Day 29 – Living Boldly: Re-evaluating Your Self-Esteem

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I want to re-evaluate a prior devotion and rethink the cultural message of self-esteem. While the world tells you to focus on yourself to find freedom, the Bible teaches a counterintuitive truth: the path to freedom is found in thinking less about yourself and more about God and others.

Rick’s 31-Day Devotions

• 31-Day Marriage Devotion
• 31-Day Parenting Devotion
• 31-Day Young Adult Devotion

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

The Problem with Self-Esteem

The self-esteem agenda calls you to admire and focus on yourself. It claims to be the solution for struggles like guilt, shame, fear, or insecurity. But this unbiblical concept often leads to more pain and disillusionment. Why? Turning your thoughts inward only magnifies and amplifies the darkness in your soul. Looking inward is not the solution. The more our gaze goes upward, the freer we will become.

From a biblical perspective, low self-esteem isn’t the real problem, and elevating self-admiration isn’t the solution. Thinking more about yourself—whether to inflate your ego or cure your insecurities—only deepens your self-centeredness.

The Bible is clear: apart from God’s grace, we are all hopeless and sinful (Romans 3:10-12). Looking inward for solutions blinds us to the only real hope—Jesus Christ.

The Gospel’s Counterintuitive Message

Jesus didn’t come to help you focus on yourself; He came to rescue you from yourself. He came to clothe you in His righteousness, freeing you from the burden of self-centered thinking (John 8:36). The gospel declares that our depravity is the perfect backdrop for God’s redemptive work.

When you stop trying to elevate your self-worth and instead focus on the worth of Christ, you experience true freedom. The more you turn your thoughts to God and others, the freer and more joyful you become.

Time to Reflect

1. Have you succumbed to self-centered thinking? Are you trapped in inward-focused thoughts, whether they center on guilt, insecurity, or self-admiration? If so, the solution is not to look deeper into yourself but to lift your eyes to Jesus.
2. How does God’s salvation free you from introspection? Reflect on how God’s grace releases you from the exhausting cycle of self-focus. His salvation clothes you in Christ’s righteousness, empowering you to love Him and serve others.

Practical Steps to Shift Your Focus

1. Meditate on Scripture: Spend time in passages like Romans 3:10-24 and Philippians 2:3-4, which highlight the sufficiency of Christ and the call to humility.
2. Pray for Others: Shift your thoughts outward by interceding for the needs of others.
3. Serve in Love: Look for opportunities to serve someone this week, reflecting Christ’s love instead of focusing on yourself.
4. True freedom isn’t found in self-esteem but in Christ-esteem. The gospel frees you from the exhausting task of focusing on yourself and releases you to love God and others well.

Let’s live boldly, embracing the gospel’s counterintuitive message and finding freedom in Christ.

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).