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Self-image Not So Good?

by Susan Hanson  
1/04/2018 / Christian Living

Being an observer of many different conversations between Christians, where neither party could see the other’s point, showed me something I had often wondered about. I questioned why people couldn’t seem to follow another’s explanation of a given subject. The situation usually led to anger and sometimes, a parting of ways.

I realized then that people have very strongly embedded, preconceived ideas, or predetermined definitions of certain words (such as prodigal, for example), in their minds. This prevents them from learning and growing closer to God. It is easy to see this in others when they have an opinion, a belief about how some spiritual principle is and they just will not let go of it or even back off long enough to see the other person’s point.

Sad but true, this “irregularity” is much more difficult to see in ourselves. So, I asked Adonai, in all sincerity, to show me if I was holding on to some preconceived idea or favorite principle or belief that was retarding my quest to better know and have the mind of Christ as scripture tells us we should.

As often happens, He opened my eyes to an unexpected aspect of that principle of which I was guilty. And as was the case with some other lessons He taught me, this was also rather humiliating.

It was a terrible day – emotionally strenuous and exhausting. But by evening, I realized that in spite of feeling emotionally drained and worn out, God had answered my prayer of a day or two before, to show me anything in myself that I may not recognize as a hindrance to my spiritual growth – having the mind of Christ – becoming more Christ like, etc.

He showed me that my inferiority complex – my habit of thinking I am less intelligent, usually wrong, a bother to others, useless for anything substantial, and therefore less valuable (at the slightest provocation), hinders God’s working in me and through me to accomplish His plans for using me for His glory.

It is quite humiliating to have to admit all of this but it will help someone else, and that makes it worth it. The bottom line is this: to allow an “inferiority complex” to shape one’s self image is NOT the humility we are told to have as imitators of Christ. It is an exaggeration of the word “humble” which makes it a distortion. Therefore, it is sin. It is sin because that is not how God sees us.

I wonder how many other traits we Christians have that don’t pop out as blatantly sinful.

I was raised in church but always felt like I was missing something. Now the Word of God excites me! My curiosity enhances the pursuance of discernment. I have often felt discouraged, but not totally defeated knowing that in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

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