SELF CONCEPT

By Dr. Wilma J. Johnson, MSW, Ed.D.


Knowing who you are in Christ...

     We will explore who you are in Christ and learn what it means to have your self concept based on who God says you are. Self concept can be loosely defined as a person's view of themselves. How they 'see' themselves. This will in turn determine how you act and behave and how you relate to others. It is not based on what you do (job, successes or defeats in life), and it is not in pleasing other people, or in other people's opinions of you. It is based on accepting who God says you are, and seeing yourself as God sees you. This begins by accepting His truths, and rejecting the lies of the devil.
     Many people may feel a sense of hopelessness about themselves, their relationships, and about life in general. Regardless of how they are loved and treated by others, regardless of how many Bible studies, church services, conferences, or counseling sessions they participate in, or how many times they go down to the altar in response to invitations from preachers; they may still have negative beliefs that will decide how they respond to love and truth. There are many reasons for this state, which could include family background or past experiences.
     God's light must penetrate down to our deepest beliefs about ourselves. This could possibly be a very painful experience when we admit that we do feel negatively about ourselves and we then allow God's light and truth shine on how we see ourselves. This will take time, it has taken possibly years to develop negative habits, but God's love, expressed through His people, His Spirit and His Word, can bring healing to our deepest hurts and give us an appropriate sense of self-worth.
     God created us, He knows how we are made, and He knows what we need. Trust Him.
Repeat the following affirmations daily, look up the accompanying scriptures, and pray for openness and honesty before God as you accept these truths of who God says you are.

-I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
-I am chosen by You, my Father (Ephesians 1:4)
-I am Your child according to the good pleasure of Your will. (Ephesians 1:5)
-I am an heir. (Ephesians 1:11 & Romans 8:17)
-I am saved by Your grace. (Ephesians 2:5)
-I am Your workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
-I am a citizen of heaven. (2:19)
                              

YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING, A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM.

NEVER FORGET THAT!

                             

GOD LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON FOR YOU.

BELIEVE IT!

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((Whether or not we feel it is true, we still need to believe it. Jesus is the truth, the Holy Spirit is truth,and the Word is truth, so we should speak the truth in love. The Bondage Breaker, by Neil Anderson))                                                                  

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