how horrible we are to others that are different. It made me more sensitive and cautious of my words and actions towards those who are different. Satan will find our weakness and challenge us, but if we keep God first He promises that there is nothing we can't handle. around us, friends, or even an employer FC: People can challenge our self-worth. How can Christconfidence be better than self-confidence against this? all things through Christ who strengthens ES: Ime.canWedo have heard that verse a million times. But my favorite verse "Have not I commanded thee, be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be though dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest" Josh 1:9. And even that great hymn (lyrics and Music by Norman J. Clayton) that says: “My hope is in the Lord". If we keep God first, and filter everything in life through his eyes, and view ourselves as God views us, we would see our self worth is far beyond riches, or rubies and more precious than Gold. It’s not easy as we tend to focus inward instead of focusing on God. can we protect ourselves against unfairly FC: How belittling a person to others? (God may offer us clues in Matthew 18:15-17). we aren't perfect. You can just bridle your ES: Well tongue and put on the amour of the Lord. Pray and
we are seeing ourselves as less, and pray at that moment, we just ask God to filter your mouth. I have a running can defeat the enemy, and he will lose his foothold. joke that I have no filter on my mouth, what my brain thinks flies out my mouth before I can "filter" it. I say things I It’s good to know that an all-knowing God proshouldn't, and I have hurt people and torn down people with vides the justice that life requires. We are free to my words. I have been more aware of it of late, and find enjoy life by trusting him to show us peace in the myself going to them and asking forgiveness. We can't world without being of the world. Has he provided some expect our words to ever be perfect, but as long as we good examples among your fellowship? recognize when we have done that and seek their forgiveness, and confess to God, I believe we don't do it as much. Well I have shared much time being PART of the world. God had to yank the rug out from under me At times God may reveal ways that we can imto get my attention. He made me realize that being prove ourselves, and he is patient to encourage in sync with him brings more satisfaction than personal our growth. Our enemy may suggest that we will glory, success, fame, or riches. Now when I am in the spotnever change, and try to provoke our surrender to disbelight, I really focus on keeping God first and in perspective lief. How can we avoid seeing ourselves as being less than in order to not be sucked in and apart from God. what God sees in us?
FC: ES:
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What can the church learn from sports to adhard not to do that. I am the worst offender. FC: dress a national fitness crisis? ES: It’s Example I see myself in contest shape "perfection" to a certain degree, as I always want to improve. Oh don't get me started on this one. Our national Then I see myself "off-season" and I beat myself up for how ES: fitness crisis is not the churches’ fault to begin with. bad I look. The bottom line is when God looks at me he sees me through Christ ... PERFECT. What Christ did on the cross covers all my sins. He sees me as unblemished covered in Christ’s blood. If we could remember that, we would never question our self-worth. But we are human and you can't expect us to get it right every day. If we recognize when © 2009 The Fit Christian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
I am going to offend a lot of people here, but it starts with our parents training kids to be lazy. Growing up, you could give us a stick and we'd entertain ourselves for hours. Today, kids from birth are in front of a television. Just because the video says “Baby Einstein®” doesn't give you
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