Love Yourself

If you don't love yourself, you can't love others as you should. You cannot give away something you do not possess. I'm not saying you don't love your spouse or your family. However, if you don't love yourself, likely you're holding something back. Let's be clear, I'm not talking about being puffed up with pride or being 'full of yourself', but truly loving yourself for who God created you to be! Far too many people struggle with loving themselves the way that God loves them. If that's you, it's time to change your thinking!

MARK 12:31 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

These words come straight from Jesus. That's pretty plain isn't it? "Love your neighbor as your love yourself." I want you to think for a moment How many of you would think about your neighbor the things you think and say about yourself? Pretty harsh, right? Jesus commands us to love others like we SHOULD love ourselves, and yet so many struggle with loving themselves. We are all unique individuals, hand crafted by our Heavenly Father, with gifts and abilities - and that makes us ALL SPECIAL! PSALMS 139:13-18 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

That's right, you are special! You have a great purpose! You are no accident! You are wonderful! Next time you look in the mirror, I want you to declare those things over yourself! Speak God's word over you until you believe it!

I love this quote from Joyce Myers,

"We all need to accept ourselves, embrace our personalities and even our imperfections, knowing that although we are not where we need to be, we are making progress. Jesus died for us because we have weaknesses and imperfections, and we don't have to reject ourselves because of them. God wants us to love ourselves and enjoy how He's made us!"

I absolutely love how she worded that. We have to learn to accept ourselves, flaws and all! First Corinthians says that our bodies are the temple of God. Your body is the temple, that houses God and the Holy Spirit. How are you treating your temple? What are you putting in your body? What are you doing with your time, talents and treasures?

1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

We all need to cherish and nurture our bodies and be thankful. Stop worrying about what the world defines as 'beautiful' on the outside. We are each beautifully and wonderfully made by the creator of universe. Your insecurities about your body or personality may actually be strengths God wants to use!

Some of us need to learn how to relax and enjoy life. It's ok to laugh and have a good time. Stop taking everything so seriously. Some need to forgive themselves. Stop holding on to the past. You are redeemed! Some need to learn to live, really live, the kind of life that can only come through loving God first, and standing on his promises. Some need to let go of perfectionism. Stop letting fear control you from resting in the Lord and trusting that He works all things together for your good! Some need to learn to eat healthy and exercise. You deserve to be healthy and feel good about yourself. Some need to receive Gods love for them. Let God Love and heal you in the areas that need!

It's time we all learn to love and take care of ourselves, in every way possible - Spirit, Soul & Body!

PRAYER

Father, I choose right now, to start loving and taking care of myself. You loved me so much that much that you hand crafted every part of my being. You knew me first and you called me good!

I choose to let go of all that is hindering me from loving myself. I choose to stop allowing fear an self-inflicted damage to hurt me any longer. Teach me how to take care of myself, spirit, soul and body. Teach me how to love myself, so that I can truly love others as I should. Teach me how to live life to the fullest! I don't want to miss out on all your blessings by holding on to this anymore. In Jesus name Amen