How Do You Measure Up?

[et_pb_section bb_built="1"][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.11"]God wants you to accept yourself and to like who you are!  Does that statement sound too hard to do?  It shouldn't!  God accepts you as you are.  The devil wants to steal self-confidence from you.  He tries to make you "feel" that you don't "measure up" in one way or another.Thank God that we are "measured" by His standards, and not the world's yardstick!  The opinion you have of yourself affects all your relationships- with God and other people. We don't succeed by works- but we do have to be obedient to do what God says. There is a difference!The Bible says that we reap what we sow. If we sow God's Word into our hearts then we will reap the blessings- salvation, deliverance, peace, healing, redemption, and prosperity- many blessings.  If we sow what the devil and the world tells us- then we will reap those things- condemnation, guilt, shame, confusion, insecurity- many curses.Now don't mistake what I am saying here.  God wants you to accept yourself as you are now. But He also fully expects you to constantly and consistently grow and change towards being more and more like Jesus, step by step, every year, every month, every week and every day. If you are not moving forward, then you are backsliding.  It's kind of like running up the down escalator or a salmon swimming up the rapids.Our worth and value is not in what we are- but who we are in Christ Jesus. As you apply God's Bible based principles in your life- you will be able to overcome any insecurities you may have and learn to succeed at being who you are and like yourself in the process.  Here are some ways you can do this:1. Begin to say what God says about you- not the negative things you may "feel" about yourself.  God works by faith- the devil works with feelings! I cannot stress this point enough- it does NOT matter what you "FEEL" about you.  His Word IS truth! Repeat what God says about you and you will begin to change.2. Don't compare yourself to other people. You will have to learn to deal with criticism without thinking that there is something wrong with you. Don't let criticism concern you.  Go to your friends that will honestly help you in certain areas that you may need improvement in. Learn to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Please God!  You don't need the approval of other people to be happy with yourself and be a success!3. Focus on your strengths and not your weaknesses!  Find something that you like to do and do it well. Let God show you what you're good at and don't try to copy others.  We all have different gifts and talents- but as Christians we are all part of the body of Christ.4. Never settle for just being average.  As people travel through life, teachers might label them "average."  Family members might limit their dreams. Bosses might stifle them.   All too often people respond by simply settling into a boring, mediocre life. But that's not the kind of life God wants for anyone. Don't settle for it!   If you refuse to be satisfied by a life of mediocrity, you'll be free to pursue excellence.  In the process, your life will become the unique adventure God has planned for you - and you'll fulfill your highest potential.God wants to lift you up!  Do what He wants.  You will succeed every time and be at peace, because you are doing what He has planned for your life. God wants you to be blessed, joyful, fulfilled and happy.  He wants you to enjoy life and have life more abundantly.  God doesn't want us to focus on what's wrong with us- but what's right with us.Satan knows he can get to you through insecurity, low self-esteem and negativity.  He surely will until you learn not to look his way and receive his lies.When you know how much God loves you- you will learn to like and love yourself.  Become rooted and grounded in God's love so you will be at peace and succeed at being yourself.So, as you grow towards being more like Jesus, and stop to measure your progress, don't get down on yourself because you're not where you think you should be.  But rather, celebrate how far you have come and ask the Holy Spirit to help you make more progress from this point forward.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]