Written by Sharon Jaynes
Seeing Yourself as God Sees You
Today's Truth
'"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
Friend to Friend
For many years after I became a Christian, I operated under a false sense of who I really was. I had no idea the change that occurred in me the moment I accepted Christ. I did not see myself as God saw me and had no idea His truth was different from my perception of it. Over my mind was a grid system, like a sieve, of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. When I processed information about my world and about myself, it had to first filter through that negative grid system.
It was not until my thirties that I began to realize that how God saw me and how I saw myself were very different. Like a hungry child, I began to research and write down verses about who I really was in Christ - my new identity as a child of God. I learned that I was a child of God (John 1:12), chosen and dearly loved (John 15:16), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a joint heir with Jesus (Romans 8:14), a saint (Ephesians 1:1), righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24), dearly loved (Colossians 3:12), completely forgiven (1 John 1:9), totally free (John 8:36), uniquely designed (Psalm 139:14). I also learned that it was Satan who held that negative grid system in place.
I came to a crossroads in my spiritual journey. I could continue believing the lies or I could begin believing the truth. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). I decided to believe the truth. It was difficult and didn't feel comfortable at first. Like the lame man who regained the movement of his legs, or the blind man who received his sight, I had to adjust to my new belief system.
Oh my friend, God has so much planned for us to do and to be, but if we are operating with a false sense of who we really are, we may be paralyzed by feelings of guilt and shame.
On Jesus' first day of public ministry, he walked down to the river and was baptized by his cousin John. As Jesus came out of the water, a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am welled pleased" (Luke 3:22). That is the same thing God says to you...and to me.
"You are my child...whom I love...with you I am well pleased."
Joyce Meyer, in her book Beauty from Ashes wrote, "You cannot get beyond your own opinion of yourself-no matter how many good things God may say about you in His Word. Regardless of all the wonderful plans God may have for your life, none of them will come to pass without your cooperation."
We must start believing that we are who God says we are and seeing ourselves through His eyes. That's the truth and it will set us free!
Let's Pray
Dear LORD, I have believed the enemy far too long. I have seen myself as not good enough, not smart enough, not spiritual enough. But today, I am going to start replacing those lies with Your truth! I am a child of God - a new creation - empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells in me!
In Jesus powerful Name,
Amen
Now It's Your Turn
Go back to today's devotion and highlight the verses about your new identity in Christ.
Write them on an index card. Put them with your makeup mirror in your purse.
Now, when you take out your mirror to see "how you look," pull out the card to remind yourself "who you are."
Additional Resources
Satan does not want you to see yourself as God sees you. He knows that when you do, they'll be no end to the mighty power you will exert in defeating his plans. Are you ready to believe the truth? Are you ready to see yourself through God's eyes? If you need a little help in that area, you'll want to read I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. You'll learn how to replace the lies with truth and walk in victory! Also, Sharon has a laminated prayer card at the bottom of the Books and Audio page, with many verses about who you are in Christ. This inexpensive resource will fit in your Bible and be a constant reminder of the truth of who you are.
Today's devotion was adapted from Sharon's book, Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities every man longs for. If you would like to learn more about how to have a wonderful marriage, this book is for you. And, if you would like to learn more about how to resist the lies of the enemy in every area of life, you'll want to see Sharon's latest release, I'm Not Good Enough...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.
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