A Christian Oxymoron: Secure in God's Promises
Friday, July 2, 2021
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT
Thoughts for Today
In addition to giving us seven causes of inferiority feelings, Bob Moorehead in Counsel Yourself & Others from the Bible (pp. 194-199) also gives us six steps of counsel from God's Word to help combat inferiority:
- First, realize you are in good company! Although many biblical characters struggled with low self-esteem, God used them in great ways.
- Understand your sense of well-being is not derived from what you have but from who you are in Christ.
- Remember, God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
- Remember, our goal is to please God, not man.
- Recognize that whatever we accomplish, we do so by God's strength.
- Let Christ live his life through you.
Are you willing to let Christ live his life through you?
Consider this . . .
It's all about Jesus. Is your life focused on you . . . or on him? Are you depending on yourself . . . or on him? As you focus more and more on him, you will gain peace and a sense of well-being and security. Here are just a few of the many scriptures that will remind you of his promises.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 NLT
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Psalm 118:6 NLT
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 NLT
Prayer
Father, help me trust you and not myself. Help me live for you and not myself. Help me remember that I am special . . . not because of anything I have or haven't done but because of what Jesus did for me. Because you designed me and have a good plan for my life. Because you love me. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from . . . Seeing Yourself in God's Image: Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia by Martha Homme, MA, LPC. Written by a counselor with experience helping those with eating disorders, this study is born from her own struggles in adolescence. The group challenges members to find their identity in Christ as they overcome this difficult struggle. This guide offers understanding of distorted body image, denial, and the family systems influence. It also explains how to break free of social pressures and how to restore the temple and tie the recovery process together. A companion booklet Seeing Your Loved One in God's Image, can be used as a quick reference guide dealing with issues associated with eating disorders. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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