My prayer lately has been: “God, help me see myself as You see me.”

I struggle between the two extremes – pride, and low self-esteem. But I’m slowly discovering there’s a better way. He wants me to have good eyes, to see myself as He sees me, through a lens of grace.

Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

This verse is sandwiched in between not being conformed to the world/renewing your mind, and the truth that in Christ we who are many form one body, individually gifted and called to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

So we need our minds renewed and to think of ourselves with sober judgment, to be able to see how He has called us to fit into the Body of Christ – the Church.

The Greek word for “think” in Romans 12:3 is phroneō (G5426); it means “to feel, to think, to have an opinion of oneself, think of oneself (so as to think soberly), to be modest, not to let one’s opinion (though just) of himself exceed the bounds of modesty; to exercise the mind, to entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.”

There is one Greek word for the phrase “to think more highly” – hyperphroneō (G5252). It means “to think more highly of oneself than is proper, to esteem oneself overmuch, i.e. be vain or arrogant.”

There‘s also one Greek word for the phrase “have sound judgment” – sōphroneō (G4993). It means “to be of sound mind (i.e. sane), to exercise self-control, i.e. to put a moderate estimate upon oneself, think of oneself soberly.”

So Paul is urging the people to THINK, but not just any kind of thinking. Sōphroneō, not hyperphroneō. To have good eyes, a sound mind, and a humble heart.

Not proud, vain, or arrogant. But honest, true, and loving. Because on the other side of the coin, especially if you’ve struggled with an orphan mindset, you can be too hard on yourself. You can give more credit to the enemy’s hissing lies instead of focusing on the truth that your Heavenly Father is hollering down from Heaven in love.

And this is where that cry rises up from my heart – “God, help me see myself as You see me.” Nothing more, nothing less.

When asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39

If we’re going to live out these two greatest commandments to love, we need to learn to really love ourselves – to appreciate who God has created us to be. He wants us to love others as well as we love ourselves – in the same way. But first, we have to know how we are – who He says we are. You can’t love something you don’t know.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” – Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is also full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” – Luke 11:33-36 (NIV)

You have God’s light in you, and He has not intended for you to hide that light. We are called to reflect Him and His goodness wherever we are. We are called to SHINE – to be radiant! He is light – there is no darkness in Him – and we are His! Children of the light!

We need good eyes to see who we really are when the Light is shining on us. 

I strongly encourage you to join me on this lifelong journey of finding our identity in Christ. To humbly evaluating who we really are, who He’s formed us to be.

Don’t let fear, doubt, or worry shape your view of yourself. Don’t give the world or the enemy any say in how you see yourself. Run to your Father’s arms and receive what He says about you.

A couple weeks ago, one of my pastors gave an exhortation to go to God and His Word to find out what He says about you. She got us started with this list:

• I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
• I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)
• I am greatly loved by God (Ephesians 2:4)
• I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13)
• I am God’s masterpiece, created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10)

She challenged us to add to that list. I want to encourage you to do the same, as well as share with you some of the things He showed me in His Word. Let His truth wash over you and give you a fresh view of you today! I’m praying for you to have good eyes!

• I am rescued by Him because He delights in me (Psalm 18:19)
• I am a new creation in Christ – the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am victorious through Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:57)
• I am never alone or abandoned, overlooked or forgotten – God is with me (Joshua 1:5)

❤️

In case you need a song to sing! There’s a line from the song “Tremble” that I can’t stop singing: “Your name is a light that the shadows can’t deny, Your name cannot be overcome!”