TEXT: Psalm 139:13-18 | Mark 12:28-31 | Genesis 2:7
Every single person on earth has been fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
But for you to fully understand and accept this truth, you need to know who made you.
For instance, if someone promises to support you financially or in any other way, your first instinct would be to determine whether they have the capability to follow through on their promise.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made because the One who made you is fearful and wonderful.
For you to come into this truth, you must know God, you must know who He is, His essence, and all that He cares about.
Another thing you must do is, you must love yourself.
Ask yourself, “Do I love myself? What do I love about myself?” Self-love is very important.
Then one of the scribes [an expert in Mosaic Law] came up and listened to them arguing [with one another], and noticing that Jesus answered them well, asked Him, “Which commandment is first and most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ 31 This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] [a]love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31
According to Jesus, the second most important law is to love your neighbour as you love yourself. If you do not love yourself properly, you cannot love others.
The degree to which you love yourself is the degree to which you would love other people. But if you are still struggling with self-love, you cannot extend love to others.
Why Do People Find it Hard to Love Themselves?
1.) They had a loveless and unhappy childhood
2.) They come from a background of poverty
3.) They have poor academic performance
4.) They experienced physical, financial, or sexual abuse
5.) They have health challenges
These people base their worth on their experiences, they find it hard to believe that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, even though God made them so.
How can you know if you’re one of these people?
1.) If you are always blaming yourself for every single thing that goes wrong, then you are struggling from self-love.
2.) If you criticize yourself constantly, then you don’t love yourself.
3.) If you apologize every time for things that are not even your fault.
4.) If you struggle to accept compliments or praise from others.
5.) If you dwell too much on the past.
6.) If you place too much importance on what other people think or say about you.
7.) If you care too much about your appearance.
8.) If you allow other people treat you like a doormat.
9.) If you find it hard to ask for help.
10.) If you are constantly trying to please people.
The Lord appeared to me ([a]Israel) from ages past, saying,
Jer 31:3
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.
You need to understand that the God who knows your deepest secrets, your flaws, and your shortcomings love you regardless.
What do I do to accept that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made by God?
1. Know and Accept God’s Love for You
The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
1 John 4:8
You need to understand that the love God has for you is not based on your performance, it’s not based on anything other than because He is love.
2. Speak Scriptures About God’s Love
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
Psalm 121:7-8
He will keep your life.
8
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do]
From this time forth and forever.
Pick out Bible verses that talk about the love of God for you and what He has planned for you and declare them upon your life constantly.
3. Be Grateful for and Pay Attention to What You are Good at
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, [a]with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8
God has deposited good things in every single one of us, so constantly think of what good He has deposited into you and focus your attention on them.
4. Look After Yourself
Exercise regularly, eat right, sleep well. Gather knowledge by reading books and listening to uplifting sermons.
Associate with like-minded people and stay away from toxic people.