The View of Self that Does Not Lead to Pride

Especially as Catholics, many of us have been taught not to think too highly of ourselves or we will fall into pride. I myself have fallen into spiritual pride.

You see, when I first started following Jesus at the age of 19, I ran way ahead of him. A lot of what I was doing however ended up being in my own effort and strength. This led to spiritual pride.

The next 10 to 15 years, I went through the wringer of life which felt like tumbling around in a washing machine trying to catch my breath. Through these life circumstances however, the Lord taught me how to surrender, lean back in him, rest and just be; finding my worth in being a child of God and not worth in the things I was doing for him.

After a time of purification however, I was afraid of thinking too highly of myself, falling back into spiritual pride and going forward.

In my last blog post I talked about the importance of having the right perception; the right perception when it comes to other people and our circumstances.

It is also important that we have the right perception about our self.

Lately, the Lord has been impressing on me how important it is to know our true identity in him. It is also important that we know how the Lord sees us.

Our true identity can only be found in Christ but it is this identity that is imperative for us to know. When it is rooted in Christ, it doesn't lead to pride but is important to know if we are going to advance the Kingdom; do the things Christ has destined since the beginning for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he has prepared in advance for us to do."

Now, I'm not talking about the Barney or Arthur mentality that was taught to our kids about just believing in yourself and we are all special and should all get trophies. This kind of mindset leads to self-absorption and egotism.

I'm talking about identity rooted in the truth of who we are in Christ and whom he is calling us to be. Scripture is full of examples of God calling people higher by revealing their true identity and calling. Take the examples of David, Gideon, Peter, Paul, and Philip to name a few.

Many of us go through life not really giving much thought about how the Lord views us or who we are. I wonder if that is what the scripture from Proverbs 29:18 is talking about when it says, "The people perish for lack of vision."

We just kind of wonder around aimlessly with no real purpose.

Did you know it is okay to ask the Lord questions?  I think he actually loves it when we ask him question!

Try asking him how he sees you. Ask him who you are in him. Ask him what he has destined for you.
If you ask him, I am confident that he will show you. Once he shows you, write it down, declare it, stand in confidence, and walk in that knowledge!

Also, it is only when we come into the knowledge of who we are in Christ that we will be able to see the majesty and goodness of who God really is.

1 Corinthians 13:12 -  "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I am fully known." 

Let me know what the Lord shows you. I would love to hear!