“Do your best to live as one approved by God, a person who has no need to be ashamed, so you are confident in handling the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:
- This wisdom offers a strategy for remaining strong and faithful, especially when one must endure false truths or beliefs.
- The subconscious mind is a memory bank.It holds whatever we deposit into it, whether positive or negative, and only knows and believes what it’s told.
- The conscious mind, in comparison, can adjust, using what we know and believe to discern how best to live. It can draw on our God-Mind, Christ Mind, or Higher Self (the same mind expressed in Jesus and other spiritual masters). This is the spiritual mindset which receives divine inspiration and puts divine ideas into practice.
- Demonstration is your evidence of what is or isn’t working in your life. You know and demonstrate your self-worth by what you think and say about yourself, whether positive or negative.
- In the bank of your subconscious mind, everything is a word of truth. Therefore, it can know that you’re one of God’s beloveds and assure you that you’re worthy and deserving, so you consciously appreciate yourself and your contributions to life. Likewise, if all your subconscious mind hears is blame and shame about everything you aren’t and all you did wrong, it assures you that you’re a failure and worthless.
- This is why negative reinforcement rarely motivates people to succeed and why cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and positive psychology help people heal and grow.
- Practicing self-appreciation is being your own cheerleader. It encourages you in honoring your humanity and divinity. Even if you make mistakes or fail at some endeavor, you can still appreciate your efforts, without demeaning yourself. For example, instead of saying, “I’m an idiot. I really screwed up,” say: “I am strong and capable. I gave this my best, and even though it didn’t work, I have faith in myself to move forward.”
- Dr. C. Leroy Dale recommends that you “claim appreciation for your good work from God, not from humans.” This means that you first look within, to the presence of God within you, to love and appreciate your worth as one of God’s beloveds. Then, you can accept someone else’s kind words, as well as dismiss someone’s disapproval.
Contemplation Questions:
As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:
- When I reflect on my sense of self-worth, in what ways do I diminish or beat myself up?
- Without judgment, list, word map, or illustrate all the ways.
- When I reflect on this sense of self-worth, which are judgments, perhaps made by others, which I’ve allowed to be my truth?
- List, word map, or illustrate whatever applies. Include what you believed to be true from your relatives, teachers, bosses, and friends, as well as the media.
- As I continue reflecting on this sense of self-worth, what do I truly want to believe as my truth?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can.
- When I reflect on my accomplishments and successes, what do I appreciate about them?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can.
- When I contemplate all I appreciate about myself, what are at least three (3) ways I can be more assured and confident in my truth?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can imagine.
- Who is at least one (1) loving, encouraging person in my life who can support me in appreciating myself more?
- List, word map, or illustrate who they are.
- Then, note what you’ll do to connect with them.
Go slowly with this devotional. Transforming your self-talk and thinking takes time, especially if you need to clear negative messages from your past. So, never say anything about yourself which you do not wish to be true. Remember: Your subconscious mind won’t know the difference, but your conscious mind and body will.
Avoid making God into an angry, capricious puppeteer who means to harm you. And if you’re in an unhealthy relationship, please get the mental health care and support you need to heal and thrive. Also, consider joining a spiritual community where you’re embraced as a worthy, divine child of God, not a miserable sinner. Absolutely know that you deserve to treat yourself and be treated with love and respect. You’re worth it!
© 2023 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.
Photo by Shawn.cff from Shutterstock.
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