1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,635 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: Abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,395 --> 00:01:18,555 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm James Sewood. Do you 12 00:01:18,595 --> 00:01:23,555 Speaker 2: ever struggle with low self esteem? How has God assured 13 00:01:23,595 --> 00:01:31,755 Speaker 2: you of your worth and His love? The Apostle Paul 14 00:01:31,915 --> 00:01:35,235 Speaker 2: took the Galatians to task when he learned that some 15 00:01:35,475 --> 00:01:39,595 Speaker 2: believers were being led astray by those preaching of false gospel. 16 00:01:41,075 --> 00:01:43,915 Speaker 2: They seemed to be preaching just what people wanted to hear, 17 00:01:45,155 --> 00:01:48,675 Speaker 2: trying to win their approval by making the gospel more palatable. 18 00:01:50,235 --> 00:01:53,715 Speaker 2: But Paul found that to be a very unsavory practice. 19 00:01:55,275 --> 00:02:00,315 Speaker 2: In Galatians Chapter one, verse ten, he said, for am 20 00:02:00,315 --> 00:02:04,395 Speaker 2: I now seeking the approval of man or of God? 21 00:02:05,635 --> 00:02:09,235 Speaker 2: Or am I trying to please Man? If I were 22 00:02:09,275 --> 00:02:12,275 Speaker 2: still trying to please Man, I would not be a 23 00:02:12,395 --> 00:02:20,995 Speaker 2: servant of Christ. Too often we go through life trying 24 00:02:20,995 --> 00:02:24,235 Speaker 2: to be someone where not just to get the approval 25 00:02:24,275 --> 00:02:28,315 Speaker 2: of others, failing to see ourselves as God sees us, 26 00:02:29,355 --> 00:02:35,395 Speaker 2: good creations made in God's image, rescued from sin and beloved. 27 00:02:40,795 --> 00:02:44,195 Speaker 2: God invites you to rest peacefully in the knowledge that 28 00:02:44,275 --> 00:02:56,315 Speaker 2: He has called you and made you worthy. Pray with me. God, 29 00:02:57,435 --> 00:02:59,715 Speaker 2: It's so easy for me to seek the approval of 30 00:02:59,755 --> 00:03:03,755 Speaker 2: other people around me, But when I am commended by people, 31 00:03:04,555 --> 00:03:07,915 Speaker 2: I always end up feeling arrogant, and when I fail 32 00:03:07,995 --> 00:03:12,595 Speaker 2: to win their approval, I feel insecure. It's a roller coaster. 33 00:03:13,955 --> 00:03:16,395 Speaker 2: Teach me to look to You for my sense of 34 00:03:16,435 --> 00:03:19,875 Speaker 2: worth and to embrace the truth about who I am 35 00:03:19,955 --> 00:03:25,115 Speaker 2: in Christ. It's in his name that I pray. Amen. 36 00:03:27,275 --> 00:03:32,955 Speaker 2: Take a deep breath, and if you can close your eyes, 37 00:03:34,355 --> 00:03:38,635 Speaker 2: you're not looking any way else for your validation. Turn 38 00:03:38,715 --> 00:03:42,395 Speaker 2: the eyes of your heart toward Jesus and his great 39 00:03:42,475 --> 00:03:48,755 Speaker 2: love for you. Breathe in I am God's child, and 40 00:03:48,875 --> 00:03:54,275 Speaker 2: breathe out. I have all I need. Let your breathing 41 00:03:54,355 --> 00:03:59,435 Speaker 2: grow deeper and slower as you hold those words close. 42 00:04:00,915 --> 00:04:20,475 Speaker 2: I am God's child. I have all I need. Whether 43 00:04:20,515 --> 00:04:23,195 Speaker 2: it's pride or low self esteem that trips you up, 44 00:04:24,635 --> 00:04:27,315 Speaker 2: both of these responses are rooted in a failure to 45 00:04:27,355 --> 00:04:31,955 Speaker 2: believe the words God has spoken about you. They're both 46 00:04:31,995 --> 00:04:36,035 Speaker 2: ways of acting as if your feelings about yourself are 47 00:04:36,075 --> 00:04:40,875 Speaker 2: more true than God's words about you. Confess to God 48 00:04:40,955 --> 00:04:45,475 Speaker 2: your failure to trust him completely and bring any other 49 00:04:45,595 --> 00:05:03,755 Speaker 2: sins you're struggling with to God. Now, this is the 50 00:05:03,795 --> 00:05:06,835 Speaker 2: confidence that we have through Christ in the presence of God. 51 00:05:08,395 --> 00:05:11,515 Speaker 2: It isn't that we ourselves are qualified to claim that 52 00:05:11,595 --> 00:05:17,195 Speaker 2: anything came from us. No, our qualification is from God, 53 00:05:18,475 --> 00:05:26,715 Speaker 2: who is daily transforming us by his glory. Pray with me. God, 54 00:05:27,355 --> 00:05:31,435 Speaker 2: you made me and called me a good creation. And 55 00:05:31,515 --> 00:05:34,435 Speaker 2: while I was still a sinner, you sent your son 56 00:05:34,555 --> 00:05:39,995 Speaker 2: Jesus to me from my sin and reconcile me to you. 57 00:05:39,995 --> 00:05:43,515 Speaker 2: You've called me your child and given me every spiritual blessing. 58 00:05:44,875 --> 00:05:48,755 Speaker 2: What I'm feeling insecure. Help me to seek comfort in 59 00:05:48,835 --> 00:05:54,235 Speaker 2: these truths rather than turning to others for approval. And 60 00:05:54,355 --> 00:06:01,355 Speaker 2: Jesus nay and I pray Amen. Today embrace the truth 61 00:06:01,435 --> 00:06:06,755 Speaker 2: that to God, You are perfectly and wonderfully made, and 62 00:06:06,875 --> 00:06:09,395 Speaker 2: nothing you could ever do could make God love you 63 00:06:09,515 --> 00:06:15,115 Speaker 2: more than he already does. Until next time, may you 64 00:06:15,235 --> 00:06:38,475 Speaker 2: meditate and abide in Christ