“Your most important sale is to sell yourself to yourself.”
- Maxwell Maltz
What do you see in yourself? When you evaluate yourself, do you value yourself? Reflecting on your life in a rigorous and intentional way can be quite an eye-opening experience. So much can be discovered that can change the way you view and value yourself. There are times that the work is hard and hard to face, but it's worth it! Valuing yourself is an essential.
I am a firm believer in "abundant life". John 10:10 Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly." He came because you are worth it! The problem we have an enemy that Jesus says, "has come to steal, to kill and to destroy." He has come to distort, destroy and devour all that is good and to convince us that God isn't who He says He is, and you aren't who God says you are! And if you aren't careful, you will start to agree with him. The less you value yourself, the less you will value others, but the opposite is also true. You will only value others as you begin to value yourself. The more you value yourself, the more you will value others! Remember, Love your neighbor as yourself!
In his book, 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John Maxwell quotes psychiatrist Nathaniel Branden. He says, "No factor is more important in people's psychological development and motivation than the value they make about themselves. Every aspect of their lives is impacted by the way they see themselves."
You were made in the image of God. Hold confidently to the value He has placed upon your life. You were made with intentionality, with love and purpose - For love and purpose! You are priceless!
The Psalmist said in Psalm 139:13-15: For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Let Jesus' words in Matthew 6:26 be a reminder: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (ESV)
Exercise:
Make a list of 30 positive things you believe about yourself. Then, read the list and, later, do it again and add to it when more positive qualities come to mind. Make it a practice to revisit the list regularly to remind yourself of just how valuable you are!
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