As I shared in another thread Jesus has set me free from thinking Negative thoughts about myself! Its so awesome as I was struggling with this issue for yrs! However even so I am still struggling with self esteem issues,as I find myself wondering at times why people like me.
I dont understand why God set me free from one issue of thinking negatively about myself,yet one so similar I cannot seem to get past it. Does this mean im not truly set free yet?
Actually the concept of self-esteem comes from Norman Vincent Peale who was right into the occult, and says that his theory was dictated to him by an occult spirit.
Actually, the Scripture says that we as believers are dead:
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Being crucified in Roman times was the worst punishment for the lowest criminal, and the person hanging on the cross was displayed stark naked in absolute shame. To the Jews, to be crucified was to have the curse of God upon them. That's about the extreme opposite of self-esteem I know of.
So if you are having issues with self-esteem, that is good! Because then you will put your whole trust in God through Christ according to the Scripture:
"Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9).
Charles Spurgeon said:
"I'm just a poor sinner, and nothing at all;
But Jesus Christ is my all in all."
D Martyn Lloyd Jones said:
"There is no such person as a good Christian. We are just vile people who have been saved by the grace of God."
So, I think the key is to forget about how you feel about yourself, and look to God to make you into the person He wants you to be. He purposely allows you to have a low self-esteem so that you will not be puffed up in pride thinking that you are more than you actually are. The Scripture says:
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you" (Romans 12:3).
Also:
"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (James 4:6).
What you are feeling about yourself is humility. Value it, because it puts you in the position that as you put your faith in Christ, God is right there to give you His abundance of grace.
This enables you to know that any good that you can do in His name comes not from you, but the Holy Spirit through you. You can feel rotten about yourself, but still have love, peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness, goodness and self control, and against these things there is no law.
