View Blog Entry

“I’m such an idiot,” I told myself one day after doing something ridiculously stupid.

“Don’t say that to yourself,” the good Lord gently chided. “You wouldn’t say that to one of your friends, so don’t say that to yourself. It’s just as sinful to say it to yourself as it is to say it to a friend.”

Talk about a “lightbulb moment.” I had never considered that, but it was true.

We may sometimes curse, criticize, or condemn ourselves without thought, yet the Bible instructs us to walk in love with others. At the risk of stating the obvious, we are people too. We need to be patient and kind to ourselves. We all make mistakes. We have hurts and we hurt others.

Thankfully, our heavenly Father has provided mercy and forgiveness, not only for others but also for us. Yes, it is noble and godly to give these to the people around us, but if we withhold kindness from ourselves, we are not walking in the love in which Jesus commanded us to live.

We may often find fault with our looks also, using words we would never think about hurling at another human being. We must remember we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. The fact is no one has a perfect body, but we can thank the good Lord above—who isn’t too interested in how we look—that He looks on the heart instead.

When we’re faced with our human failures, we can be kind and patient with ourselves. We do not have to be perfect to be loved. After all, He who began a good work in us will complete and perfect it until Jesus returns. We can embrace who we are and be true to ourselves instead of being discontented and trying to be carbon copies of someone else.

Remember, you are beautiful, magical, and wonderful just as you are.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)