A person's attitude toward themselves has a profound influence on his attitude toward God, family, friends, future, and many other significant areas of life.
One of the major areas of conflict in both youth and adults is that if having wrong attitudes about ourselves. These attitudes affect every other relationship in our life.
When the most attractive and popular students on a certain campus were asked if they were satisfied with their basic appearance, over 95% relied that they were NOT!
These students were aware of their basic sin nature and their need for salvation. They had placed their faith in Jesus Christ and had been reborn by the Holy Spirit.
But many were having continued struggles in the matter of dedicating their lives to the will of God. In further discussions with them, it was discovered that they had inwardly reasoned that if what they saw in the mirror was an example of God's love and creativity for them, they couldn't really trust God with their future.
How we develop attitudes depends on the right development verses the wrong development in the areas of appearance, abilities, parentage, environment.
The right development comes from comparing ourselves with the inward character of Jesus Christ in order to receive God's approval.
The wrong development comes from measuring ourselves with the outward standards of those around us to gain their approval.
We are told in God's word:
"How can you believe, which receive honor of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?" John 5:44
"But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commandeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commandeth." II Corinthians 10:17-18
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that command themselves: but they measuring themselves, and comparing themselves amoung themselves, are not wise." II Corinthians 10:12
God's basic purpose in creating us is that we have fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ, and that we experience the FULL POTENTIAL of Christ working in and through our bodies we were given at birth.
"And this life is eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom God has sent." John 17:3
"... I have come they they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"... I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:" Philippians 3:8
Satan is aware of the potential which God has put within our lives, and he desires to totally destroy it or at least partially diminish its potential. Satan's initial method of operation is to get us to believe that God has cheated or will cheat us out of that which we should rightfully have.
We are told in scripture the following:
"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and earth... If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and ready for the master's use... Flee also youthful or worldly lusts." II Timothy 2:20-22
"And the serpent said... God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5
"Beware lest any man spoil you... for in HIM dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in HIM...." Colossians 2:8-10
Success in Life - Is not measured by what we are or what we have done, but rather by what we are and have done compared to what we could have been and could have done.
If you would like to learn more, please register for a free online consultation on my website www.for-the-father.com. We provide all types of mentoring/leaderships programs. Or we can discuss the gospel. We are here to serve. Thanks!
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