Thankful Thursday and Major Issue Breakthrough

As you probably know, I just finished reading Beth Moore's book, So Long, Insecurity. I knew I was/am insecure and figured she would tell me I needed to learn "who I am in Christ" to help me get over it. I've heard about all the amazing things I have in Christ so many times, but I've always felt like I can't seem to get it through to heart in order to truly make a difference how I live and think.

In one chapter, Moore writes a prayer and in the prayer was a line that slapped me in the face. I can't copy it from the book because it was due back to the library. I should have written the line down before I returned the book, but because I didn't you'll get my version.

Lord, forgive me for thinking of myself as chopped liver, when You made me.

WOW!  Let me reverse it for you.

Lord, I'm not chopped liver because YOU made me!

I guess He did make liver, but you get the point. How about a positive spin on it.

Lord, because You made me, that makes me valuable. Thanks!

I had never thought of it as sin to think of myself as I did and sometimes still do. Instead of hearing how I needed to think that God views me as His child, as a masterpiece, as something beautiful, etc, I first needed to hear that thinking of myself as pitiful was sin.

Do you know how much this changes for me?  Not only does it change how I view myself, it frees me to view others in much better light.

As for myself, I have a renewed sense of being created by God for a purpose. I may feel like my neck line is unattractive but He made it that way on purpose and maybe even for a purpose. I may feel like I'm incapable of organizing a big event, but I don't have to feel bad about that anymore! I have a renewed curiosity about how He gifted me. I think some things I try to do because I see other people doing them and want to be like them, but I don't want to be that way. I want to use the gifts God's given me. Now I just need to figure out what they truly are. Hmmmm.

As for my view of others...this is amazing to me. If I don't view myself poorly (e.g., spiritually, physically, financially, organizationally, etc.) I can quit feeling so terrible about myself when someone is better than me. I can appreciate how God made them and not be mad at how He made me. I guess on rare occasion I do think I am better than someone else, so now I can quit thinking that too. I find it awkward to try to act like I don't think I'm better than someone when I really think I am. We're all perfectly created by God for a purpose that He has in mind. We're all equally valuable.

My heart still needs work in order to be truly, completely changed to quit thinking so destructively, but I feel like I'm at least on a new path. It's a great feeling. How fun that God can use a book club to work on me.

Would you like to join me in singing the song that just popped in my head?
   

He's still working on me.

To make me what I ought to be.

It took Him just a wink to make the moon and stars.

The sun and Earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving and patient He must be.

He's still working on me.

Thank goodness and thank you for joining!

This little breakthrough and the book club are what I'm thankful for this Thursday, and speaking of which, check out the last few posts over at the book club blog.