What you believe about yourself will greatly influence your future. Decisions and actions accompany belief systems. Here is something important to know: you can choose what to believe.
That means you can change. That means you can succeed in life if you choose to believe the right things.
People tend to believe the voices of those to whom they listen. Those whom they esteem the most have the most influence in their lives. If you do not hold God in the highest esteem, man’s voice will override His. At the same time, if you filter your view of God through man’s opinion about Him, you will not have an accurate picture. That means when you hear the Father tell you that He loves you, you will be hard pressed to believe Him if the voices you listen to say differently. There will be a tendency to embrace certain passages of Scripture while overlooking others. As a matter of fact, some people beat themselves up with “favorite” verses of the Bible, because they fail to believe God is a loving Father, He is good and His mercy does indeed endure forever. Some believe He is angry with them. Of course, there are those who go to the other extreme, and miss words of correction as a result.
Warning: some esteem their own thoughts above God. What value do you place on yours in relation to His?
Your belief system is foundational as a disciple of Christ. Do you believe in God? Did you put your faith in Jesus? Do you believe the Bible? Do you believe God? Do you believe what He says about you?
While you were in the world, the devil was your daddy. He spoke anything he could over you to destroy you (he still tries). He used different people and methods to get to you. He sought to plant lies in your heart. Jesus said he is the father of lies (John 8:44). If he birthed lies in your heart that you believe to be true, you’ll find truth difficult to embrace. These are called strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). That is why some feel confused when they actually hear the truth for the first time. Nonetheless, if they choose to believe the truth, confusion will leave. If you put your faith in Jesus and God is your Father, then listen to His voice. He will renovate your mind and your life will change for the better.
Take an inventory of what you believe about yourself with the help of the Holy Spirit. Compare it to the Word of God as He leads you. If you believe you are a piece of trash because of past behavior, it is time to recalibrate. Behavior modification does not change who you are; rather, believing the right things will change the behavior. Walking in the righteousness of Jesus makes you righteous. How do you do that? Believe in Him and take Him at His word. Finally, make the decision to believe what He says about you.
As a suggestion, consider the following scriptures and meditate on them.
John 8:31-32, 36 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; 32. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 6:28-29 Then said they to him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.
Romans 8:14-18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 5:17, 21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 21. For he has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore, you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: 6. For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. 7. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
