Jesus rebukes Peter, stating, “For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Do you ever feel out of place?  Do you ever feel lonely in a crowd?  Do you ever feel insecure?  Do you ever feel lost?  Do you ever feel shy?  Do you ever feel different than others?  Sometimes we let our feelings, our emotions, our insecurities get the best of us.  We forget that we all have different gifts, talents, and value; because each of us is unique, created in God’s image.  We lose sight of our God-esteem.  For we are so caught up in our “self” and our needs, our hurts, our wants that God takes a back seat, because we are focused on “self” NOT God.

Romans 8:6-8 (MSG) says, “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open…Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores Gods.”

Self-centeredness is built on me, mine, and I.  God-centeredness is built on God’s word, design, and purpose.  Self-centered individuals often struggle with insecurity, loneliness, and conditional values.  God-centered individuals find confidence in being created in God’s imagine for they know they are loved, forgiven, and have value—they know they are worthy. Self-centeredness focuses on self and all of one’s desires and wants.  While God-centeredness relies on God, God’s strength, God’s wisdom and God’s love.

Learning to overcome focusing on “self” is to learn to focus on pleasing God in all things.  We learn to do this by surrendering personal agendas to God’s agendas.  Finding worth in God’s love and forgiveness.  Reading the Bible, praying, meditating and changing your focus from “self” to God. Which will result in peace, purpose, and God-esteem.  It is something to try—focus on God not “self”.  God Bless.  Amen.

denise