In our modern, high tech, fast-paced society, one major problem contributes to a broad range of mental and emotional disorders. What do you think it is? Nicholas Emler, a research scientist states. There is a widespread view that low self-esteem is a risk factor for a broad range of psychological and behavioral problems.

She was tall, black, and pretty. She didnt look up when I entered the room. She continued to eat pudding as if she would never get another bite of food for the rest of her life. I worked for the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi as an out reach counselor. I work with the homeless, mentally ill, addicts or anyone else who needs help. This day another agency had call me and ask me if I would come over and talk this girl because she was homeless and hearing voices and then really didnt know what to do.

I walked in and introduced myself. How are you doing I ask?

I am ok, she mumbled. Her voice was weak, small, and frightened. I moved my chair closer so I could hear her. I am told you are hearing voices.

Yes. she said with a blank look on her young face. What are they saying, I ask.

Oh they are She stopped abruptly. I sat there for a moment, prayed then I ask, Are they telling you to hurt yourself? She looked into my eyes as if to say how did you know, yes, they want me to hurt myself because I am no good. What do you mean you are no good? I ask. Mister I am just worthless just no good. She looked around the room with dead eyes.

I glanced at the woman who had invited me to her office her eyes were wide with expectation. Expectation that I had a solution. We were alarmed and we knew we had to do something. We couldnt let this young girl head back into the streets. We both assured her that God loved her and that we would help her find some help. And, we did call and ambulance and she was taken to a local emergency room.

No question about it, this girl certainly was suffering from possible schizophrenia. I am not making a diagnosis but all the criteria for this disorder was present in this young ladies behavior. The cause for low self-esteem can vary. However, one cause inevitably revolves around performance orientation. In other words, one suffering from low self-esteem believes they must earn others approval in order to feel good about who they are. Many believe the only way to receive Gods love is perform perfectly. Dont do this, whatever this is, and God will love you more. This idea is a root cause in low self worth. Even among main line religious denominations it is widely believed that we must earn or act our way into the heart of God. The bible teaches us just the opposite. The word of God proves, beyond any doubt, that God loves us just as we are or in spite of how we behave. One of the most famous verses in the bible says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son and if you believe in Him you would not perish but have eternal life. It is not my point to debate doctrine it is simply to declare that God loves you just as you are. You cant earn His love. You cant buy His love. You cant perform well enough to make Him love you. He loves you because you are His child and His Son Jesus the Christ gave His life for you. Once you begin to get your identity correct, the self-esteem problem has a better chance of improving. That doesnt mean that all Christians have a great sense of self worth. It means when a Christian firmly believes they are of value to God it adds to their own value.

Read the following bible verses slowly with an open mind. Find the statements declaring who you are in Christ. Once you locate them, memorize them and declare them, aloud, when you tell self you are worthless. How can you be (worth less) than God says you are. Actually, we are worth more than we can even imagine. Read the verses and see what you find.

Ephesians 2:1-10 You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Years ago, a teacher drilled my mind with positive affirmations, which helped me combat low-self worth. These positive statements helped me to deal with my own feelings of worthlessness. The positive statements are as follows: First, I am an awesome spirit being of great worth as a person. Second, I am deeply love by God regardless of what I have done. Third, Christ died for all my failures and all my failures are forgiven when I admit them and turn from them. Fourth, I am fully pleasing to God because of Jesus the Christ. Fifth, I am totally accepted by God because of Jesus the Christ. Six, I am unique and there is only one me and I love me.

The truth is I had to work hard at over coming low self-esteem. I still struggle with feeling of worthlessness from time to time but when I stop and tell myself the truth about who I am, a child of God, life goes a lot better. In addition, when I am confident about my identity in Christ I refuse to allow others to dictate or affect me negatively. I do not have to have the approval of others in order to feel good about who I am.

If you are suffering from low self-esteem, let me challenge you to examine your thoughts, attitudes that accompany these feeling. If you are telling your self directly or indirectly, you are worthless change your thoughts and try some of the positive affirmations listed above. It works for me and it might just work for you. What do you have to lose other than the misery of low self-esteem?

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