Welcome to Today’s Word Is … A Daily Devotion (Mon-Fri) by Chaplain Mark Davis. Today: Agreeing with God about your strengths. If this made a difference in your life today, please leave me a comment.
I once had this conversation with a co-worker …
ME: You’re very smart.
THEM: No. Not really.
ME: I’m smart. I made straight A’s mostly.
THEM: Yeah, so did I.
ME: Then you’re pretty smart.
THEM: Well … hmmmm … Okay.
It’s okay to say you’re smart or talented in some way, or whatever your characteristics are, in an honest and humble way. It’s part of having a good, healthy, and accurate view of yourself. Many of us were taught not to compliment ourselves because it sounds like “bragging.” Often our solution is to belittle ourselves as a way of ensuring that we don’t think too highly of ourselves. It took me 40-plus years to stop this bad habit.
The Bible talks about how you should view yourself.
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” – The Apostle Paul (Romans 12:3)
A “sober judgment” means a correct evaluation. This means you should not think “too highly” nor “too lowly” of yourself. Now who do you think has the most “sober” or accurate evaluation and opinion of you? Well … It’s God, of course.
You should agree with God and his opinion of you. He knows your value, your potential, your strengths, your weaknesses. For some of us, it is a great discovery to learn that “God thinks of me more highly than I thought He did!” God is for us, not against us. (See Romans 8 below.) So, if someone has told you that God thinks poorly of you … that’s a lie. If you think you should deny your strengths as a way of being humble, consider that this is a form of false humility, and not at all biblical. Instead, affirm who you are and the gifts you have been given, and then delight in using them for God’s purposes.
In addition, don’t bemoan your weaknesses. Everyone has them. Accept them. Improve on them when you can. This is all part of agreeing with God about who you are and who you are to become. And if you can agree with God about the total you, there will be greater peace, and probably more smiles.
Ask God for more wisdom. This was King Solomon’s one desire.
1st Kings 9:9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked…”
Agreeing with God about who you are is a good thing! Asking for more … that’s good, too!
Have a blessed day,
Chaplain Mark
Romans 8 reference
“… If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:31-32
Thanks, Penny. Glad to have with me on this site. I look forward to your insights.
Good way to look at it!
Bro. Mark…I earthly terms, we should see ourselves as our dogs see us. When we come home after a rough day, our dogs wag their tail and want to love on us.
To our dogs, we’re not a hot mess, but a master chef.
Not unlovable but a soul mate.
Not worthless but the best thing ever.
Good word on a fine line.