January 5, 2012
©AMKCH
Pro 23:7a For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
Our heart is our innermost being; our personality. What we think, feel and say comes directly from our heart.
Matt 12:34b …for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matt 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
It is not what we put into our mouth that helps or harms or even destroys us, but every single word we utter that affects us and everyone and everything around us, either negatively or positively. Our heart is our “guts”. You know, when you feel that something is going to happen, … when you “feel it in your ‘guts'”… That is God, by the Holy Spirit, speaking to your heart… Listen to it.
God knows every single thought and intent of our heart. When we concentrate on, and accept Christ Jesus, God’s only Begotten Son, God can AND WILL change our heart, our thoughts, and our intentions… in HIS time, from the way we were… in sin… to the way He wants us to be… in HIM.
Rev 2:23b and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
God wants us to be the very best we can be. As a matter of fact, He demands it in His commandments; the first being to love God, and then to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves:
Mat 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
When we love God and when we love ourselves, there is nothing we cannot accomplish when we have faith. However, we do not think the way God thinks. He does not want us to think more highly of ourselves than we should, but He does want us to have self esteem to the point where we do love ourselves, so that we can love others also. This is what God wants first. Then, He rewards this by answering prayer.
All through history, so many times men, and many women, think they are so much better than their fellow man. They intimidate them, and are just down right cruel and rude to them. The Black people, and Judeans (Israeli’s) (known by the derogatory term “Jews”), especially were treated the worst, in my opinion. These were made slaves by people who thought they were sub-human. I believe that the only reason they did this, was because of jealousy and envy for the strength, and wisdom they had! The only creatures humans are “better than”-, are those which are NOT human!
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Mankind was given dominion over all other creatures… but NOT other humans. I do not see the words “each other”, nor “other humans”, nor “different races of people”, nor “because they have more materialistically, i.e. money, job, home, land, car, etc.,”…. nor anything pertaining to enslaving or belittling any other human. Yet we do. People look down upon those who don’t have their “position” in the business world, nor receive as much pay as they get. They look down on people because they do not belong to their “club” or clique. Well, I have news for those people:
Matt 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
… Doesn’t say “another human” there….
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Doesn’t say “another human” here either except for implying that we are better than the animals. We are… “higher on the food chain” so to speak, than they are.
When speaking of those who are not believers, Paul even tells us:
Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin…
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Phi 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Matt 5:38-42 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Matt 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
- The first step in building our self esteem, is prayer; and building our relationship with God, our Creator.
Exo 20:1-7 And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
As believers, we use the OT term “brought thee out of the land of Egypt” as “out of the bondage of sin”. And now, as in the NT, ALL who accept His Son, Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior, are given forgiveness and freedom in Him who is our mediator between mankind and God!
1 Tim 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he (Christ Jesus) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
You rich people who belittle those who do not have as you have, God has a serious warning for you:
James 5:1-6 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud (cheating out of their rightful pay), crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
And for those who are being treated so cruely by these “people”, God has comfort for you:
James 5:7-8 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
And to ALL mankind, He tells us:
9-10a Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
When we follow His commandments, yet fall into temptation, He WILL forgive us when we go to Him and confess… no matter who you are…
1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We must first turn our hearts to God, and be kind and loving toward each other.
- The second step is to look into your heart. See where you stand spirtually, mentally, emotionally and physically. God tells us in His Word, that all things work together for good for those who love him (Rom 8:28). Whatever you have done before, you must stop if it is sin. Anything against faith in God is sin, period (Rom 14:23c). Sin causes depression, anger frustrations, stress, fear, and other negative emotions. It destroys families and lives. When we turn from sin, and to God, He then is able to prepare us for the work He has for us now, and in the future. Where we have hurt people, if possible, we must make amends. And we must ask for forgiveness and forgive those who have hurt or offended us in any way.
Matt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we do this, it is unbelievable the peace we have inside!
- The third step to building self esteem is believe in yourself. What I mean by this is: Believe that you CAN do and be what you want. This requires action on your part, of course. If you want to be a musician, you must practice that instrument, and study music. If you want to play in any sports, you must practice. Teams cannot win if they don’t practice. You see these teams on the field every year working out, and planning and practicing their moves in preparation for the years games ahead. Whatever is it you want to do or be, go for it with all you have available to you. If you don’t have the funds available to you to follow your dream, say of playing major league baseball, practice anyways. You never know when God may put someone from the league’s talent scouts out where you just happen to be practicing! It happens!
If you want to be an engineer, hang around engineers! hang around carpenters! hang out wherever people do what you want to do. This is how you will learn… by watching, asking questions, etc. Someone may see this, and become your mentor and begin teaching you all you need to know. You just might get hired on that job, because someone saw your determination. If you don’t THINK you can do it, you won’t be able to. You will be surprised at how fast you can learn when you push yourself, and GO FOR IT!!!
Philip 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
God tells us that when we believe, then we can do anything we set our hearts to! And when it seems that nothing is going our way, and we turn to Him, He will help us, because nothing is too hard for Him!
Gen 18:14a Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Mat 19:2c …but with God all things are possible.
Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
When you ask Him for guidance and direction and wisdom, and believe that you can, then you can!
The one main emotion that stops people from achieving their goals or desires is fear and unbelief. When one says, “I can’t”, then you won’t be able to. However, we also must use wisdom and discernment. We must realize too, that there are many things we can’t do because of obvious reasons, aside from fear. For example one cannot design a beautiful home, if you lack the ability to note perspective or draw, or don’t understand the mathematics involved. One cannot play an piano, if his fingers can’t reach the finger span necessary to make certain notes on the instrument, or if one can’t read the notes. Aside from the logical reasons of inability, you can still work in that field doing something. When we obtain the proper education to achieve our goals, then we can move on to the next step… and that is… GO FOR IT!
Shyness is no excuse. This is nothing more than fear of people: what they will think or say about you. If you know you have the knowledge and ability, then you CAN do it,. Fear can be a crippling emotion if you allow it. Satan does not want us to succeed and do well in anything, and will try anything to stop us, especially fear!
God gave us all an inbuilt talent which has to be developed through training and discipline; whether through an institution of learning or by our own initiative to read, practice and study. Once you gain the knowledge and skills, there is then, nothing except fear to prevent you from growing. God wants the best for us. He does not want us to fail!
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Christ tells us that when we ask God for anything ~ if we believe, then we shall absolutely receive it.
Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Jn 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Jam 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
This believing principle applies to everyone, saint and sinner alike. Though it may see that the wicked and unbelievers have and enjoy so much more than the true saints of God, do not be discouraged. You have the one thing that they can never get; True Peace while alive on this earth, unless they repent and come to the saving knowledge of our Lord, accept Him as their Lord and Savior, and renew their minds to change their lives. But that’s another message.
As an artist, I trained myself by studying other’s works, reading books and experimenting with paints. I am always learning, though as I do each piece. And with learning comes my faith that I can do it.
- The fourth step to self esteem is action, Action is the manifestation of your believing. All through God’s Word, we have example of faith action; whether for healing, or gaining wisdom or material things; like food or healing, or oil for lamps, etc. Starting from Genesis 1:3, when God spoke into existence light and darkness~our day and night; all the way to the consummation of the ages, right after the Great White Throne Judgment and eternity begins in Revelation 20:11-15-21:1-8.
Action builds faith by doing. When we are walking upright in faith in Christ Jesus, we can absolutely do and be what we logically want. Only believe. Just put in your mind and heart what it is you want, and go for it. Period! If this principle will work for the unsaved, it will certainly work more so for the true believer who trusts that God keeps His promises!
A word of caution here also. Don’t take too much on yourself, and have too much to do at one time. There are cautions and limits. A person can only do so much before he is overwhelmed by it all. Then also the temptation of greed and selfishness, amongst others, can try to creep in and destroy all you have worked so hard to achieve. Also, some people may try to hold you back from growing or doing. They may say things like, “you can’t do that”, “you’re not good enough”, you don’t have the money or mind it takes to do it” “You’re not smart enough” I have been told all of these since I was a small child. But when, and as long as I trusted God and obeyed Him, there was nothing I couldn’t do. If you know that what you want to do is right in God’s eyes, then go for it anyways. Don’t listen to them.
In all this you must always remember who is in charge: God, by Christ Jesus. Here are some examples:
Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ
Phi 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
What you think you are, or can do is what will be.
Rom 10:9-10 can be used towards the same end …confess with your mouth, and believe in your heart what you heard, and you will get the faith to believe what you learned to do and be, to the point that you can. Bless and praise God that He made you that way.
Now that we understand the steps of faith to doing and being what we want, we must now turn our attention to why.
Jesus gave us an example in Matt 25:14-29:
14-18 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Mat 25:19-28 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Although the talents our Lord was talking about in these verses, is money, it could also refer to our “creative talents” or abilities given us by God at birth. Everyone is given talents and abilities. Don’t think your talent is not adequet. “God don’t make no junk”. But YOU must stir up your talent and ability by using them, or God will remove them from you. In otherwords, if you don’t use it, you lose it… plus some!
2 Tim 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Matt 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Many years ago, I studied American Sign Language for the hearing impaired. I had a friend who was deaf and mute. She and I were able to “talk” together only because of what I had developed by using what I had been taught. Since then, I have moved away and we lost contact. Now I had no one (except my mirror) with whom to use my ability, and I had since forgotten much of that language from lack of use. However, when my beloved mother-in-law (bless her departed soul) took a class on ASL, it “stirred up the gift” and I began using it with her, and refreshed my ability.
This principle applies to every aspect in life. One must learn what their talents are, develop them, and use them. You must keep them “stirred up”. This helps us to keep our self esteem in that area, stable. It’s like riding a bike – you need to ride it before you get good and fast. If you stop riding for a while – you will be unsteady on the bike should you take it up again, until you practice.
With God’s talents and abilities and gifts come stern warnings. Do not allow pride nor greed to enter in. Don’t get to thinking that just because you can do this, or you have that, that you are better than anyone else. You are not. We are ALL equal in God’s eyes!
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
But don’t consider yourself lower than you should either. All through the Bible, God comments on the beauty of His creation. Yet through, and because of Adam’s and Eve’s disobedience, we tend to belittle ourselves because of the shame passed down to us. Instead of accepting the responsibilities for our own actions, when we are caught in an act of disobedience’s, immediately we tend to blame others for our problems: parents blame kids, husbands blame wives, neighbors blame neighbors; instead of concentrating on OUR OWN SINS, and cleaning up our own thoughts and attitudes.
When we “clean up” ourselves, we can begin to do good for others. When we do good things for others, not only are we helping them, but we also raise our own level of well being. We are, in all actuality, doing for others what we would be doing for our own selves, as commanded by God.
As we think in our hearts, we are. We, who walk after God’s Holy spirit, can know the outcome of our faith. When we accept Christ Jesus as Lord of our lives, God begins a good work in us. he will guide and teach us everything we need to know to live righteous in Him, with good self esteem.
Phi 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
Jn 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
There was an email that had been going around for years that totally describes how we should be:
There once was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants…
The race began…
Honestly: No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as: “Oh, WAY too difficult!! They will NEVER make it to the top.” or: “Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!”
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one… except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher.
The crowd continued to yell, “It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!” More tiny frogs got tired and gave up… … But ONE continued higher and higher and higher… This one just wouldn’t give up! At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after great effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out… That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be negative or pessimistic…
…because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you — the ones you have in your heart, and crush them!
Always think of the power words have. Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions! Therefore: ALWAYS be POSITIVE! And above all Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams! Always think: God and I, together, can do this if it is His will!
Be blessed in Him.