Study 2: How much are you worth?

Proverbs 31:10 ‘A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman, who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels, and her value is far above rubies or pearls.’

We must recognise our own value. No one person or position can give us our value, we have to believe it for ourselves, Romans 5:8. We will walk in the confidence and peace God has for us, when we know our value is far above anything this world has to offer, even the best win on the lottery!

Why change?

If we DO NOT put the effort into changing our thinking in this area, we are going to be emotional and spiritual cripples and never fulfil our full potential as God sees it. We put a lot of effort into our clothes, presentation etc; and also keep-fit, shape, image etc; and yet all these things are quickly changing and passing, 1 Peter 3:3-6. We often don’t even feed our inner self on Truth, yet this inner person is longing for the real Life, only found in the Word of God. This is where we find the Truth about ourselves, and as we focus on it we absorb this Truth into our spirit and change. ‘As a man thinks so is he’ Proverbs 23:7

Seven excuses for NOT changing

 1. Laziness
2. Selfishness
3. Holding onto a negative past.
4. “I’ve turned out alright”.
5. Comfort zone, do not disturb!
6. Peer pressure.
7. Lack of goals and direction.

Signs of a poor self-image

 1. We are shy in our relationships.
2. We push ourselves forward in case we are not noticed.
3. We are attention seeking in our behaviour.
4. We blame ourselves for everything going wrong.
5. We speak with a negative tongue.
6. We often live on the “if only” dreams.

How to improve our self-image

1.   See yourself as God sees you:

a) a unique person;
b) a spiritual person;
c) an eternal person.

Refer to the study sheet “How does God see me? ” to refresh your mind and spirit. 1 John 3:1-2; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:16-17.

2.   Belonging. – When we know we belong to our wonderful Heavenly Father, we will realise our value and see all relationships in the light of Eternity. Romans 8:35-39

3.   Being me. – Freedom to be the person I feel I want to be, knowing that if God loves me like this, I can love myself, Psalm 139:5,6.

4.   Laugh at situations. – We are made in the image of God and He laughs at the problems, Psalm 2:4 as He knows how they are going to work out (always for our good) so we can afford to laugh as well. Our faith is in His answer.

5.   Confidence in our ability. – We are all gifted if we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us so we can be confident that God will use us John 14:16-18.

6.   NO comparison – Self-acceptance of how God has made you leads to a healthy and natural lack of self-consciousness that will leave you free to care about others. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

7.   Created in the image of God. – Knowing that God accepts us just the way we are and that He wants to live with us forever helps us realise how amazingly special we are. We can feel good about our looks, personalities, gifts, and abilities. Romans 8:37-39

8.   Servant of others. – As we recognise our value, works of service and sacrificial living, supernaturally flows out from the well of life within us.

The original bad self-image was Satan who was not satisfied with the God-designed plan for his life so he tried to be someone he was never called to be and look where that got him! Isaiah 14:12-15. Think again before you try to copy or mimic someone else, or take on a ministry that is not yours. If Satan can deceive you over your value then he can stop you from moving forward in every area of your life.

We are precious to God just as we are, Psalm 139:1-18

He proved that to us by giving His special and only Son, even when we didn’t know who He was, and didn’t care. Romans 5:8

The least we can do is agree with what He says about us and live our lives in complete confidence, knowing He has given us every ability to do anything He wants us to do, Psalm 139:13-16.

In giving our lives for the good of others, remembering daily that we are accountable (Romans 14:12-13) and responsible for the life we live and as we serve others we are really serving Him, Ephesians 2:10.

How does God see me?

His Child. 1 John 3:1-2; Romans 8:14; 8:16-17.

New Creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10.

Covered in His robe of righteousness. 1 John 3:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:17:

Dead to sin. 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 8:2; Galatians 2:20:

Filled with His resurrection power. Philippians 4:13.

Beautiful. Ezekiel 16:14; Ephesians 5:27; 1 Peter 3:3-4.

Full of love. John 15:9; John 17:23; 17:26.

Full of Holy Spirit Power. John 17:23.

In the image of His Son. John 17:23.

Overcomer. 1 John 5:4-5; 1 John 4:4; Luke 10:18; Romans 5:17.

Part of His Body and His Bride. Ephesians 4:4; James 4:7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.

Justified. “not guilty”. Romans 4:25; Romans 5:18.

Not condemned. Romans 8:1.

Forgiven. John 3:16.

In the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14.

Valuable. Romans 5:8.

Full of Authority. Mark 16:15-18; Romans 8:37; 1 John 4:4.

Healed. 1 Peter 2:24

 

Home Challenges for Joyful Woman 02.

Read the notes “How much are you worth?” and read the bold verses for reference.

1.   Where do you need to change your thinking so you are thinking like God thinks?

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2.   Do you make any excuses for not changing?

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3.   What are you going to do to improve your self – image?

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4.   Look at Psalm 139 and write out any verse that encourages you.

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Read Proverbs 31:10-31

Consider and meditate on these points

– We must look for the everyday opportunities that offer themselves to us, to do each other good, Proverbs 31:16

– A spiritually stable woman will be an emotionally stable person as well, Proverbs 31:25

– A woman is intended to be her husband’s crown and not his cross, Proverbs 31:11-12.

– Loneliness doesn’t give us permission to be promiscuous, Proverbs 31:27,30.

– There is spiritual wisdom that has nothing to do with how clever we are. We do not need a PhD to have something wise to say – we just need to know the Lord Jesus Christ, Zechariah 4:6

5.    a. What point do you find most challenging?

b. How does it apply to your life?

Proverbs 31:11 AMP “The heart of her husband/partner/friend trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of (honest) gain or need of (dishonest) spoil.”

6.   a. Consider whether you have a problem trusting God?

 

b.   Do you have any idea why you do or do not have a problem?

 

7.   Read Proverbs 3:5-8 What is the key to trusting God, from these verses?

  

8.   Decide now to trust God again in one particular area, Romans 10:11. Write this down.

9.   Are you trustworthy in your home, in relation to helping your family, giving time, paying bills, sharing jobs etc.?

10.  Choose one area in your home life you find difficult, are you prepared to work on this? (Could be an attitude or an action)

11.  Are you trustworthy in your relationships? Can your husband/ children /friends/colleagues, really trust you with all their secrets? Would you trust you?!!

12.  What do you have to do to restore trust into any relationship?

13.  Who do you have to learn to trust again? Talk to God about this and ask for His help and power to restore this relationship. Record the name here so you can look back and have a testimony of what God has done.

 

14.  Was there anything from the teaching, not already mentioned, that challenged you?

15.  Learn another verse from Proverbs 31:10-31, or from Psalm 139. Write it here.

16.   Answer True or False to the following questions. If you can give verses from the Bible to back up your answer that will help you.