November 11, 2013 Dealing With A Fragile Self-image I’m one of those people who have been on a regular exercise program for the past 40 years. I daily take vitamins and rarely eat fried food, soda pop, chips, or junk food. With that stated, dark chocolate is an exception, because it stands in an acceptable food group all by itself. Last week the health club I work out in provided an opportunity to check antioxidant levels. The purpose of the test is to check your diet, stress, general health and nutrition. Higher numbers in the test are good and designed to reveal your bodies assimilation of vitamins, minerals, and well-being. On the morning I took the test I was in a hurry and had a busy schedule. The man was very accommodating and quickly gave me the test and shared with me the results. He explained how Dr. Oz had a number of 75,000 and my number was 33,000. As I left I said to myself, “Well you’re still alive, but not as healthy as you thought. Probably too much dark chocolate.” My next day at the gym the manager told me my number was the second highest in the gym, and how I tied her personal number. She is a nutrition freak and stays current on all the latest and greatest in being a health guru. So with this new vision from my number I felt like the baddest gray headed guy in the gym. Of course I was the only one in the gym at the time. It was amazing how that number influenced my self-image. I went from feeling like a reject compared to Dr. Oz to being a walking example of health and nutrition. All because of a number. 2 Corinthians 10:12 – “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” NKJV This scripture warns about comparison and classification. In making comparisons the tendency is to compare to the ultimate. When a teenage girl looks in the mirror and compares herself to a super model she will likely walk away with a negative evaluation. An athlete in high school comparing himself to a pro will feel very inadequate. A preacher at the local church comparing himself to the mega preacher on TV will feel pretty ineffective. We need our self-image to be founded in something stable and consistent. Popular opinion, whims, and fads will come and go. What you need is an unchanging source of who you are. Romans 8:16 tells us, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” NKJV As a child of God my self-image is founded in that relationship. I know who I am. I know where I’m going. I know what my purpose is. I know how to make it. It is founded in my God. Rather than allowing something insignificant like a number to give you a positive or negative self-evaluation, let your image of self be founded in an unchangeable love relationship with Grand Assembly of God Church. I prayed for you, PG
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:00:42 +0000
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