Value and Care for yourself - both physical AND spiritual

We all frequently question our value, what is our worth.  Here are two “things” that we often allow to define our value or worth:  Appearance and purpose.

Appearance: What we look like, our image, what others think of us  -  we tend to allow these things to define our value. We compare ourselves to others. Judging our value by our physical build, wardrobe, hairstyle, etc… in comparison to those around us, those we view on social media, on celebrities, and more… allowing the differences we find to become what define our value.

The gifts in the picture above are each uniquely shaped and wrapped. Each one of us has a unique opinion, which lends us to be attracted to different gifts in the picture above. When we are presented with a gift, seldom do we judge the value or worth of the gift simply by the wrapping. We too often place immediate value merely in what we see the outside, before we know what is inside.

Purpose/usage:  When we compare our personal abilities with those around us, we often find ourselves judging our value based on the things we can and can’t do. There are times a healthy assessment of our skills or training will help us to know how we need to further grow and develop.  But we must understand that each one of us have unique gifts/talents, life situations, personalities etc…We must not allow our unique differences to define our full value.

(Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:21) In Scripture God is said to be the potter and we are the clay.  According to his plan, we are each uniquely designed, and given a uniquely different purpose.  When we engage in our purpose, we are highly valuable to HIS GREATER purpose for all creation

 

[Psa 139:1-24 NLT] ¹ For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. ² You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. ³ You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. ⁴ You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. ⁵ You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! ⁷ I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! ⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. ⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. ¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night-- ¹² but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. ¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it. ¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. ¹⁶ You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. ¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! ¹⁸ I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! ¹⁹ O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! ²⁰ They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. ²¹ O LORD, shouldn't I hate those who hate you? Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you? ²² Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies. ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

The creator, God, who is above all things, is everywhere, yet he knows all about you!  Intimately formed you, created every little bit about you.  He values YOU his creation!  He has designed you with a beautiful unique wrapping and set within you a unique purpose in this life.

As you go throughout the awkward stages of developing and growing, know that

“God takes his time in transforming our body from a child into a beautiful young woman…  Enjoy the journey and focus on your bright future!”    ~ Paul Rothwell, M.D. (Brio Magazine, copyright 2001) {Phil. 1:6}

[1Co 9:27 NLT] ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Discipline the body, make it do what it needs to do.  Our bodies need to be used and exercised regularly! 

Discipline the faith, keeping focus as it should.  Faith needs to be used, exercised regularly!

Both body and faith can and will deteriorate 
when not regularly “put to the test”

So that I do not miss out on the reward…our salvation is secure, but what we offer the Lord (the crown of jewels, our place in heaven) is our reward.

We only get one physical body.  We demonstrate our personal value through the care for our physical being.  When we put our bodies “to the test” we strengthen the body and enable it to fight against disease, illnesses, and builds perseverance (we gain energy by spending energy).

How do we discipline or care for our bodies?

• Proper nutrition
• Proper rest
• Adequate exercise
• Proper hygiene 

We only get one life to live on this earth. When we put our faith “to the test” we strengthen our faith and enable it to fight against doubt, lies, and builds perseverance when things are tough (because they will be here on earth).  Again, we gain faith by spending faith.

[Jas 1:2-4 NLT] ² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

How do we discipline our faith?

• Prayer journal (see the faithfulness of God)
• Get to know what you do not know – Study the Bible!!!
• Daily turn it over to God

So, no matter what the wrapping style is, no matter what the purpose is, our Father God has created each one of us beautiful and unique, and He is continually providing opportunities for us to grow and develop each day - for His Glory!

~ although the following thoughts are not Biblical, they are a beautiful poetic description of putting our faith in Christ Jesus.

Poem: “My Quilt”

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.  Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. 

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.  They were filled with giant holes.  Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life.  I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.  I glanced around me.  Nobody else had such squares.  Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.  My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare, and empty, like binding air.

Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.  The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.  So filled their lives had been.  My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.  My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.  I had not had all the earthly fortunes.  I had love in my life, and laughter.  But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it.  I had to start over many times.  I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.  I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.  I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. 

And now, I had to face the truth.  My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.  I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.  An awe-filled gasp filled the air.  I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.  Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me.  Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ.  Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.  He said, every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.  Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

~ author unknown

Let God, the creator of all,

be the one to define the value in your life.  

Let His light shine through your life,

by surrendering your life to Him.

Pictures used:

1         Gifts <a href='https://www.freepik.com/photos/card'>Card photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com</a>

2         Diamond <a href='https://www.freepik.com/vectors/background'>Background vector created by macrovector - www.freepik.com</a>

3         Potter <a href='https://www.freepik.com/photos/hand'>Hand photo created by master1305 - www.freepik.com</a>

 

All scripture quoted in this blog was taken from: https://www.blueletterbible.org/ and is in the New International Version of the Bible.