The Power of GratitudeSample

Day 3: Thank You for Who I Am

Self-esteem is a person's positive or negative assessment or perception of themselves. We've all been through moments that affect our self-esteem for better or worse. Since we were children, we have been exposed to praise and criticism, acceptance and rejection, and this can undoubtedly have a direct short or long-term effect on our lives.

If there's one thing I've learned since very early in my life, it's that my self-esteem can't depend on my talents or on people's opinions. My self-esteem depends in part on how grateful I am for the skills, physical traits, and talents God has entrusted me with.

The Bible says God made us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). God is a great God who has no self-esteem problems. When we give thanks for who we are and for the talents and abilities God entrusted us with, we are not only positively valuing ourselves, we are also recognizing how special the God who created us is.

We recognize God because He made us; we didn’t create ourselves (Psalm 100:3). God took care in making each of us unique. He knows each of our qualities and flaws and still loves us. If He loves us for who we are, why not thank Him for who we are?

It is important to work with your flaws, but just as important to be thankful for your qualities and to strengthen them. We will all have highs and lows and moments of joy and sadness. Being grateful for who you are will help you keep your heart in the right place in these seasons. If you have higher self-esteem than you should have, gratitude will help you remember that the glory and merit is God’s, the One who made you, and not yours. That is humility. On the other hand, if you have low self-esteem, gratitude to God will help you remember that God does everything He does with excellence and not mediocrity, and that includes you.

Jesus was clear that one of the most important commandments was to love your neighbor as yourself. This means that in order to love, value, and accept others, you have to do it with yourself first. Today is a good day to thank God for who you are, with all your faults and with all your qualities.

Reflection  

• Make a list of all the talents, physical traits, and gifts God has given you and thank God for them with all your heart because He made you unique.

Prayer

Thank You, Father, because all that I am I owe to You. Thank You for creating me in Your image and likeness. Thank You for loving me the way I am.