Loving Yourself

It's easy to fall into the trap of not loving yourself. For some reason it's easier to love others. Well do I have news for you! Loving yourself is equally important as loving others. I'm not talking about an obsessive love. Yeah when you first hear it it sounds like a proud person that values themselves more than others. I simply mean a respectful love. Here are some reasons why we should love ourselves:

1. God made us in His image! 
Genesis 1:26 says "Then let us make man in our image, according to our likeness..." This is the best reason there is. Loving ourselves is a good thing as long as you keep it a healthy love. We are made in God's image. If we don't love ourselves, then we're not loving God.

2. Loving ourselves allows us to love others better. 
Romans 13:9 - "... and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." If you are lacking love for yourself, then how can you truthfully tell someone they're special? Loving yourselves helps you to better love others. Personally, I believe that if you love yourself (are happy with who you are) you have more love to share around. You can honestly tell others about their worth without falling into self-pity. Take some of your own medicine when it comes to telling others how beautiful and important they are. If you believe it you can show it, and people will see it :)

3. We are fearfully and wonderfully made! 
Psalm 139:14 - "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." God made you who you are for a reason. David wasn't boasting who he was, he was simply being thankful and rejoicing over the beautiful creation that God made in him. Be thankful for who you are and rejoice in it!

4. We are children of God!!
1 John 3:1 says, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" I think anyone would agree with me when I say this is pretty cool! God is our Father and we are His children! It's true and it's a truth we should hold on to. Each one of us royalty, we're princesses. WE. ARE. SPECIAL. This doesn't make us any better than other people and the last thing I want is for my point to get taken the wrong way. We are all equal, and we should rejoice in the fact because we are ALL daughters of the King of Kings!! (Ephesians 2:10)

Yes it can be super difficult sometimes, But let me encourage you with one more thing. God doesn't make mistakes. He made you the way you are for a reason, strengths, weaknesses, talents, likes and dislikes. Don't second guess yourself, embrace it!! He has plans for you and He needs you the way He made you.

"Loving yourself doesn't mean being stuck-up or boastful, it's the concept of being thankful and appreciating the person who God has made in you" - Great Bible Study  

And I'll leave you with this fantastic quote by the very wise Dr Suess :)

Be proud of who you are. May God bless and be with all of you princesses!

~ Taleisha