Introduction

Counselors advise clients with a poor self-esteem to look into a mirror and recite positive affirmations to themselves. Can words make a difference and redefine one’s image? Definitely so, when the words come from the mouth of God. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jn. 1:1

When you believe in your heart and confess with your lips, Jesus Christ is Lord, salvation is yours. What are you saved from? Destructive forces of sin, unleashed to pulverize your worth into dust. The counterattack is Jesus, the Word, who defends you. Proclaiming His Word, with or without a physical mirror, breathes life into charred beliefs. How? 

The Word reflects and reminds you of who He is, and who you are, in Him. With Jesus first on the menu, order is established for disjointed thinking. It renews your understanding of Christ connecting His grace with the human race. The Word transforms your life. Therefore, remaining close to your Lord is like taking a daily vitamin for your mental health. Never stop looking into the mirror of truth.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. James 1:23-24

Illuminating truth soaks up self-absorption and directs it into His love and grace. Grace cleans your slate of shortcomings, selfishness, pride, unforgiveness and lying lips. Such forgiveness displays God’s thoughts toward you, freeing your heart from holding onto harmful idols. When God works, your soul will sit in awe and wonder.

Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Ps. 120:2

Oh, the workings of the Word are marvelous. It would do us all good to spend considerable time in the Spirit’s operating room! Being conformed to God’s image is the epiphany of every soul’s need and desire.

The definition of epiphany: An epiphany is a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something. A manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.

As a Christian, your epiphany is the manifestation of Christ. His light doesn’t belong under a bushel or bumped aside by an idol. Shall you allow the Word to rid any false images interfering with His presence? Maybe a new bell of importance will ring when Bible Hub brushes up clarity on the subject.  Read below what an image really is and whose image you are to bear. 

In Bible Hub, Strong’s Lexicon, the definition of image is likeness, idol. It’s meaning is a phantom, illusion, resemblance, a representative figure, an idol. In the corresponding Greek “image” is translated in the New Testament as Christ as the image of God (Col. 1:15) and believers being conformed to the image of Christ(Romans 8:29)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Col. 1:15

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of the Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom. 8:29

Why wait? Rend any false pretentions now. Begin by bulldozing idolatrous images, not bearing God’s name, back into the hole of demons.

Idols Standing in Your Self- Image

Have you ever looked at your low self-worth as an idol? Most people blame parents, playmates, partners or just people misusing power for their damaged emotions. How dare I declare victims are possessing idols. When you understand an image and idol are equal, it will blend the meaning into truth. If needed, reread Bible Hub’s definition of an image.

Images within your mind and heart, not reflecting Christ Jesus, are idols. Be honest, what thoughts and beliefs are erecting erroneous structures in your soul? A common conception of an idol is a statue of saints, Baal or a golden calf. 

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us.” Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Ex. 32:1, 2-3

An emerging idol is the unification of all religions. Everyone shares the same God, but just under a different name. It seems to appease people to believe sin doesn’t separate us from God. What a devious lie from the devil who wants more people in hell. This would mean Jesus died for nothing and God can allow sin, murder, immorality, greed etc. to live in His Kingdom. There would be no need for sending the wicked away even when they don’t want God. In this theology, judgment, hell and eternal fire don’t need to exist. I guess people supporting this ideology might think Satan deserves to have the same status as Christians and can live in Christ. However, sin can’t exist with the God of perfection and purity. May we quickly bury these beliefs and bring in the truth before Jesus returns.

There shall be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship a foreign god. Ps. 81:9

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourself from idols. Amen. 1 Jn. 5:2-21

It is time to dive into our topic for today. Self-image. It is rarely brought to the table of idols, but soon you will want to dust them off from yours. Low self-esteem is a less obvious idol, for it comfortably lives in deep corridors of the mind, making it difficult to recognize its existence. Do you want to understand how these idols developed? If so, read on.

The Idols of Opinions 

Obscure idols sneak into the soul through secret passwords called opinions. A passage of outside influence makes a segway to micromanage people’s possessions, money, success, status, body-image, diet, exercise etc. This invisible system regulates people’s choices. God is put into the backseat of beliefs while other people keep steering their hearts.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Ps. 118:8

Opinions are like creeks, creating tributaries of praise or condemnation into the soul. If engrafted into the bedrock of one’s beliefs, their judgments will signal positive or negative effects upon the body, mind and spirit. Such watered-down views are not to supersede the Word. Discernment must dawn through the light of Scripture, to deter lies from establishing degrading images within God’s children.

You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished. Hos. 10:13-14.

Words can carry venom, driving minds onto causeways of deception. Without full comprehension of God’s love, the vulnerable keep seeking approval and affirmation from others. 

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah. Ps. 140:3

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thess. 3:5

This weakness creates conflict with God’s Kingdom. Opinions become idols, stirring up wars in spiritual places. Yet, behind the scene, Jesus battles the enemy with truth. When deception tries to pull down God’s image, His name remains victorious. Never will demonic forces have dominance when tampering with God’s most precious creation, His people. God takes idol worship seriously. Since you are created in and conformed into God’s image, false idols walking within your soul need to leave. This includes a low self-esteem.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12

For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against enemies, to save you. Deut. 20:4

The graven images will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands. Micah 5:13

Low Views Raised

Self-criticism is a serious sin which needs reexamination. God created mankind in His image. After the fall, He restored His creation to align back to His original blueprint. Do you think you should be criticizing the handiwork of the Creator? If you are a human, it’s best to stop this habit. The Holy Spirit will help you.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Gen. 1:27

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. Gen. 1:31

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

Peering through glasses of negativity means your vision needs adjustment. False notions have drawn disfiguring lies over God’s design. Don’t despair, there is healing for this hindrance. These facades fall when they begin facing Jesus. Standing in His presence abolishes obstacles stationed in His way. The Spirit shatters mirrors scratched with sin and Satan’s claws as God hands you His mirror of grace.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. 1 Cor. 15:10

Grace exchanges your opinions for God’s. Now your flaws can freely melt into warm arms of mercy. Anything pushing you away from the Father’s intimacy causes Him to race with loving feet to find you. Filled with longsuffering, the Father will forever honor His blood covenant. He doesn’t see sin when He sees you. Therefore, don’t fear, He will boost your vision to see His Son’s high standing. Now you see your true position in life.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Ps. 103:12

For he hath made him to be sin or us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness in Him. 2 Co. 6:16

Identification with Christ places you high above those low opinions. Idols of lies don’t have to drag you down anymore. As Jesus carries your backpack loaded with people’s judgments, the journey will be buoyant. Your disposition will be brighter and your step will feel lighter! So, turn to the Word and let the wrecking ball begin. Goodbye idols! Hello Victory! I think I hear angels sounding their trumpets as imaginations are cast down and your esteem is raised in Christ.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. Ps. 91:14

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5

And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot and they shall return to the hire of an harlot. Micah 1:7