Page 51 - The Prosperous Way _ (APRIL 2024 v3)

CHAPTER 5

KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN GOD

T
here is another most secret place to which we must travel as we
embark on this way to prosperity: It is the place where our self-
perception resides. The Bible teaches that it is what we think in
our hearts, not what we say out aloud, that displays who we really are:
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7; KJV). The Bible
also tells us to guard our hearts, because the condition of our heart can
determine the course of our life: “Above all else, guard your heart, for
everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). It is especially
important for us to guard how we perceive ourselves in the secret places
of our heart, because what we think about ourselves can shape who we
become, and what we believe we can accomplish can limit what we
achieve. Therefore, our self-perception can significantly impact how well
we prosper in life.

So then, how do you perceive yourself? Do you see yourself as talented
and competent, able to meet and surpass the expectations of those
around you? If you are truly honest with yourself, do you really believe
deep within that you have what it takes to succeed?

For many of us, our life experiences have ingrained deep fears,
misperceptions, and insecurities into our soul about who we are and
what we can achieve. Deep within our minds are arguments and
reasonings that oppose the truth of who we are and the potential we
have to become We turn away from God’s promise of abundant life and
become captive to fear, doubt and an inability to believe in the talents
and competencies that God has placed within us.

Stop for a moment and listen to the things that you think about when
you think about yourself! Does your thought pattern go something like
this: “I don’t know what’s wrong with me? I just can’t seem to do this.
Everybody else is doing so much better than me. I could never do that;
I am not good enough; I’m not smart enough….” Etc., etc...? How about
the things that you say about yourself when you talk about your life to
your friends? The Bible tells us that “out of an abundance of the heart,
the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:24). Does your speech sound
something like this? “I am really having a tough time. Nothing is
going right. I just can’t cope with this situation...” and so forth and so on.

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