.
Satan starts spreading lies. “You’re worthless, God has too much to worry
about, you’re not one of His special people, you’re not smart enough.”

We have to understand. We don’t need a title. We don’t need to be big and

be well known. God loves us! Sometimes setbacks are because the love of
God is so great. He is working in broken people and He is making
diamonds out of us. Don’t trust in your setbacks. Allow God to work
everything out. You can trust in Him. Pray for more joy in Him.

22. Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken

hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching
forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s
heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

23. Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things
of the past. Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will
you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the
wilderness, Rivers in the desert.

24. Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about
you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I
will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Read Psalms
One thing about my church that I love is that church members take turns
reading different chapters in Psalms. Whatever you are struggling with
whether it is self-worth, anxiety, fear, etc. take the time to read different
Psalms especially Psalm 34. I love that chapter. Psalms will help you with
putting your confidence back in the Lord instead of yourself. God hears
you! Trust Him even when you see no changes in your situation.

25. Psalm 34:3-7 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name
together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from
all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never
covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he
saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around
those who fear him, and he delivers them.

How Much are You Worth?

Find Your True Value!
Mar 28, 2010 @ 12am, by Emmanuel Higgins
Do you sometimes feel worthless? Or, at times, have you been slighted or treated as
though you were of little value?
Should we value some people more/less than others? 
And how should we set a value upon each other?

Let's open the Bible and find some answers.

Remember to pray and ask God to give us wisdom before we read His word.

How much does God care for us? And how much does He value us?

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not
fall on the ground without your Father. 
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God cares for his creation (the sparrows in this case) so much! In fact not even one
sparrow dies and falls on the ground without God noticing it. But to us sparrows seem
so small and worthless, in fact in the Bible times two sparrows were sold for a farthing
(less then one cent)! 
If God values the sparrows so much, how much does He care for, and value us? Are
not we of more value than many sparrows? Yes! In fact, God knows so much about us
that even every hair on our head is numbered!

But how much are you and I truly worth? And what value should we place upon each
other?
Often we'll look at the work someone is doing, and if they're doing a poor job, perhaps
always making mistakes, then we view that person as of little value. 
But is this the correct way of seeing value in someone?

In a friendship, if one person is not showing kindness, sympathy or love to the other, is it
because they don't really value or appreciate that person as they should?

Think about it, if we truly saw the value of people as God does, would we still treat each
other the way we do?

What value does God place upon us? Remember the verse we read earlier.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall

not fall on the ground without your Father." Think of it, not one

of these little brown sparrows that are caroling forth their

praises to God will fall to the ground without the notice of the

heavenly Father. Not one of these little brown sparrows that the

boys so ruthlessly kill, drops to the ground but his eye marks its

fall. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." If God

cares for a sparrow that has no soul, how will he care for the

purchase of the blood of Christ? One soul is worth more than all

the world. For one soul Jesus would have passed through the agony

of Calvary that that one might be saved in his kingdom. "Fear ye

not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."  {RH, May
3, 1892 par. 8}
And this is the key to seeing and understanding the value of you and me and all other
people in the world, that is, to see our value in light of what Jesus did to save us!

Isaiah 13:12  I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even
a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

God says that he will make a man, that is you and me, more precious than fine gold!
(Ophir was a place famous for its gold). And truly, when we look at the greatness of the
price paid to save us it is much, much more precious than gold!

How much Jesus loves us! Think about how Jesus, the great powerful Creator, became
a man and walked among us, and then was crucified in the hands of those He had
created!! And He did it because he loved and valued us so much, that He wanted to
save us from our sins! So are we not of far greater value than anything in this world?
 The worth of a human soul can be estimated only by the light

reflected from the cross of Calvary. ... It was the joy set before

Christ in accomplishing so great salvation, that led him to submit

to shame, agony, and death. How do all the treasures and the

glories of earth sink into insignificance when compared with the

value of a human soul!  {ST, February 16, 1882 par. 17}

Lets remember how much we are of value in God's eyes! And remember to be kind and
loving to all the people in this world because of what Jesus has done for us, and the
great worth He has place on us all.

[SEE YOURSELF AS GOD

SEES YOU
ANDREA GROENEWALD

9 COMMENTS

How do you see yourself? Pause for a moment and think about it. What thoughts
have you had about yourself today?

So many of us find ourselves basing our self-worth on how others see us and on our
accomplishments, feeling shame from our past, defining our value based on our looks,
or setting unrealistic standards for ourselves.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If only we could see ourselves as God sees us!

I want to look with you at three thought patterns that can act as roadblocks to
thinking — and living — the way God desires for us. These destructive thought
patterns were identified by psychologist Albert Ellis (1973). We will contrast these
ideas with what 1 Peter 1 tells us about how we can “prepare our minds for
action.” Adjusting our thinking to Scripture is the foundation of “be[ing] holy in all
we do.” 1 Peter 1:15b

1. “I must be loved or approved by virtually every other person in my life.”

If we are living to make sure that others love us, we give them permission to evaluate
us based what we do — we give people the power to determine our self-worth.

When we leave home, many of us have “internalized parents” who are now voices in
our heads that tell us what we should do, what is important, and how we should do
things. Have you ever been in a situation where you have to make a decision and you
can hear your parents saying, “That’s not responsible..." or “I told you that would
happen?”

Many of us are so concerned that we are loved, that we give the opposite sex
permission to evaluate our self-worth. As adolescents, we might sacrifice our own
identity to get attention and acceptance, even to the extent of pretending not to be
bright or kind, because we think the opposite sex won't be impressed. Or, we might
deny ourselves food to lose weight to try to fit in with the body image that is
portrayed in magazines. Even as adults, we buy into the beauty myth, thinking that
our appearance is our number one asset, and what will bring us acceptance and
approval from a spouse. Eating disorders abound — anorexia, bulimia, and binge
eating, to name a few.

We may even feel pressure from our church community to measure ourselves
according to a certain image — women are supposed to be nurturing, quiet and
gentle, raise well-behaved children, and maybe even do crafts. And men should be
competent spiritual leaders, provide for and protect their families, and be a "manly
man" and be in touch with his sensitive side, too. If we live to please our church
community, we may find ourselves negating the interests or gifts that God has given
us.

Our identity is found in Jesus Christ. It is rooted in His freedom-giving mercy. Our
identity is that of a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Our spiritual
inheritance is one of forgiveness, an intimate relationship with Jesus, and hope of
spending all eternity enjoying fellowship with God. It is this truth that gives us
unconditional love, intimacy, security and hope. And it is not based on our identity,
but on what God has already accomplished at the cross.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has
given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven
for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

2. “My past history is an all-important determiner of my present behavior;

because something once strongly affected my life, it should definitely continue to
do so.”
You may feel controlled by a secret. You may have had something happen to you that
you haven't told anyone, or only to a few people. Perhaps you feel shame about
certain aspects of the family you grew up in, or maybe you have sinful habits you feel
embarrassed about, such as gossip, lust, pornography, or criticizing others. Maybe you
have done some things in your past you are ashamed of. Or maybe something has
been done to you that you feel ashamed of. 

If we don’t deal with issues in our past, they will continue to control us in some
way in our present. But they don’t have to. We can deal with past sin, our family
histories, as well as past violations to our bodies and minds.

It is important to identify whether our feelings in these situations are destructive

shame or healthy guilt. Healthy guilt always separates our identity and our behavior.
Shame links these two, so wrong behavior taints our image of ourselves. Healthy guilt
alerts us to the fact that we have done something against our internalized values.

Biblical guilt is a God-given emotion that “red flags” a behavior and tells us it is an
act of rebellion against God. It spurs us to confess our sin and experience the love and
forgiveness that God has provided for us through Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If
we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.” After we’ve confessed our sin, feelings of guilt are not from
God, but may be from ourselves or from the evil one. Now, we still have to live with
the consequences of our sin, but God does not punish us for our sin. God disciplines
us to get us back on track so we can continue to experience God’s love and plan for
our lives. Our struggles can bring us closer to God and heighten our faith as we
experience His faithfulness in forgiving us and drawing us closer to Himself.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while you may have had to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proven genuine and may result
in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

3. “I should be thoroughly competent, adequate, and achieving in all possible

respects in order to consider myself worthwhile.”

Ten percent of people will struggle with some form of clinical depression in their
lifetime. Depression can be biological or situational, and often can be the result of
both. However, one of the leading causes of depression is setting your standards so
high that you cannot live up to them. You are constantly striving for a standard that is
unattainable, but you wear yourself out trying anyway. One of the messages that can
play over and over in our minds is that we have to “be perfect.”
We often fall into the trap of feeling responsible not just for ourselves, but the lives of
others, whether our co-workers, friends, children, or spouses. We take on the weight
of everyone’s world!

Read Tia’s story of facing depression.

It is often difficult for us to separate our identity from our behavior. We feel if
we don’t measure up, it reflects on who we are as individuals.

God’s grace, charis, is a gift. It is through God’s grace that He heals us and brings
freedom to live a new life. Sometimes grace does not come easily to us. We have to
work at changing our thinking to cut ourselves some slack. We need to humble
ourselves to accept God’s grace and give grace to ourselves when we don’t measure
up.

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come to
you, searched intently and with the greatest care.” 1 Peter 1:10

Once we extend grace to ourselves, we will be able to live a life of extending grace to
those around us, both those in the church community and those outside. We need to
take our lives back from trying to live up to these distorted beliefs and line our
thinking up with the way God views us. Instead of being so focused on ourselves and
our own failure, we will be able to extend a helping hand to those around us and be
God’s vessel of grace to those we come into contact with wherever we go. Here are
some practical steps to take to gain a true picture of yourself:

1. ERADICATE THE ROADBLOCKS

1. Identify which roadblock to seeing yourself as God sees you affects you most.
2. Think of new ways to look at that situation and thought pattern that would be
more helpful to you.
3. Whenever you recognize that pattern of thinking or behaving, interrupt it and
substitute your new way of thinking and behaving. 

2. ALIGN YOUR VIEW OF YOURSELF WITH GOD'S VIEW

God uses various metaphors to describe His love and care for us, that of a nursing
mother, a loving father, a shepherd, etc. Here are some verses to meditate on:

 Jeremiah 1:5
 Matthew 10:28-31
 1 Peter 5:7
Do you struggle with low self-esteem? Sometimes, it helps to talk about it. Fill out the
mentor form in the connect tab!

hoto by Guy Gerrard

Over the course of our lives, each person’s identity is being formed and shaped through
individual experiences, relationships, culture, media and the world around us. We are
constantly seeking to define who we are in any way that we can.

Defining our Identity

David Benner, a psychologist and author of the book The Gift of Being Yourself, defines
identity as “who we experience ourselves to be – the I each of us carries within.” Often,
we feel the pressure to define ourselves through our jobs, financial status, successes,
grades, appearance, what other people say about us and many other means.

But what happens to our identity when we experience failure? Or lose someone’s favor?
Or become burnt out in our jobs or place of service? The very foundation of our identity
is shaken and altered, resulting in us hustling to define ourselves by something or
someone else. A stable sense of self cannot fully exist when we place our identity in
external things. When circumstances change, our identity constantly changes too.

We may receive an overwhelming amount of messages telling us to define ourselves by

external measures, but what would it look like to base our identity on the way God sees
us? Benner states that “an identity grounded in God would mean that when we think of
who we are, the first thing that would come to mind is our status as someone who is
deeply loved by God.”

How would viewing yourself in this manner change the way you live? What are some
obstacles in doing this?

How God Sees Us

First, we must know how God sees us. One of the richest passages about identity in the
Bible is found in Ephesians 1:3-14. In this passage, Paul addresses the church in
Ephesus, explaining the new identity given to a person when they are in Christ.

According to Ephesians 1, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing; we have
been chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, grace-lavished, and unconditionally loved
and accepted. We are pure, blameless and forgiven. We have received the hope of
spending eternity with God. When we are in Christ, these aspects of our identity can
never be altered by what we do.

Obstacles
Often times, however, a gap exists between intellectually knowing these truths about
who God says we are and living them out. This can be affected by how we see
ourselves, life experiences, and the ways we allow the world to define us.

In order to live out of the fullness of our new identity in Christ, we must determine what
is hindering us from doing so, which varies from person to person. Many times, a false
belief has wedged itself between how God defines us and seeing ourselves in the same
light.
For example, the opposite of “pure and blameless” would be “impure, stained or guilty.”
Perhaps a life experience has caused you to feel impure, so you believe God sees you
this way. You then create and live out of an identity based on your actions, which is
contrary to how God sees you.

In order to fight against these false beliefs, we must discover the exact belief we are
allowing to form our identity. When reflecting on the passage in Ephesians 1, some
false beliefs we may live out of are:

 rejected instead of accepted,

 in bondage instead of redeemed,
 under the law instead of covered by grace,
 feeling orphaned instead of adopted, and so on.

Living out of one of those identities opposed to our new identity in Christ then affects
our behaviors. If we still think we are under the law, we may think we must “do” more for
God in order to be right with Him. We may bury ourselves in ministry or service or other
good works to feel as though we’re in good standing with God instead of resting in
Christ’s work on the cross.

What to do with False Beliefs

Once you recognize the false belief, surrender it over to God in repentance, which
means in Greek “to change one’s mind,” according to Blue Letter Bible. Then replace
the lie with truth found in Scripture.

Sometimes the lie is connected to a very real, painful experience. Take some time to
grieve over the experience and invite God into the place of brokenness. After you have
surrendered the lie over to God, pray that He will help you believe the truth about who
He says you are, and make you aware of the times you are not believing it. Then, make
the choice to believe it!

We may not always “feel” forgiven or blameless, but the truth is, God sees us that way.
This is where faith comes in. Second Corinthians 10:3-5 states, “For though we walk in
the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare
are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy
arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every
thought captive to obey Christ.”

God has given us everything that we need to demolish strongholds or false beliefs, and
he empowers us to do so.

Viewing Yourself as God Sees You Matters

If we lived out of an identity based on how God sees us, we would no longer feel the
need to find our worth in our external circumstances.

It would free us up to live in a confident and stable manner, instead of changing who we
are based on others, the jobs we receive or don’t receive, how we see ourselves, and
all the other ways we try to define our significance. It would give us the opportunity to
experience God’s unconditional love for us in new and fresh ways. And it would allow us
to confidently and boldly share His love with others.

It’s certainly a battle as we live in a world that seeks to define us by its own standards.
But it’s a battle that, when we engage in it, could impact everything about us!

How would believing the truth about your new identity in Christ change the way you
live?
For more on our identity in Christ, read What to Put On and Off in the New Year.

Discover Your God-Given Worth

Free Download:
Quick Reference Guide on Self-Worth

What happens when you long for your mother’s love, but your sister is the only one loved? What happens when you
long for a gift, but your sister is the only one given a gift? What happens when you long to be held on your mother’s
lap, but your sister is the only one held on your mother’s lap? Ask Dorie Van Stone. Dorie would personally tell you
that repeated  rejection is the breeding ground for low self-worth.1 Because she was not wanted by her mother, in the
eyes of her mother, she was always ugly.

Dorie never received the love and affection her heart so deeply craved. However, what a comfort for Dorie (and for all
the male and female Dories in the world) to come to know this truth . . .

“The Lord does not look at the things man

looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7 )

As a child did Dorie have any concept of “self-worth”? How could she? As a continually rejected child, how could she
personally feel any sense of significance . . . of value . . . of worth? Even more basic than that, how do you determine
the worth of something or someone? How do you know your own worth? Do you look to yourself or others in order to
grasp your value? If you look anywhere other than to God—the God who created you with a purpose and a plan—
your view of your own value is in grave danger of being distorted. Before you were ever born, God established your
real worth by creating you! Even you were worth God’s creating you and more so: God chose you!

Read more: http://www.hopefortheheart.org/self-worth/#ixzz5vpCeLzek

Truth, Lies, and Your Self-Worth

MINDY RAYE FRIEDMANChurch Magazines
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Don’t let the world tell you when to feel good about yourself.

A new year brings feelings of a fresh start and new hopes, but it also brings a wave of
worldly messages telling you that a new year requires a new you. These messages say
that you can only be happy if you lose weight, get new clothes, find more friends, and so
on. You hear these messages in the media, at school, and sometimes from those closest
to you.

The problem with these messages is that they’re not true. If you examine them closely,
you’ll discover that the true motive behind the messages is usually to convince you to
buy into something either with your money or your time. But you don’t have to!

“Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love

never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance,
by your possessions, or by the amount of money you
have in your bank account. It is not changed by your
talents and abilities.” —President Thomas S. Monson

Learn more about God's love.

Changing your physical appearance or material possessions may make you feel better
for a little while, but it doesn’t really do anything to change your worth or your eternal
happiness. That’s because your worth is already established. President Thomas S.
Monson has taught: “Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never
changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount
of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities.
… God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always
there” (“We Never Walk Alone,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 123–24). You are a child of God.
You already have infinite worth, and that does not change. So it’s important to
understand how you can recognize these false messages about self-esteem and combat
them with gospel truth.

World’s Lies vs. Gospel Truths

Lie: Your worth is determined by looking and acting in the world’s way.

Believing this lie means that you’re letting worldly influences determine when you will
feel good about yourself. You then have to constantly change to conform with worldly
ideals, which are inconsistent and temporary. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles has warned: “When we choose to define ourselves or to present
ourselves by some characteristic that is temporary or trivial in eternal terms, we de-
emphasize what is most important about us and we overemphasize what is relatively
unimportant. This can lead us down the wrong path and hinder our eternal progress”
(“How to Define Yourself,” New Era,June 2013, 48).

Truth: Following the Lord’s way builds a sense of eternal worth.

The Lord taught that His ways are not the same as the world’s ways and that “my ways
[are] higher than your ways” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Following the Lord’s ways allows you to
receive eternal blessings and to have the Holy Ghost with you, which can help you feel
good about yourself more deeply and consistently than anything the world has to offer.
Instead of trying to be what the world wants you to be, try living your life by the
standards the Lord has set. His ways never change, and you will never be unpopular to
Him.

Lie: Your worth comes from how you compare to others.

 “Comparing blessings is almost certain to drive out joy.
We cannot be grateful and envious at the same time. If we
truly want to have the Spirit of the Lord and experience
joy and happiness, we should rejoice in our blessings and
be grateful.” —Elder Quentin L. Cook
As a teenager, you’re probably well aware of how you compare to your peers. You want
to fit in and be your best, which often means you want to be like someone else. When
someone seems better at something than you, you may feel like you’re not good enough
and that you need to be better in order to be accepted. One problem with this lie is that
by tying your self-worth to other people, you’re often comparing another person’s
strength to one of your weaknesses (see President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor
in the First Presidency, “Forget Me Not,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 120). This can also lead to
envy and pride, especially if you put down other people to try and make yourself appear
better.

Truth: Everyone has different gifts. You can feel good about yourself and
be grateful no matter what your talents are.

The Lord wants you to be yourself, not someone else. He knows that you and everyone
on this earth have strengths and weaknesses. Comparing yourself to someone else
doesn’t help you be better. Of course, it’s important to improve yourself and to make
goals, but they should be based on doing yourbest, not someone else’s.

If you want to feel better about yourself, try being grateful for what you have.
“Comparing blessings is almost certain to drive out joy,” says Elder Quentin L. Cook of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “We cannot be grateful and envious at the same
time. If we truly want to have the Spirit of the Lord and experience joy and happiness,
we should rejoice in our blessings and be grateful” (“Rejoice!” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 30).

(For more on this topic, see “Soar Like an Eagle.”)

Lie: Self-esteem comes from worldly success.

This lie is related to the one about comparing yourself to others. Who determines what
success is? Everyone’s definition may be a little different. And when you base your self-
worth on achievements, you’re only telling yourself that you’re as good as your latest
achievement. That’s simply not true.

Truth: God’s view and expectations are what matter.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught, “Disciples of Jesus Christ understand that

compared to eternity, our existence in this mortal sphere is only ‘a small moment’ in
space and time (D&C 121:7). They know that a person’s true value has little to do with
what the world holds in high esteem. … The Lord uses a scale very different from the
world’s to weigh the worth of a soul” (“You Matter to Him,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 20, 22).

“The Lord uses a scale very different from the world’s to

weigh the worth of a soul.” —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Once again, you can overcome this lie by following the Lord’s way and being more
concerned about His definition of success than the world’s. If you can consistently feel
the companionship of the Spirit in your life, then it means you’re living the way the Lord
wants. And if you do feel like you’ve failed in the Lord’s eyes, remember that you can
come back through repentance and the Atonement.

Lie: Good self-esteem is all about building me.

When people encourage you to focus on building self-esteem (rather than recognizing
eternal self-worth), you may be tempted to think you’ll be happier with yourself if you
focus on building you. That’s the tricky thing about this lie. It seems so logical that self-
esteem should be all about you, but that’s how the adversary tricks you. If he can get you
so obsessed with “improving” yourself (typically with the outward things the world
values) that you’re totally focused on you, then it will distract you from all the people
around you whom you could be helping.

Truth: You’ll find joy in serving God and others.

The Lord commanded His disciples to “esteem [your] brother as [yourself]” (D&C
38:24–25). Those who truly love themselves don’t rely on others’ attention and praise.
They’re comfortable enough with their own worth that they can have good relationships
with others and are able to serve them without ulterior motives. Think about it: When
you’re serving others and forgetting about yourself, does it make you feel better? Of
course it does, because you’re doing something worthwhile. And as you serve God’s
children, you draw closer to Him, thus improving yourself at the same time.

Your True Self

In the end, loving yourself is not about tooting your own horn or conforming to the
world’s view of self-esteem. It’s about being who you are—a unique child of God—and
knowing that who you are is a good thing. When you understand your eternal worth and
you live in a way consistent with your divine heritage, you will gain a lasting self-esteem
that is better than anything the world can offer.