Let me ask you a question; how do you see yourself? The way you answer that question is very important because how you view yourself affects every aspect of your life. If you don’t realize the incredible truth that you are a masterpiece created by God, you will not think of yourself as worth investing in. The time and effort that is needed to invest for you to reach your potential will seem too much a price to pay. The more you do understand that you are God’s masterpiece the more you will live in motivation, determination and focus. And you will believe and understand that you are worth the investment needed to reach your full potential.
Author and speaker Zig Ziglar said: “It’s impossible to consistently behave in a manner inconsistent with how we see ourselves. We can do very few things in a positive way if we feel negative ourselves.” How true. Serving in the ministry all of my adult life I have seen hundreds of people on the verge of success and fulfillment only to make decisions that cause them to lose their footing and all ground that they had gained toward it. Why? Simple, we cannot perform or live at a level higher or better than we see ourselves.
With that truth in mind you can see why the message that Paul gave us in Eph 2:10 is so important: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Eph 2:10 NLT) It is a message that I am compelled to continue to talk about because of the high stakes – you living and experiencing your potential as God’s masterpiece!
What was it that gave you the parameters for establishing your value and worth in your heart and mind? Others? Perhaps it was a parent or person of influence in your life that continually told you that you would not amount to much. You don’t have to believe what others say about you. In fact I encourage you to discover what God, the creator of your life as His masterpiece, says about you, and determine to listen to what He says above every other voice in your life – including your own.
To continually live in the value and worth that He has created you to be as His masterpiece you must change the process of how you see yourself. I call it the process of value.
1. Believe Your Life Is God’s Masterpiece.
Most of us underestimate the power of what we believe about ourselves. Begin to explore what God says about you and ask Him to help you to believe it!
2. Guard Your Thinking
Proverbs 23:7 says: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (KJV) That is the reason we are told throughout Scripture to guard our thoughts – make them line up with God’s thoughts about you.
3. Quit Comparing Yourselves To Others.
Culture is always leading us to compare. It’s dangerous and destructive. You are created as a unique masterpiece, with a unique purpose and plan. Paul tells us this in the Bible: “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” (Gal 6:4-5 NLT)
4. Identify How You Should Be, Act And Feel
We have a guide book to success in this life; it’s the manufacturer’s instruction manual: The Bible. Begin to read and study the Bible to discover what He says about how you should be, act and feel. What culture says doesn’t matter – what the creator of your life as a masterpiece is imperative!
5. Own The Responsibility
If your life is not looking like the masterpiece God created you to be, know that you too have a part, a responsibility. In my book Life Palette I talk about this as I introduce the idea of your Life Palette: “What is it that makes some people a success at something and others not as successful? It’s not always the most talented, whether in business, sports, medicine, ministry, or any number of career choices. Nor is it those who just happened to get lucky, or are at the right place at the right time. So what is it? What makes the difference? It’s this: each of us is given a palette in life. We make the choices that will develop our Life Palette. From this palette the color and composition of the life you live is determined. How you develop your Life Palette will cause those around you to take notice, to pause and consider the beauty of a life lived with direction and destiny compared to one lived aimlessly and without effect.”
It’s a simple process that will radically change your life. Get started today implementing this “Process of Value” so that your life will reflect the masterpiece God intended.
Next Steps For The Process of Value:
If you haven’t done so already, memorize Ephesians 2:10. Personalize it. Live it! “For we [I AM] are God’s masterpiece. He has created us [ME] anew in Christ Jesus, so we [I] can do the good things he planned for us [ME] long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) Speak it over and over in your mind throughout the day, speak it out loud, ask God to transform your mind to think and believe this truth about yourself.