Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #16 — Healthy Respect

Picture: Counsel #16 — Healthy Respect CI 55.1

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror and not recognized the reflection staring back at you? Maybe that reflection reminded you of every past mistake or every hurtful word spoken over you. Over time, that warped image kind of started to feel normal, didn’t it? CI 55.2

Sometimes we live with versions of ourselves shaped by rejection, shame, or comparison. These false images can quietly convince us that we’re not enough, not capable, or not lovable. The good news is that God sees past all that, and He invites you to see yourself through His eyes. For the blindfold of this false self-image to be dismantled, you need to have a prayer life. As you pray, ask God to show you what He sees. Ask Him to gently uncover the lies you’ve believed and replace them with His truth - that you were created in His image, redeemed through Christ, and destined for more than you can imagine. You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Just start with one honest prayer: “God, restore my vision. Not just what I see in the mirror, but what I believe in my heart.”^[54] CI 55.3

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalms 139:23 NIV CI 55.4

“Moral purity, self-respect, a strong power of resistance, must be firmly and constantly cherished.” Ellen White in Medical Ministry, p. 143 CI 55.5

Reflect: What stories or labels have shaped how you see yourself? CI 55.6