Have you ever talked to someone that knows everything? Whatever the topic, they are the expert? It takes a lot of courage to admit that we don’t know something. How often do you seek out new information? Technology places a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips.

Learning is something that never gets old. There is always something new for us to learn about. There is always something we don’t know. Life is full of lessons that provide opportunities to gain new insight. Have you ever got bored doing something the same way consistently? Even if it’s driving a different route to work, you will discover something new.

Acquiring new knowledge requires us to step out of our comfort zone, acknowledge that we don’t know it all, and be willing and open to experiencing new ideas. So, as you are out today, take a little extra time to seek out something new. The possibilities are endless!

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.” ~ Mortimer Adler

LaNicia is a spiritual life coach and co-founder of Changed Living, LLC. The mission of Changed Living is to help every individual reach a more evolved inner perspective through divine (God) power. Using a combination of personal experience, scripture, and Godly wisdom, LaNicia constantly seeks to help others understand that not only will God lead you through the wilderness into the promise land.

lwilliams

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LaNicias website

This past week we had the first call in the Ignite Your Life Summer Series. The topic was “Building Christ-Esteem” and it was a truly enlightening. We learned that Christ-esteem removes the barriers that can get in the way when we focus on self-esteem.

Yes, self-esteem is very important, but when it is mis-guided then it can become a very dangerous tool in your life. It is a wise idea to see esteem from God’s eyes and learn to build your Christ-esteem.

What is self-esteem

From Wikepedia

Self-esteem is a term used in psychology to reflect a person’s overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs (for example, “I am competent” or “I am incompetent”) and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame. A person’s self-esteem may be reflected in their behavior, such as in assertiveness, shyness, confidence or caution.

In other words self-esteem has a direct correlation with the way you feel about yourself and it can be presented in a number of ways.

Self-esteem is often related to what a person does as opposed to who she is. As women we have this bad because we value what we do more so than who we are. We want to be the perfect mom and when we are not we feel like failures. We want to always lend a hand to a cause, event, or anything that will show how much we really want to help. We end up so busy that we forget the value of being productive and that being productive means taking care of self.
What would happen if we dared to see ourselves as God does? What would happen if we took the time to search the word and build up our Christ-esteem vs our self-esteem?

Why would we want to do this? Why build up our Christ-esteem as opposed to our self-esteem?

Is there a difference? There can be.

Because so many relate self-esteem to “feelings of worth based on their skills, accomplishments, status, financial resources, or appearance it can lead a person to feel independent and prideful and to indulge in self-worship, which dulls our desire for God. James 4:6James 4:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.  

WP-Bible plugin tells us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” If we only trust in our earthly resources, we will inevitably be left with a sense of worth based on pride. Jesus told us, “You also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” (Luke 17:10Luke 17:10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.  

WP-Bible plugin).

Does this mean our esteem is to be low? By no means!

The Bible tells us in Romans 12:3Romans 12:3
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.  

WP-Bible plugin not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought but it does not say we are not to think highly of ourselves. Think about it. We are made in the Image of WHO….

I think you get the picture!

Why would God want  us to think low of ourselves. To be humble has nothing to do with  low self-esteem.

In one sense, low self-esteem is the opposite of pride. In another sense, low-self-esteem is a form of pride. Some people have low self-esteem because they want people to feel sorry for them, to pay attention to them, to comfort them. Low self-esteem can be a declaration of “look at me” just as much as pride. It simply takes a different route to get to the same destination, that is, self-absorption, self-obsession, and selfishness. Instead, we are to be selfless, to die to self, and to deflect any attention given to us to the great God who created and sustains us.

It is important to build Christ-esteem for quite a few reasons:

1. It takes self totally out of the picture
2. It places the emphasis on Christ as the Center of your Joy
3. It allows you to see your worth in God’s eyes with humility and awe
4. It gives you good grounding for making solid decision based on godly wisdom and logic
5. It takes you to the point of wanting to be in the perfect will of God since your focus is properly aligned!

Your self-esteem needs to rest in Christ because the essence of who you are dwells with Him:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4Colossians 3:1-4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
3 ¹ If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. ³ For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, [who is] our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.  

WP-Bible plugin)

When you place your esteem in the right place then you know that you will not become boastful or full of pride. You know that your intentions are in the right place and you are not doing anything for vain glory! You have confidence to move forward without fear or shame. You can move forward without being bothered by what others think about you.

Christ-esteem is what will drive you to move forward in courageous confidence in the call on your life!

Are you ready to build your Christ-esteem? How do you plan to do this?

LaTara

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Change is inevitable and occurs all around us. Seasons change, time changes, and people change. Change means to alter, transform, switch, or to make different. Change can be difficult or exciting for some or simply out of the question for others. Resistance to change is never truly effective because it is simply unavoidable.

Change is scary. It is the one thing that is always around. Every thing changes, and every one changes; nothing stays the same. Change can be uncomfortable and painful. Several years ago, I decided that I wanted to change. I didn’t know how or what that would look or feel like, but I was certain that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I wanted my environment to change, my outlook to change, and I wanted to release myself of my past. I no longer wanted to allow my past to hinder me from seeking a better future one day at a time. It didn’t happen overnight, and the effort involved was like climbing a mountain. I sometimes thought I would never make it.

I was determined to stay on my pursuit of happiness.  There were challenges and obstacles along the way. I sometimes felt defeated; I had to learn how to endure. I also had to learn how not to be so hard on myself when I had a setback. I had to just pick up where I had left off. I had to make a conscience effort everyday not to give up. Even though I was experiences growing pains in varying degrees, it would be worth it in the long run. Like a mother giving birth, I had to focus on the long term benefits of my growing pains in the search of happiness, joy, and peace, rather than the short term pain itself.

As I continue my pursuit to allow change to be a constant factor in my life, I have become more determined and encouraged. Disappointments and adversity will come, but it is up to me how I allow it to affect me. I have decided to take every moment in stride. I look for lessons and room for growth. This allows to me to maintain a positive outlook because I now realize that just as living is a process, so is change.

“Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident, it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.” King Whitney Jr.

LaNicia is a spiritual life coach and co-founder of Changed Living, LLC. The mission of Changed Living is to help every individual reach a more evolved inner perspective through divine (God) power. Using a combination of personal experience, scripture, and Godly wisdom, LaNicia constantly seeks to help others understand that not only will God lead you through the wilderness into the promise land.

lwilliams

View all posts by lwilliams
LaNicias website