Good morning!
It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, “Morning and Evening: A New Self Discipline Journey” to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
The last 2.5 weeks have been insane for me, so I apologize for the fact that I have gotten WAY behind on getting these published each day. I don’t really have any excuse other than I was on the road for over a week and then struggled to get back into my normal routine of things. But today is my attempt to get back on board. So, thanks for being patient with me.
That said, this week we are going to focus each day on self esteem. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!
With that said, let’s start our morning together!
BREATHING EXERCISE
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.
MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.
PRAYER For Better Health
Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Author of my story,
When it comes to life, I feel so consumed by failure and self-doubt. In the dark spaces, where doubt flourishes and confidence wanes, shine the light of assurance on who you’ve made me to be.
Great equipper, empower me to believe your promise that anything I need to live a godly life, is something you give me. And, instead of seeing of limitations as a weakness or mistake, show me how they, too, are an extension of your grace.
Amen
A Prayer for Self Esteem | Reclaim Today
AFFIRMATIONS for Better Self Esteem
Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:
- I am courageous because God is with me wherever I go and in whatever I do.
- I am confident because my God protects me.
- I am strong because the Lord gives me strength.
- I am a work in progress and God is the craftsman.
SCRIPTURES For Better Self Esteem
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:
- Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; be not discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Psalm 27:3, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
- Isaiah 40:31, “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
- Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: stop putting yourself down.
Back in the day I used to confuse “self deprecation” for “humility”. That is, until one day my uncle pulled me aside and said, “I see what you’re doing and you need to stop. If someone compliments you just say ‘Thank you’ and move on. You don’t need to point out your failures or put yourself down. Just accept the compliment and move on.”
He was so right. This is exactly what I was doing. I was doing it because it felt weird to be complimented and I thought that I could counter that “weirdness” by putting myself down or exposing my flaws of that moment so it didn’t look like I was as deserving of the compliment as the individual speaking to me thought I was.
And to some degree, I was doing it because I had a low self esteem. Today, however, I simply say thank you to the compliment and move on and I think as a result my self esteem has bumped up a few notches.
Today, I encourage you to stop putting yourself down. No, you’re not as good as you’d like to be. No one is. But that doesn’t mean you’re not good at what you do. If someone compliments you, accept it and move on. When you feel tempted to put yourself down, stop, step back, and replace that thought with one of the affirmations or scriptures above.
This won’t fix you for life. This will need to be an ongoing practice; but you have to start sometime, so why not today?
Quote of the Day
I also wanted to include a little quote of the day that maybe you’ll find some inspiration in as well.
Today’s quote comes from famed author Mark Twain, and he said:
The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.
Mark Twain
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