When the silence of the night settles in your ears, what do you hear? The humming of a ceiling fan or the rumble of cars on the road? The static of a baby monitor or the tumbling of the dryer?
When the noises fade to the background and your thoughts take center stage what do your thoughts say to you? What thoughts resound the loudest? What thoughts take up residence and infiltrate your mind? Most thoughts that seem to permeate in the background of the mind can be boiled down into two categories. Am I valued? Am I valuable?
At first glance they seem like the same question? But “am I valued” is an affirmation seeking question. This question longs to know, do others hold me in high esteem? Do others see the work I am doing, the contribution I am making and think it is good? Do others think I have something to bring to the table? Do others see that I have something to offer this world? Am I enough? Just me, without all of the accolades and attaboys?
“Am I valuable” is a question of self esteem, of self worth. Self worth, or self-value is often based upon lies – attacks of the mind from Satan. The mind is as a playground to him, a very easy target if we are unaware of his sneaky tactics.
Do you know in your heart of hearts you are valuable regardless of what others think and say about you? Believing you are of great value, may require a mindset shift – taking in the truth of scripture, and living it. Walking in it. Owning it. Thinking it. Believing it.
When you say, “I am not capable,” God says, “I am able” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
When you say, “I am all alone,” God says, “I will never leave you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
When you say, “I will never figure this out,” God says, ” I will direct you.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
When you say, “I’m not smart,” God says, “I give you wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)
When you say, “I can’t,” God says, “Yes, you can!” (Philippians 4:13)
How often have I read over these scriptures or received a pat on the back and still fallen asleep at night feeling as though I came up short yet another day? How many times have I thought to myself, “I haven’t done enough, or finished enough”, etc, etc. Too often. I hate to admit it! Yet, as I reflect on this broken part of my thinking, I know that God is still at work in this area of my life.
I pray He softens our hearts toward the truth of His word. I pray that we can hear the accolades of our loving Father and plant them deep in our hearts. Not accolades because of what we have done, but because of the value Christ gave to us when he spent his blood to cover ours. I pray that these verses, as planted seeds of His love, will grow as we continue to water them with His word, prayer and worship.
When you go to bed tonight, what will you allow your thoughts to tell you?
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