"Remember To Love Yourself"

Sunday Morning, February 12, 2012, I had the distinct honor and privilege to share a testimony with the congregants of Lifepointe Church in Crowley, TX.  Pastor Guy Earle, the Pastor of Counseling of my home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, invited me to Lifepointe's Recovery Sunday as a way to launch thier new Recovery Ministry for their churchgoers.  I received so much love from Senior Pastor Chuck, Elder Brother Bob and all the people who came to both the early and 2nd service.  After sharing my testimony on how God set me free from things that had me bound and Pastor Earle bringing the sermon about aligning yourself with God and what that brings, brought more love to both of us from those who either knew they needed to be set free, who were on their way to their victory or who were now in "maintenance mode" after being set free and delivered.  God is so awesome, folks.  Do you know the love that our Creator has for you and me?  We sang "Friend of God" this morning and we all just opened up in praise and thanks to Him because He is our BEST FRIEND!  Think about that for a minute.  You are rolling with the One who said, "Let there be..." and made the universe what it is in all its splendor.  But I digress.

I made mention about Tuesday being Valentine's Day and encouraged everyone, as they go on their love missions for that day, that they remember to love themselves.  In this context, I was trying to convey that they need to look at themselves as people of worth, of significance, of one of God's loveliest creations.  One of the best ways to show love to yourself is by taking care of yourself, especially if you have something within yourself that you are struggling with and need to be set free from it.  Look at Proverbs 13:2-3 and Ezekiel 2:5-6 for a second.  A lot of us have grown up with people who didn't love themselves so they said many hurtful things to us, about us and others.  If the latter Scripture was something that was instilled in us while under the barrage of piercing words, perhaps we wouldn't be saying the negative things we say to ourselves when it's just you and the four walls.  Proverbs 13:2-3 tells us that we will live out the words we say duing those times.  It accounts for those of us that are overweight, have an addiction or hangup, have difficulty relating to people, and keeping relationships together.  Take a moment and reflect on that for a moment before going on to the next paragraph.  You might surprise yourself.

Folks, Jesus tell us to love one another, the way that people will know you are his disciples.  Why can't this principle be turned inwardly?  Why can't we do right by ourselves in the same way we show love to other people?  Why can't you tell yourself how special you are?  Why can you not tell yourself you are worth taking care of yourself health-wise?  Why not be honest with yourself and God that you have things in your heart that need to be purged, hangups that need to be hung up permanently, addictions that need to be conquered?  If you are mad at God, tell Him that.  Believe it or not, He wants us to be honest and raw with Him (not Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor raw); that's why He told us to cast all of our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7) so that He gets the room He needs to help set us free.  We are not to suffer alone, folks.  Hiding yourself away from people does nothing but allow Satan to play the mind games, the blame game, the shame game, and every other game he can to keep you bound.  We can't go out like that.

If the words of Leviticus 19:17-18 do not abide in your heart, tell God first, then seek someone like a counselor or a pastor to confess it so as to be free from it.  If you don't feel God's love around you and in you, tell Him and that same person.  You can't make yourself stand in faith in God's Word?  Speak it out.  Things are not like they were in the 1970s or 1980s when saying you had a problem in the church labels you a heretic, a reprobate, and one who isn't truly walking with God, despite the "church folks" who may say otherwise.  There is freedom to be had and lived day by day.  There IS life to be lived in happiness, joy, and peace.You have to choose to discover it for yourself and DO it for yourself.  Others around you will be blessed when you do because what you do or DON'T do DOES affect other lives besides your own.  Remember that.  Show love to your significant other on Valentine's Day, but starting TODAY, take the time to love yourself and continue therein day by day.