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He loves me; I love me not. Sometimes we get confused about who we are because of Jesus, and that can keep us from appreciating who we truly are. What hinders us from appreciating ourselves?

First, I think it’s because we don’t really believe that what God has created in us is good. David wrote this: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14). It’s not prideful to boast about God’s wonderful works, and one of those wonderful works is YOU. Do you know that full well?

I want to encourage you to begin your day with this reminder from Psalm 139. Write it on a card and tape it to your bathroom mirror where you’ll see it first thing each morning. When you see it, say it out loud to yourself and to God: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” Amen!

What we have to grasp is that when we are dissatisfied with the way we were made, we are dissatisfied with God’s creation. It is an insult to God when we wish we were like someone else or when we feel that who we are is not adequate or special.

Now, I know that we are not finished and we are not all we should be. But don’t lose sight of the great truth that God loves us just as we are! He created us to be who we are; he has good plans for each person he created; and his creations are wonderful. When we wish we were this, or wish we could do that, we waste the wonder of who God created us to be.

I can remember as a young adult wanting so much to be like other women. I felt that a different personality would be far more suitable than mine. At one point, I decided to simply change my personality and become a quiet, demure, behind-the-scenes type person. I thought that would be more suitable for a woman than my take-charge personality. Well, my experiment lasted only a few days; I couldn’t keep it up. In trying to be like others, I came across as snobby and aloof. Not only did I fail to change myself, but I lost the specialness of who I was in the process.

I’ve since learned that God doesn’t create all women alike, and it’s okay for me to be who I am. In fact, it’s not only okay, it’s wonderful because I am God’s creation. Certainly, I want to polish the personality he has given me, but I don’t want to lose the wonder of who I am by trying to be someone I’m not.

Will you today appreciate who you are—how God has made you? If you’ve been comparing yourself to others or wishing you could be different, you’ve been robbing yourself of joy. Tell Jesus you’re happy with the way he made you, and that you want to realize everything he has created you to be. Life is so much more joyful and exciting when you appreciate God’s creativity in you.