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Emotionally Healthy Relationships: Pt 4

Living Your True Self

If you would like to extend this over a week, you can easily do one of the points each day of your devotion.  Here is a printable version

Monday

Big idea:  Learning to love the people around us:  Nothing is more important as a Christ follower than to grow in our ability to love.

Matthew 22:37 - Jesus replied:  "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  

Two ingredients that make a healthy relationship are grace and truth.  

Question:  Why do you think displaying a less than accurate picture of yourself will destroy important relationships?  ______________________________________________________________________
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Your True Self is made up primarily of three components:  
1.  What you KNOW.
These are your thoughts, feelings, dreams, opinions, and your core values.  
2.  What you SPEAK.  
These are the thoughts, opinions, and values you express with your words.
3.  How you ACT.
More than just your behavioral choices, this includes the gifts, abilities, and talents
that you put on display with your actions.

Question:  What is your general view of yourself?  ______________________________________________
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Question:  How would someone close to you describe your view of yourself?  __________________
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Tuesday

Read:  
Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.  

Question:  What does this verse tell us about ourselves?  _______________________________________
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Question:  Were you ever given a nickname, and if so, what was it?  ____________________________
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Question:  Junior high and high school can be very difficult times in a person's life.  How was your overall experience in junior high and high school?  ________________________________________
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Wednesday

This next question will not be personal.  LOL.  We will talk about a "friend."

Question:  Do you know a person who carries around with them a label that they have allowed to be attached to them?  __________  If so, how does that affect their life?  _______________________
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Pastor Dan said, "One of the most significant problems in making relationships healthy is  insecurity."

Question:  Name some ways that insecurity can cause problems in a relationship.  ____________
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Question:  Have you ever fallen for the marketing strategy that self-esteem can cure insecurity?  If so, what did you buy?  ________________________________________________________________________
Did it work?  _____________________________________________________________________________________

Philippians 3:3 - For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--

Question:  What do you think Paul is trying to get at in verse 3?  ________________________________
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Thursday

Philippians 3:4 - though I myself have reasons for such confidence.  If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

We should not boast about anything else, other than the label that God has given us through Christ.

Philippians 3:5 - circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Paul has a long list of statements that his peers would've thought, "Wow, are you kidding me about your background?"

Question:  Do you find yourself putting your value in some of the things that you've accomplished or your background?  ____________________________________________________________

Philippians 3:7-8 - But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Paul found a new label to identify himself as.  

Question:  How would you describe Paul's view of himself and was it important to him?  ____
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Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  

The second half of the verse defines the first half of the verse.  

Question:  How do you think God sees you?  __________________________________________________
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Pastor Dan said:  "At the heart of insecurity is the fear of rejection."

Question:  How could the fear of rejection affect the relationships around you?  ______________
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Friday

The cure starts:  

When you begin to see YOU through Jesus and when YOU begin to understand that God sees YOU through Jesus, and YOU see that YOU are redeemed and YOU see that YOU are unconditionally accepted and love...

Question:  How would that change the label that people oftentimes wear?  __________________
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The cure:  Acceptance is the cure for insecurity.

Question:  As a believer, you know that the world may reject you, but the creator of the universe looks to you and says, "You are my beloved son (or daughter), you are accepted and you are loved."  How will that improve your relationships?  ____________________________________
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Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know full well.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  

Question:  Have you accepted your new label?  ________________________________________________




















































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