The last year and half I’ve changed the way I study my scriptures. You can get all the details from this podcast Come Follow Me For Us (love this woman and everything that comes out of her mouth, so much!) on the process of my scripture study.
One of the things I think is so wonderful about this process is repenting each and every time before reading my scriptures. To stop and reflect on my day has been humbling, eye opening, and truly makes me want to be better.
Several months ago, I did just that. It was the end of a great day and as I pondered on what I could repent of I truly could not think of one thing (first time in my life and never again has that happened, ha!) I prayed saying just that, “Heavenly Father, I can’t think of one thing to repent of from today..” and as soon as those words came out of my mouth the words, “How about how you spoke to yourself today,” came deep into my mind.
My jaw dropped open. I reflected on my day and sure enough I went back to a moment where I was just plain mean. I had thoughts about myself that I would never in a million years say, let alone even think about someone else.
Yet, I had said those words to myself.
Satan is so good at making us see our weaknesses while hiding our strengths. I mean I get why! He can’t have a bunch of women running around this world knowing what divine worth they have. That they are literally a daughter of a Supreme Being. That they are good, and kind, and fun, and my gosh so dang special.
Because we are, each and everyone of us.
I don’t care if you don’t believe it, truth is truth.
It doesn’t matter what sin you have committed, what trials you face, or what things you hate about yourself.
YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH. Just like you try to treat others with kindness and mad respect, we need to be doing the same for ourselves.
Yes, there is such thing as pride, but that isn’t what I’m talking about. This isn’t putting ourselves above others.
This is about adoring who you are, who created you, and the potential He sees in who you are now and who you will be.
I just happened upon this video the other day and I like it. And not just because it has chocolate 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqepWpMLKP0
Russel Nelson said, “Feelings of worth come when a woman follows the example of the Master. Her sense of infinite worth comes from her own Christlike yearning to reach out with love, as He does.
Her self-esteem cannot be based on physical features, possession or lack of a particular talent, or comparative quantities of anything. Her self-esteem is earned by individual righteousness and a close relationship with God. Her outward glow is generated by goodness within. And her patience is much more apparent than any imperfection.”
How beautiful is that. We feel whole and at our best when we work on our relationship with our Father and His Son. There is nothing else in this world that provides that.
I also love what Joy Jones said, “Let me point out the need to differentiate between two critical words: worth and worthiness. They are not the same. Spiritual worth means to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us, not as the world values us. Our worth was determined before we ever came to this earth. “God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever.”
On the other hand, worthiness is achieved through obedience. If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less! We continue to repent and strive to be like Jesus with our worth intact. As President Brigham Young taught: “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth … is worth worlds.” No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.”
We always and forever have worth. Can you imagine if we thought about ourselves as God thinks of us? There would be so much love oozing out of us that we would have a much greater amount to share with others, which is essentially what the gospel is all about.
Love yourself and do not let Satan make you feel anything less than the magnificent daughter of God that you are.