It Starts Small

⁵ Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
⁶ who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
⁷ Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
⁸ he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8

We live in what I would like to call a selfie world. A selfie is a picture taken of yourself by yourself. Something I have discovered on my journey over the last year and a half is the chronic anxiety and shame that I needed to be saved from me or the “selfie.”

The following is my list of struggles I have encountered from my struggle with with my own selfie and chronic anxiety:

Self-consciousness: What will people think?
Self-criticism: What is wrong with me?
Self-pity: What is wrong with me?
Self-protection? What about me?
Self-reliance: Can I do it myself?
Self-rejection: Do I even belong here?
Self-gratification: How can I numb my pain?

I have been struggling with this for decades.

The only remedy for the destructive self-life is unconditional surrender. Many times we associate the word “Surrender” with bitter and humiliating resignation. WE think of it as defeat and life is over.

Jesus has rewritten the script of life. He profoundly proclaimed a kingdom paradox.

³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35

We do not need another “self” help book to navigate us through our brokenness and shame. Psychology can not fix the real issue. They can only tell you what is going on in your mind. No, what we really need is to surrender our own agenda and seek Jesus to transform our broken lives.

We need to put to death the selfie and welcome the blessedness of self-forgetfulness!

It is time to renew our passionate gaze upon the glory of God.

Did you know there’s a type of pride opposite of the egotistical type of pride? ITs is being way on the opposite end of the spectrum and thinking so little of yourself that you still refuse to give yourself to God. You slander His creation of you when you speak against yourself. Look at my example above. All of those are me centered. It is pride, and rebellion and a refusal believe upon who God says you are or to accept His promises to you.

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 139:23-24

We can come unto the Father today and ask Him to reveal how the “Selfie-life” has manifested in our own lives. With a spirit of humility, we can confess our sin before God and surrender our lives to His dynamic reign in your life.

Shame Part 1: Where are you?
Shame Part 2: The Naked Truth
SHame Part 3: Enough Already
Shame Part 4: Jars of Clay
Shame Part 5: Weight Watchers
Shame Part 6: Death to Selfie
Shame Part 7: Empowered by Empathy
Shame Part 8: Scorning Shame