Becoming Secure with You

I've have been reminded many times lately that we, as a human race, do not recognize we are enough. Somewhere in our life, culture seeped into our brain and made us all too aware of what was good looking or not, what was acceptable or not, that singleness was not okay, that marriage and kids are the ideal, that being healthy looks like all the advertisements. Some how the world began to define different parts of our personality and thought patterns. No one even seemed to notice... not even you...until you say something untrue and a caring friend calls you out or you begin to feel a certain way about something and don't know why. You may even become depressed or begin to have anxiety or fears about who you are.

As you sit in your "newly" found beliefs, you ponder where it all started? Why on earth do you "all the sudden" think such things about yourself. Notice that the word newly and all the sudden are in quotations. To be completely honest, these thought patterns had to be developed. Choosing to watch a certain show, the music listened to, the people we follow on Instagram, the books we read...really any entertainment's idea that is not met with balance can begin to seep into the mind and heart. For me, it began with listening to too many love songs, aka One Direction and The Beibs. As I latched onto the words of the songs, I became very aware that I was not like those girls in the songs. An unrealistic view of relationships started to form within my mind. However, it was not the first or second or even third time I listened to the song or album. It was after weeks of listening to the same 8 songs. You see, what started as an innocent purchase of a great album ended up in a consistent pouring of unrealistic expectations for myself and others. If I would have listened to the CD a couple times and then moved on, it would not have been a big deal. But, I wanted what it said. Therefore, I would put each word to heart without even knowing it. Over time, these "new" beliefs reigned over my life. Graciously, God rescued me from the lies I formed within my heart and mind. Even now, I have to choose to pour truthful songs into my life. I have to ban myself from mainstream music every so often in order to maintain balance and mental/emotional health. Music may not effect you this way, but something does. Become aware of it. Give it to Jesus to control. Ask for help if you need it. And allow God to redeem you from the lies. Without taking balance with your entertainment choices, there can never be steadfast beliefs of our worth and value. Culture will always rip us away from God's truth.

So what's God truth? What does He think about you? Where does your worth and value come from? If security cannot be found within the people surrounding us then where can it be found? In Genesis, God created everything and called it good! We are not only God's creation but are MADE good. We are also made in His image. I don't think many of us view God has ugly or gross so why then should we view ourselves this way? Another favorite part of scripture to explore is 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." Nothing that is planned that intricately or can be called wonderful is without value. I always think of a child making something and giving it to their parents. It is precious in every way, to both the child and parent. Therefore, how much more precious are WE to GOD. To prove how much we are worth, Romans 5:8 states, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." No parent would give up their child for someone who was not worth it and especially not for someone who did not hold value within their heart. Lastly, to better understand your immense worth and value, let's define these two pivotal words. Worth is defined as "the level at which someone or something deserves to be valued or rated." Which leads to value which is defined as, "the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something." With exploring the truth, there is no possible way that our worth and value are not in high position to the Creator. Therefore, you should also be treated by others and see yourself that way. You cannot find security without God and instilling it within yourself.

What helps me the most when worth and value come from culture and not my Creator, I say affirmations out loud. I encourage you to write out your own and or use these:

1. God loves me.

2. I believe I am beautiful/handsome.

3. No one can influence my mind except Jesus.

4. God will provide the desires of my heart, in His timing.

5. I am unique and proud of it.

6. Anxiety cannot control me because it is in the hands of God.

7. I am secure with the way I look, the way I talk, and the way I walk. (If you are not, do something about it. I am always here to help!)

8. My thought life is balanced.

9. God is in complete control of every circumstance.

10. God does not make mistakes. I am not a mistake.