R E S P E C T Ourselves…

           

            We should respect others. We also need to respect ourselves.  Maybe we don’t think about that.  Those little words that we say about ourselves can be as damaging as those that others say about us.  We believe that what we say is truth.  It is destructive to us, and not what God planned.

Last week I talked about accepting others for who they are.  Well, self-respect is accepting yourself for who you are. To forgive yourself for mistakes you have made, to not focus on the negative or bad actions that you’ve done.  Remember that you are the child of God Almighty.

God loves who you are.  Respect yourself for that.  I have to tell myself that every day.   Every day we are bombarded with arrows of untruth that we are not good enough, smart enough, or good looking enough. Arrows of guilt that we won’t be… You put in whatever you want.  Please, don’t listen to those voices.  Listen to the voice of Truth. 

The voice of truth is that God is our redeemer.  He has made us in His image.  We are his children.  That makes us His Princes or Princesses.  So, those lies that we hear are just that, lies.  God loves you for you, and not what you bring to the table.

We have to stop letting other peoples’ thoughts about us shape who we are.  We have to stop speaking badly about ourselves.  We can’t let anybody force us to be or do anything that we don’t want to do or be, simply to gain their approval of friendship.

We have start realizing that God created us all special.  We have to believe that God loves and respects each of us.   If He does, then why can’t we love and respect ourselves.

 “I’m here. I love you.  I don’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long, I will stay with you.  There’s nothing you can ever do to lose my love.  I will protect you until you die, and after your death I will still protect you.  I am stronger than depression and I am braver than loneliness and NOTHING will ever exhaust me.”  GOD

So, with that amazing promise that I read somewhere, how can I not respect myself?  If God loves us and will always be there for us, then how can we think any differently?

“Dear Father, please help me respect myself.  Help me to not believe the lies that I hear or think about myself. Amen”

Laura Maxson

August Prayer Topic: R E S P E CT

R E S P E CT  

Each Other…

            Would you want to be around someone who was always picking at you?  It doesn’t matter whether they are giving you a hard time about where you live, or what size you are, or the car you drive.  It could be as little as you not having internet or the “right” HD TV, or as major as shutting down your opinions when you voice them.  It would get old really quickly.  What if every time you saw that person, they would mention the same thing that you need to change…?  You would not to be around that person, correct? Or, when you were in there presence, you would shut down, right?

            I have shut down around people who constantly pick at me.  I have also been the one who does not always respect others for their individuality.  The Lord, requires us to respect each other.  We may have different opinions, views, or ideas, but we need to respect each other.  The golden rule is treat others as you would be treated. 

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2: 17

How many times have we judged someone, or tried to change them?  It is not my place to try and change anyone.  I have my own issues that God is pointing out in my life, that I don’t have time to pick on other people.   It is my place to respect them, to love them.  That is it.

            In God’s eyes we are all His precious children. Do you know that God accepts us wherever we are?  He makes the tweaks that He wants to make in our lives through the Holy Spirit.  Thankfully, He loves us through all the changes.  He does it in Fatherly love.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

            So this month we pray that each one of us respects each other despite our differences.  Love each other as God loves us.  I read this quote, and it is me. 

“I still get very high and very low in life. Daily.  But I’ve finally accepted the fact that sensitive is just how I was made, that I don’t have to hide it, and I don’t have to fix it.  I am not broken.”

I love it, because it explains me.  I don’t have to pretend to be anyone other than me.  I am not broken in that I am a sensitive person to a certain degree.  I am an individual. That also goes for everyone else as well. You are who God designed you, and you don’t have to pretend otherwise.  We need to respect and love each other through all our personality differences.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for making me an individual.  I pray that you teach me how to respect others for their individuality.  Help me not to pick at them, but cherish them with love. AMEN”

Laura Maxson