Accept Yourself

Lately I have been trying to get back on track with my fitness regime.  I have been working out at home which is something I haven't done in years as I have always had a gym membership. I have been finding it a little more difficult to get motivated when working out at home. I think part of it is not having the equipment that a gym has (our treadmill has been broken since our move and we are in the process of trying to get it fixed through insurance from the moving company) and not having others around to inspire and motivate. I always found when I went to the gym, I would watch what others were doing and learn from them. I would also be motivated by seeing their results and my own results. I do believe it is important to set goals and work toward them but a recent devotion by Rick Warren made me remember to keep it all in perspective.

“My friend, I ask, ‘Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?’” (Romans 9:20 CEV)

Spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, experiences — these are the five things that make you, you. Rick Warren refers to them as your SHAPE.

Accepting your SHAPE — the unique way that God made you that brings glory to him — means to believe that God knows best. It all comes down to the matter of trust. Do you believe that God made a mistake when he made you? Or do you trust him, knowing that he has a plan for your life?

When you say, “God, there are things I don’t like about myself. I wish I had different hair or a different colour of skin. I wish I were taller, shorter, skinnier. I wish I had more talent. I wish I could do ‘that.’ I wish I looked like him. I wish I had her smarts” and on and on. This kind of thinking is basically telling God, “You blew it! Everybody else is OK. But you goofed up big when you made me.”

When you reject yourself, you are in essence rejecting God, because he’s your creator. When you don’t accept yourself, it’s rebellion against God. You’re saying, “God, I know better than you. You should have made me different, with a different set of strengths and a different set of weaknesses.”

But God says, “No, I made you exactly to be you because I want you to be you — with your strengths and your weaknesses. Both of them can give me glory — if you’ll just start doing what I made you to do instead of trying to be like everybody else.”

Whenever we doubt God’s love and wisdom, we always get into trouble. The root behind all of your problems is that you don’t trust God. You don’t believe God really loves you. You don’t believe that he really has your best interest at heart. You wish he had made you something different. As a result, there’s a spirit of bitterness in you that keeps you frustrated and keeps you from being the man/woman God meant for you to be.

Job 10:10 says, "You guided my conception and formed me in the womb” (NLT). God wanted you, and he loves you. Believe it, and then trust it!

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

It reminds me of the children's book my Max Lucado, "You Are Special."  This is one of Kirra's favourite books and she will refer to it often.  The other day she said, "Mom, we are like the wooden people."  She was referring to the fact that we are special and were made by our creator.  Just last night Kirra and I were reading the story of creation in her new Bible.  One activity it suggested was having your parents tell you why you are special.  So, as Kirra and I were cuddled in her bed together, I began to tell her all the reasons why I thought she was special.  It was such a wonderful moment as I saw her face light up a little more with each reason I gave as to why she is so special. Such a small and simple thing - to take the time with our children.  To reinforce our love for them by telling them why they are special, valued, and loved.  Grateful for moments such as these. Perhaps we could all use this reminder - have that conversation with a loved one, or even with yourself and remind yourself of all the reasons why you are special.

With New Year's just around the corner, the concept of New Year's Resolutions is on people's minds. So, despite just bringing perspective on accepting yourself, I go into talking about changing yourself. But stay with me.  Pastor Trigg's son spoke in church this weekend - Changing the Way You Change. Pastor Kyle shared some stats on New Year's Resolutions.  Did you know that 19% of people break their resolution within 24 hours and 15% within the first week?  Only 8% of people keep their New Year's Resolution.  Maybe we need to reassess making New Year's Resolutions - perhaps we are focusing our efforts in the wrong place.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6

God began a good work in you and He will continue a good work in us.  The good work is us looking more like Jesus - in the way we act, speak, love.  When we become more like Jesus, we make changes/adjustments in our life to be the person God intended for our lives.  Perhaps we need a paradigm shift - a heart change, not just a behaviour management plan whereby we set a goal to change a shortcoming in our life.  We can put our hope and faith in God and we can be confident in Him - knowing that we can have life to the full.  God is at work in our life, when we allow Him to work in our lives and make the adjustments necessary.  Although we are to accept ourselves for who we are, I think we can all agree that there are adjustments we can make that can help grow us.

In 2015, may you feel God's strength, comfort, peace, and hope.  Jesus is our comforter, let Him comfort you.  He is our help and gives us peace.  He is our hope in times of trouble.  Lean on Him and allow Him to give you the strength you need.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:7

By faith..."their weaknesses were turned to strength." Hebrews 11:34