By Renee Swope
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
"What's wrong with me?” Do you ever ask yourself that question?
Recently I noticed how many times I do. When I can’t find my keys, when I fight with my husband, when I let someone down, when I’m late for work, when someone hurts me, when I forget to do something important. The list goes on.
It dawned on me that every time I think, "What's wrong with me?" I actually tell myself that something is wrong with me. Then I try to figure out my illusive fault so I can change it. But what I need to change is the way I talk to myself.
Why? Because every time I say, "What's wrong with me?" I tell myself that something is wrong with me.
That is not what God wants me to say to myself – a woman He created. It’s not what He wants you to say to yourself, either. But there is someone who loves it when we do. He often whispers, what's wrong with you? He’s the enemy of our soul and he’s trying to convince us that we're incompetent, inadequate and all alone in our struggles – so that we never become who God created us to be.
He wants us take our eyes off of who we are in Christ and focus on our flaws; then spend our days figuring out how we can hide them. It's what he did with Eve in the Garden. I wonder if she might have even thought, "What's wrong with me?" when faced with her own inadequacies and failures.
But think back to what God said to Adam and Eve. He asked them, "Who told you that you were naked?" In other words, “Who told you that something is wrong with you?"
God acknowledged that there was someone casting shame on them and it wasn't Him. He warned that they had an enemy whispering lies into their hearts, causing them to move away from Him and each other.
Satan’s plot is the same for us. But we don't have to comply. Instead we can refute his accusations and lies with truth. We can stand on the promise of who we are in Christ – chosen, holy and dearly loved. We can discover and embrace our God-given design (and all the quirks that come with it), and we can accept that we are the way we are because it's all part of our "package."
None of us is perfect. All of us have strengths and weaknesses, but we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" - just the way God planned.
Lord, make me aware of the times when I am not so nice to myself. Help me recognize my self-doubt and the enemy’s accusations. I want to turn away from the lies so I can listen to and live in Your Truth. I want to become all that you created me to be! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Living and Leaving a Legacy, 2 part DVD by Renee Swope
Read more on this topic at Renee’s Blog
Self Talk, Soul Talk, by Jennifer Rothschild
Do You Know Jesus?
Application Steps:
Today, if you have thoughts of doubt or self-criticism, instead of assuming that something is wrong with you, turn towards the One who created you and say: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
Reflections:
When I feel like I’ve messed up, do I turn to God for His thoughts about me, or do I beat myself up with my own critical words?
Would I talk to someone else the way I talk to myself?
Power Verses:
Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 (NIV)
John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (NIV)
Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long.” (NIV)
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
"What's wrong with me?” Do you ever ask yourself that question?
Recently I noticed how many times I do. When I can’t find my keys, when I fight with my husband, when I let someone down, when I’m late for work, when someone hurts me, when I forget to do something important. The list goes on.
It dawned on me that every time I think, "What's wrong with me?" I actually tell myself that something is wrong with me. Then I try to figure out my illusive fault so I can change it. But what I need to change is the way I talk to myself.
Why? Because every time I say, "What's wrong with me?" I tell myself that something is wrong with me.
That is not what God wants me to say to myself – a woman He created. It’s not what He wants you to say to yourself, either. But there is someone who loves it when we do. He often whispers, what's wrong with you? He’s the enemy of our soul and he’s trying to convince us that we're incompetent, inadequate and all alone in our struggles – so that we never become who God created us to be.
He wants us take our eyes off of who we are in Christ and focus on our flaws; then spend our days figuring out how we can hide them. It's what he did with Eve in the Garden. I wonder if she might have even thought, "What's wrong with me?" when faced with her own inadequacies and failures.
But think back to what God said to Adam and Eve. He asked them, "Who told you that you were naked?" In other words, “Who told you that something is wrong with you?"
God acknowledged that there was someone casting shame on them and it wasn't Him. He warned that they had an enemy whispering lies into their hearts, causing them to move away from Him and each other.
Satan’s plot is the same for us. But we don't have to comply. Instead we can refute his accusations and lies with truth. We can stand on the promise of who we are in Christ – chosen, holy and dearly loved. We can discover and embrace our God-given design (and all the quirks that come with it), and we can accept that we are the way we are because it's all part of our "package."
None of us is perfect. All of us have strengths and weaknesses, but we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" - just the way God planned.
Lord, make me aware of the times when I am not so nice to myself. Help me recognize my self-doubt and the enemy’s accusations. I want to turn away from the lies so I can listen to and live in Your Truth. I want to become all that you created me to be! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Living and Leaving a Legacy, 2 part DVD by Renee Swope
Read more on this topic at Renee’s Blog
Self Talk, Soul Talk, by Jennifer Rothschild
Do You Know Jesus?
Application Steps:
Today, if you have thoughts of doubt or self-criticism, instead of assuming that something is wrong with you, turn towards the One who created you and say: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
Reflections:
When I feel like I’ve messed up, do I turn to God for His thoughts about me, or do I beat myself up with my own critical words?
Would I talk to someone else the way I talk to myself?
Power Verses:
Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 (NIV)
John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (NIV)
Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long.” (NIV)
8 Comments:
This was a great devotion today; I should think on the "Reflections" - would i talk to others this way?
:-)
In Christ, I am a chosen and dearly loved child of God. I struggle with embracing that, so in order to remind myself of the truth that I am a daughter of the King, I have visuals all around my home to reinforce this truth. I've adopted the 'princess' theme because I battle with seeing myself as God sees me. When Satan speaks words of condemnation to my heart, I look around and see these visuals and exchange my thoughts for God's truth.
One of my favourite verses is from Isaiah 43:4 "You are precious and honoured in My sight; I love you."
Thanks for the great devotion today, I to guess my when I get angry or forget something.
Today was an unusual day. I have 2 children and also take care of 2 others. I take the 2 oldest to preschool every morning. My dear Husband had used my car seats yesterday and forgotten to replace them in my car. I tried to catch him before he left the drive, I tried his cell, but he wasn't available. Boy was I mad, and when I did get in touch with him I was not too kind. I thought how could he be so careless, first to take the car seats and then to not have his ringer on! I've had a battle with the Holy Spirit all day about my attitude, I've wanted to drop this but it just kept rearing its ugly head.
As I read the devotion I know the spirit spoke to me: This is exactly how you have made your Husband feel!
I am Ashamed! I know he is a responsible and caring man. The devil has deceived me for the last time in this area. I have repented and will apologize to my husband when he gets home. I just wanted to thank you for sharing what God has so graciously revealed to you through life. God Bless You
this was very good devotional. it is something that i have been trying to reverse and fill my thougth with postive one. also it is intersting that you choose the verse that we are fearfully and wounderfully made it is one that i think of off and on as i am trying to get a hold of who i am in christ or at lesat a better graps of the concept. thanks for a great devotional.
WOW! Of all the messages to have posted today, this one strikes hard and deeply. THe last several day have been crazy and I was just asking myself this very question--What's wrong with me? Thank you so much for the redirection.
Simply Beautiful! Thanking God for you, Lysa!
I was a married christian for 20+ years when I fell into a depression and the sin of unbelief. I left my husband & married an unbeliever; my 2 adult kids don't speak to me. The Lord brought me back to Him after a possible brush with death while a post-op patient; I thought about eternity & I wanted to spend it with the Lord, in praise to him forever. I went to a little Baptist Church, confessed my sin & rededicated my life to the Lord. I beat myself up almost every day for what I've done but that's the voice of the accuser, not Jesus who died for me. Thank you for your truths!
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