"What shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31
A man had a habit of always putting himself down when talking with others. He would say, "I know that I'm nothing." Words like these constantly came up in his conversations. He began to see a cardinal flying around his house. The bird would come and go, always to return. He thought that was strange. It had his attention.
One day he found a book about birds. He began to read about the cardinal. He discovered that if the cardinal saw his reflection in a window or on chrome, he would attack himself, thinking that he was attacking another bird, until he literally destroyed himself. He realized that's exactly what he was doing as he put himself down, attacking himself in his own words.
God's children may often put themselves down. We know that we have sinned. We know that we have often made foolish choices. Nevertheless, putting ourselves down does not help. We must remember that God loves us even as sinners (Romans 5:8). More than that, we must always remember that God is for us. He proved it at the cross of Jesus. He has taken away all of our sins (1 John 1:7). We bring glory to God not by condemning ourselves, but through receiving God's mercy and love in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Do you often put yourself down? Who does that help? God wants to lift us up in Christ. It will never change your life just to continue to put yourself down. Dare to believe every day that God is for you. His Word declares it. The cross proves it. Glory in the grace of God. Say with the apostle Paul, "But by the grace of God, I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). See yourself as a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
God, we believe that You are for us in Christ.
