"Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence."
— Henri J.M. Nouwen
oh yes oh yes oh yes
ReplyDelete....that we DARE to believe
we are the cherished children
of Abba
that He declares
we are.
Lord, take us there.
Thanks for this today, friend.
-Jen
Hi JBR,
ReplyDeleteThis statement is the key...
Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence."
Why do we exist? Why are we here and why did He create us?
God created us for companionship. He created us to worship Him and Him alone.
Satan doesn't want this so he attacks us at our core and that is self. If he can get us to look at ourselves then this will swallow us up. He accomplishes this in many ways with different people. Success, beauty, even family can become 'self oriented'.
We are the beloved of God. God created us to worship and if we don't worship Him then we end up worshiping something. Horses are grazes, not meat eaters they were created this way. This cannot be changed.
When you feel empty and worthless and you want to pull into yourself because of rejection, turn it around and worship God. It is hard work, believe me I have been here and the very last thing I want to do is worship God! But I start small. I will just say His name, Jesus. Then I do a bit more, Jesus Christ. From there I take another step further and say His names, Elohim, Father, Lamb of God, Deliverer, Holy One, the Word, King of kings, and so on. By then I am ready to worship Him and my mind is taken off of myself and onto the One I was created for and I always feel good!!
Praying and praying for you sister please know this!
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Hi,JBR!Been awhile.Believing in one's self is powerful gift.It enables us to rise above every pain that comes our way.The road to achieving is rough,especially if those who should have seen our worth made us feel worthless.
ReplyDeleteWe, here in Japan is fighting a huge battle.I hope that we all rise above the pain.
JBR, your previous post was awesome. I think it is time for you to accept yourself as the marvelous woman that you are. I see so much growth in you. You are so very close to over coming your past and your pain.
ReplyDeleteI admire your strength as you go about your healing. It seems a lot of us had bad parents. You are growing each and every day with God at your side.
I pray for complete healing in you. Your are too wonderful to not live fully in your self.
Love and blessings.
JBR,
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo true! Thank you for posting it. We ARE the "Beloved" of God. May this awesome truth sink deeply into our hearts!
So very true. We are wonderfully and perfectly made by our Father. Now we have to believe it.
ReplyDeleteman how true this is
ReplyDeletemy daughter sees it in middle school and ive explained that it is the same in the adult world. so sad, but true. I just dont understand how so many can be so cold hearted to others, it makes no since to me but as i tell hailey all she has to say to them is, "what makes you think thant you are so special that I care what you think" we must do the same as adult, not care!
This is one of the things I struggle with on a almost continual basis. I pray that the truth of 'Beloved' permeates all our being.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this.. I wandered on this post and just joined the blog. My granddaughter has a life threatning disease and I spent two weeks with her in the hospital last month.. I had to complain about some care a few times to keep her safe.. the enemy would have me feel I am not liked by speaking up and I need to be quiet and let things alone so everyone will like me. God has spoke to my heart and let me know .. IT does not matter what others think of me.. I am his child. Same old battle I have fought all my life. I don't need others approval, only his!
ReplyDeleteso true... and Success, popularity, and power come at such a great cost in my humble opinion dont they. the cost of the real self....
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me of this truth. I surely have missed visiting you here as your words encourage me and remind me of truth. I have missed you. XX
ReplyDelete