Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts

Verse: 2 Cor. 12:9
But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.'

While looking into the mirror recently I was focusing on the areas of myself I didn’t like one area after another. Finally, God had had enough and He broke through my negativity and gently said, ‘You are more than the parts of yourself you don’t like.’

We are so much more than those parts of ourselves we don’t like. We are also so much more than the struggles and challenges we face. We are more than the addition we struggle with, more than the learning challenges we have, more than the scar, more than the guilt, more than the disability, more than the number (age or weight), and more than our past mistakes. Our worth is not based on how much or how little we know. Out of our frustration and desire to change we may think, ‘I wish I was ______,' fill in the blank with an adjective of your choosing; smarter, thinner, prettier, more successful etc. The list could go on and on. Occasionally on bad days it does, but no matter how we feel about ourselves God loves us and values us just as we are. Satan will try to keep us thinking negatively because in that negativity is defeat. However, it is helpful to remember that, God made us in His own image (Genesis 1:27) therefore; we are made to succeed (Philippians 4:13 and Romans 8:29 & 31 ). We are loved by our Creator. Don’t give up or give in.

I will praise you, O Lord.

Prayer:
Father, thank you that I am made in your image and that you value me even when I am not able to value myself.

Plan of Action (James 1:22-25):
Begin to write out some encouraging bible verses, then when the negative and intrusive thoughts come say those verses out loud until the verses are memorized. Also, forward this to someone that may need to hear this.

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