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19th January 2010 by Julia Hosking

Sound familiar?

No one loves me. I'm a loser. I'll never amount to anything.

Do you ever find yourself thinking things like these?

The Bible has a lot to say about us. It tells us that we are valued, loved, created intentionally and with purpose. However, even if we know all this, we can sometimes find ourselves thinking things that don't match up. Most girls will struggle with negative self-image at some point in their lives.

But this isn't the way we were created to think! Romans 12:2 says: "Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? So let's take a look at how we can change the way we think.

Three simple rules

1. Get into the Word. The Bible, as well as explaining God's plan for us and for the world, tells us all about who God created us to be. The Enemy loves to tell us we're no good, but when we read the Bible, we find a different story. The Word tells us that we are valued, loved, created intentionally and with purpose. Spend time in God's Word and you'll learn a whole lot about yourself.

2. Learn to recognise the lies. This one will take some practice. Every time you start to think something about yourself that doesn't match up with what God says about you, stop your brain in its tracks and say: "That is a lie!" (Hint: it works best if you say it out loud, although you might get some funny looks.) The untrue thoughts we think about ourselves can become a habit we don't even realise we've developed. When we start to pull ourselves up whenever we are thinking these things, we can learn to change the way we think about ourselves.

3. Replace the lie with the Truth. Once you stop the lie in its tracks, replace it with the truth. It's sort of like the ‘Find and Replace' function in Microsoft Word. At first you'll have to consciously think about it. "I feel unloved. But 1 John 4:10 tells me that God loves me." After a while, it will become second nature. The more you practice reminding yourself of who God says you are, the more natural it will become, until you don't even have to think about it anymore.

The new you!

Let's take it from the top then, shall we?

No one loves me.
God says, "I love you."
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins," (1 John 4:10).

I'm a loser.
God says, "In Christ, you're a winner."
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us," (Romans 8:37).

I'll never amount to anything.
God says, "I have a future for you, full of good things".
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Mel Cotton

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1. 

   jake

   January 26, 2010 at 1:14pm

   this should be a blog for guys aswell, negativity is something that alot of guys struggle with aswell

   Reply
2. 

   Claire Hill

   January 28, 2010 at 8:17am

   This is such a good article. I put these three steps into practice in my own life and like Mel says, after a while it starts to happen more naturally.
   
   "Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled firmly around your waist".

   Reply
3. 

   Mel

   January 28, 2010 at 4:32pm

   Thanks Jake and Claire.
   
   I agree Jake. And it shouldn't be limited to under 18's either. It's something I still struggle with and put into practice often.

   Reply