No More Lies: Part 8: "I'm a Nobody"

The Life of a Creative

You may have noticed I have written a book. This undertaking was a big deal for me. Nerve racking only begins to cover the whole process. If you are creative, you may understand what this is like. The moments before you "ship" your creation are exciting. 

The anticipation builds and the nerves do too. Then there is the moment you "reveal" your great work to the world. Will people "get" it? Will people "get" you? 

Then, you begin to doubt. You doubt yourself, your ability, your calling, and your talent. That no-man's land between shipping your work and people consuming (buying) your work wreaks havoc on your confidence. 

In comes lie #8: "I'm no one special, so who would listen/read/watch me?" 

Counteracting the Lie

This lie is hideous. If we believe it, creative person or not, then we run the risk of denying our value. The value of any one thing (or person) is not in what someone charges for it, but in what someone is willing to pay for it. God paid the ultimate price. He laid all of creation, the very universe, on the line and gave his only son (John 3:16) to save us. Our value was that high. 

So I must believe I am who God says I am.  

• Psalms 139:14 says I am "fearfully and wonderfully made"

• Genesis 1:26 says I am created in the image of God

• Deuteronomy 28:13 says I am the "head and not the tail" 

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP) says I am the "righteousness of God in Christ"

• Luke 4:18 says I am called to preach, lay hands on the sick, and set the captive free

• Matthew 21:21 says I will be able to do what Christ did and more

O Wretched Worm That I Am... 

There is a part of me that remembers that verse in Matthew 19 that says "there is none good but God" and I am immediately down on myself again. But, and this is something we would do well to remember, the enemy knows the Bible too. He will always lie with a bit of the truth mixed in. 

Tricky little demon. 

The whole passage is about God being holy and our lack of goodness to meet him unless we give up ourselves and follow Jesus. 

When I know this I can become free from the lie "I am not valuable".

The thing that gives me value was the price God paid (his son's sacrifice) and the Holy Spirit living on the inside of me. 

The same Spirit that hovered over the face of the earth to create (Genesis 1:2) now lives on the inside of me. Creating newness and inspiring me to create too. He is the One who brings life (1 Peter 3:18 and John 16: 12-14) and He is the One who calls to the deepest parts of me.(1 Corinthians 2:10) He knows me like no one else. He sees enough value in me to choose me to dwell in. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

My Prayer

Father, forgive me for believing a lie. Help me become rooted and grounded in your truth. I am special, because I am yours. You are my Father, I am your child. You have called me out of darkness and into the light. Let your light shine on all the ugly parts of me that cling to the darkness: the lies that keep me held back from fully experiencing the life you called me to. Father I believe, now help my unbelief. Strengthen me and make me sure of you. I place my trust in you. In Jesus Name, the name above all names, in whom we have VICTORY this very day, Amen. 

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Have you ever struggled with a lie about your own personal value to people or to God? 

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Give Me a Break!

Photo Credit: Dayna Bickham

I am my harshest critic.

I often put myself down before anyone has the chance. I have a self-deprecating humor that is so sharp it would cut someone to the quick if ever directed toward anyone else.

I know God operates in grace and mercy toward me but I have none toward myself. This has to stop.

I cannot have a higher standard than my Father has for me. His ways are perfect. His law is the standard of holiness, but I was never meant to live by it.

The problem with the Law 

No one can live by the full law. That is why Jesus came. He was a spotless lamb: a perfect sacrifice for our sins. For once and all he paid the price of our short comings so we could have access to the Father like never before: a relationship as a son; as a daughter.

Living by the law leads to failure. Enough failings and we begin to feel worthless. This is why religion is so dangerous.

Religion says live a certain way to be accepted by God. Relationship that comes from grace says you are accepted by God and this causes you to live a certain way.

By Grace we are saved and by grace we should live. Otherwise we count what Jesus did for us as nothing. 

Unworthy but Not Worthless

We are not worthless. We are of great worth. God thought so when He gave the ultimate price of His son to win the prize of you and I. He counted the cost and was willing to pay it all. We are of high worth but unworthy.

So when I am hard on myself I am putting down the Father’s daughter: a child of the King. I have been redeemed and bought by the highest price. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps you have struggled with self-worth. Have you made one joke too many at your own expense? Have you felt like there is no way you can fully commit to this Christianity thing because you can’t live by all the rules? Are you your harshest critic?

There is something I want to tell you. There is freedom, not oppression in Christ. There is grace and there is love and mercy. Jesus said the whole law (rules) can be sized up in two things: Love God and love people. 

That Means Me

I am people. I need to love myself too. I need to give “me” a break, and get out of my own way and let God do the work in me He created me for. We are here for a purpose, but we need to know one thing: unless grace works in us and through us we are like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.

Living by a standard is not a bad thing, but living by grace is so much better.

Question: How can you give yourself a “break” today?