What we think about ourselves is so very important! It is absolutely essential that we realize the truth about who we are.
Because of that, the enemy is going to try to feed us lies and attack us in many different ways to mislead us about our identity, value, and worth. But friends, we are so very, very loved and valuable to God. If we can get that truth deep into our hearts where we can begin to believe it, that changes everything!
We’ve been discussing identity the past few weeks. (You can read more HERE, HERE and HERE) But today, I simply want to give you some free resources and direct you to some other places where you can read and listen for more encouragement. Pick a few of these places to go to. You’ll find helpful insights and encouragement there, but most of all, delve into the God’s word. It’s in-between the pages of the Bible that we find a love so deep that we can’t even begin to comprehend it, but even the little bits we can grasp are simply amazing!
His love changes us from the inside out and gives us confidence and assurance. We don’t have to measure up to Him, we don’t have to worry about what He thinks about us. We don’t have to do anything to earn His love. It’s a gift. When we find our identity in that love, we discover a new place of freedom in our lives.
Some FREE resources for you!
My friend, Lori, is starting a series on her blog that I can’t wait to read. It is called #ChoosenandWorthy. If you go this page you can read more about it. I encourage you to subscribe to her blog posts or bookmark her site (Click HERE to go to her homepage) so you can keep reading about identity. She has some wonderful free resources too! I have been very encouraged by her.
A Book Recommendation!
To read more about the grace and acceptance offered to us by a God who loves us immensely, I’d like to recommend Holley Gerth’s book, You are Loved No Matter What. Oh my! This book will speak to your heart! Please go check it out! You can find links to places to purchase this book on her website HERE. You should explore Holley’s website. She writes some very encouraging posts about God’s grace and getting out from under perfectionism. (I really like this post by Holley.) I have been very encouraged by this book!
A Podcast Recommendation!
You just can’t go wrong with the Grit ’n Grace Podcast co-hosted by Cheri Gregory and Amy Carroll. I listen to this almost every week. Cheri and Amy discuss their struggles with perfectionism and talk about how to get out from under it. Their tagline is “Good girls to breaking bad rules.” And yes, that’s what we need to do, girlfriends! Go listen. (Here’s a link to a podcast that deals with the subject of identity. It’s really good! ) Cheri and Amy’s podcasts have helped me so much! (And by the way, on down the road we are going to be taking a close look at a couple of books written by Amy and Cheri. I can’t wait!)
Next week, we’ll end our series about identity with an invitation that you will not want to miss. It’s something I want to do, but I’d much rather do it with friends like you! It’s not hard, we will get a lot out of it, and I hope you will join me!
Blessings Until Next Week!!!
Leslie
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, We come before You today and ask You to fill our minds with Your truths. It is so easy to allow lies from the enemy to define us. We ask you to open our minds, give us discernment, and make us strong so we can be redefined by You and understand the depth of Your love and acceptance. It changes everything. You have inscribed our names in your hand and you say, “You are Mine.” Help us to rightly understand and receive our true identity. In Jesus name, Amen.
The post What God Thinks About You Changes Everything! first appeared at Journey to Imperfect.
This post is linked in other encouraging places. Click HERE to find out where!
God’s thoughts towards us are so precious. I am so thankful I understand that truth now. Knowing His truth empowers us to live free. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.
Aimee, I am thankful, too! God is good! Thank you for stopping by today!
Thank you for sharing all these great resources! I really want to read Holly’s book. Visiting from #livefreeThursday Hope you have a great day!
You are welcome, Dawn. Her book has been so encouraging to me! Thanks for stopping by today!
Thank you for this list of valuable resources! If I let the enemy take hold of how I view myself I end up feeling lonely and unworthy. If I dwell on those feelings I’ll be incapable of accomplishing what I am supposed to. We are worth so much more than we can imagine.
Natalie, You are welcome. I love sharing what has helped me. Your last sentence is so true. It is beyond imagination and that is such a great thought! Thanks for the thank you!
Leslie,
This has been such an incredible series! Thanks so much for the mention this week! Identity is such a critical aspect to our lives. As I watch young people today, they are more confused than ever before. There are so much choices and so many voices that bombard them every. single. day! It’s so much more intense than when I grew up. Social media is a constant identity attack. I pray this series and mine will reach those who need to hear it and that God works in and through it to open their hearts, minds, and souls to the truth of how deeply they are loved and how beautifully they are created in His image!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Lori, Thank you so much! Understanding where my identity really comes from has changed my life. It’s something that I love to talk about and share. We are beautifully created in His image, just like you said, and the enemy is all about keeping us from that understanding, too. God’s word is full of power though and He will get the victory! I have benefitted so much from reading your blog and I know you are making a big difference in this area. Thank you for stopping by today and for all your encouragement and the feature last week. Hugs and Blessings!
Thanks so much for sharing these resources with us at Literacy Musing Mondays! I’m so guilty of thinking negatively about myself, and it really does affect my attitude toward others. Hope to see you again this week!
Brandi, you are welcome! Negative thinking has been a doozy in my life! I totally get that thing about how it affects our attitudes toward others. Hugs to you!
Hi Leslie,
God has been putting the topic of identity in front of me A LOT for the past few months. Now I know it’s been in preparation for speaking on the topic at a women’s Bible study next month. When we remember that we are who God says we are, it truly changes our lives. (Visiting for the first time from Grace & Truth. Happy to have found you here!)
Blessings,
Laura
Hi Laura, Remembering that does change our lives! I’m so glad to meet you!
Leslie, I love the printable you made that reminds us of who we are in Christ! We definitely need these reminders of what God thinks of us on a daily basis. It is amazing how quickly I can forget the beautiful truth that I am LOVED by God! Thank you for this awesome collection of resources!
Thank you Christin! I have been reading over those verses this week. They help me so much! I’m glad they helped you, too! We are loved by Him! It’s who we are!!!!!
Leslie, thanks for all the fun recommendations. I opened up the links in new tabs on my computer so I can go back and check them out. — And, Holley Gerth — I’m a fan. (How can we not be? She seems like a sweetheart, and her words are honey.) — I think I may have downloaded some of the episodes of that podcast on my phone, I’ll have to check. 🙂 — Thanks so much for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today, friend. ((hug))
You are welcome, Brenda. I love #ChasingCommunity. You all are so encouraging and inspiring!
Yes Leslie, “His love changes us from the inside out and gives us confidence and assurance”
His love poured into our hearts by The Holy Ghost does change everything from what we think about ourselves to how we carry ourselves.
Amen Lord!
Thanks for this reminder Leslie, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Ugochi, Yes and Amen! I am so glad you stopped by today! Blessings!
This reminds me of how important it is to understand that verse about loving others AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. If we talk trash about ourselves, how can we expect to say nice things about others? We have to let God (beg God) change teh way we see ourselves in order to go about his business of loving.
Anita, so true! I have spent so much time in the past in negative self talk. But God is good and He’s renewed my mind in that area. It’s such a relief to be redefined by Him! Thank you for stopping by and for commenting!
Absolutely imperative that we understand our identity in Christ. Until we grasp and believe the truth about what He says about us, we will find ourselves being tossed around by ‘every wind of doctrine’. a great exercise is to read through Ephesians, 1, 2, 3 and write down everything that God says is true about you as a believer. then remind yourself over and over until His truth has replaced the lies we’re tempted to believe. thanks!
Karen, Thank you for suggesting this exercise! That is an awesome idea and I’m going to do that and put it in my notebook! Thanks for your comments and for reading today!
I just want to appreciate you for the prayer at the end of this post (and of course for the body of the post itself). Except we build our self-worth through how God sees us, we’ll always feel unloved, inadequate, etc. and may spend our lives chasing shadows to make up. Thanks for sharing.
Edith,Thank you so much for your kind words. I love that you mentioned “chasing shadows.” You are so right. If we take our value from anything other than how God sees us we will end up chasing shadows. There are lots of things in this world that we think will be the thing that completes us or bring us peace, but it’s God alone! Thank you for stopping by and for your comments. Blessings!
“His love changes us from the inside out and gives us confidence and assurance. We don’t have to measure up…” Thank you for this reminder. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love, but He loves us more than we know.
I’m your neighbor at #CoffeeforYourHeart. Blessings to you!
Gayl, Thank you for stopping by today! Blessings back!
Great post, Leslie. I heartily agree about the Grit N Grace podcast and Lori Schumaker’s blog. Great resources. Glad to find you here from our Facebook group today!