And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:24-26
So many modern Christians
walk around thinking they need to show forth high self esteem, self worth, positive self image... self, self, self. This is far from what God's word is teaching.
If My people who are called
by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal
their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
You have to pull all your
strength together and focus on God's word and His promises. You know... low self esteem is not as bad as you may
think in regards to Christian living. High self esteem is far worse, since a born‑again believer should esteem
Christ as the highest. Really, there is not such a thing as self esteem, be it
low or high, in the Scripture. This self esteem concept comes from the "masters" of secular psychology. I had to
throw a lot into the garbage of some of my studies which was against God's word
and of that what others thought was correct.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:6
The so to speak low self esteem
people are the ones who may learn fast to make Christ #1 and lean more on Him
in general. Your self worth is in Christ, since God looks only for Christ in believers'
life. Looking at it as I describe above may help you see things differently,
as God's sees it.
I have experienced that
most of born‑again believers have gone through hard times, as I have, otherwise
they may not have sought after God. One may compare his life of 'lows"
with the life of Job... but there is far more to Job's life than the pains and
humiliation he suffered. Have a further look at his end... and at his faith in
God. Job got far more back than he ever lost. He kept God high, while he
himself stayed low. Amen!
This is all what matters to
the Father. He wants us to be spiritual oriented and
esteeming Him high, which
means looking up to Him as our High esteemed Leader and we seeing ourselves as
being a "zero" in our own strength. This will bring the believer in a
position of total dependence upon Him.
This then is the correct
relationship with God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit, so you may be
useful in His kingdom and for His glory.
Whoever exalts himself will
be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12
Life does not improve for
many Christians who are not learning from their situation, their pain, their
trouble etc. God provides even some of
our situations so we will learn to go His way, depending totally on Him and
live daily for Him. If we are able to learn God's will step by step, life
becomes far more bearable and pleasant/joyful in the Lord, even through
calamities.
Don't think that I am
spared from hardship, just because I have NOT been spared I have grown stronger
and have been able to counsel people with the most unusual and difficult
troubles. I felt at times being dragged through the mud or worse... just
learning how to deal with specific situations and issues.
Many years ago I was
confronted by an ex‑prisoner who had served 7‑8 years for murder, who forced
himself into our home when I was alone with our 3 children who were still in bed. I was
8 months pregnant of the 4th child. How did I handle this? I had no choice than
to rely on God completely. If not, I would have been murdered.
Why, I wondered, do I have
to go through this. But God gave me wisdom and I spoke in the authority of the
Lord, telling him that if he would just touch me... God will touch him. And you
know, it took nearly my breath away thinking that this man could have dropped
dead at my feet, had he touched me. I had become more concerned about his life
than mine. See, there goes your self‑esteem right down the drain. It wouldn't
have helped me anyway.
What saved my life was that
I esteemed my God higher, because I was nothing and I could not even defend myself being in the last term of pregnancy.
Several very trying times
have filled my past Christian life. At particular times I was very close to death by
hands of mankind and claws of satan himself.
Last year I was diagnosed
of 2 types of cancer of which one was a very rare malignant cancer, as some of
you know. I overcame in the name of the Lord, not through high self‑esteem.
If you cannot bare having
low self esteem, or low self worth, go to the cross and see how LOW our Saviour
became, hanging on the nails which kept His body up. Jesus, the Christ hung
there as a criminal for you and me... and you think you should have some high
self‑esteem? Throw it in the garbage and rise up in the power of the Holy
Spirit instead.
"Blessed are the poor in
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3.
Jesus was not talking here about
people who have a low IQ, or who are not all with it, or poor spirited. Jesus
refers to those who have emptied themselves of exercising personal self‑will,
and personal preconceived opinions. It means putting aside your train of
thought, your views, your prejudice and anything else standing in the way of
serving God.
Jesus Himself said:
"Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls." Matthew 11:29.
Whatever will happen to you
use Job, the 3 Hebrew children, Daniel, Peter and Paul as your example of humility, and you will
come through victorious.
Build up your faith... even
as small as a mustard seed and you will move "mountains". Live completely
for Him or don't live for Him at all. Walk in obedience of God's word in
water baptism (Matthew 28:19) and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, Who is your
strength throughout your walk with the Lord.
DON'T let your
circumstances take over. Life's experiences will make you to master your
circumstances as you walk in humility and in the strength of the Lord.
I therefore, the prisoner
of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are
called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one
another in love; Ephesians 4:2
Praise the name of the
Lord!
Be blessed in the Lord.
Minister Dr. Trudy Veerman
