We need to be seen, to be heard, and to be known. We need others to “get” us – to understand and relate to what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling. And when they don’t, we feel suddenly cut off – lonely and achingly empty. When others understand us, they are helping us carry our burdens and banish our fears. We’re no longer on our own. We draw strength from being seen, being heard and being understood.

Every day, for the last 8 days, I’ve talked about how to radically shift your identity in Christ. The secret to real, lasting transformation of your identity, is to open your heart and receive what God wants to give you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

When you were born again, God gave you new spiritual DNA. You aren’t who you used to be. New life is in you. God’s life!

Our spirits were immediately transformed to be like Christ when we were born again. But our souls (our minds, wills, and emotions) are transformed (made like Christ) over time and through a Biblical process.

Ephesians 4:22-24 explains the process:
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness..

Our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and desires must be “renewed.” We replace the old with God’s new.

Romans 12:2 NLT
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you…”

We don’t let the old emotions, thoughts, desires and beliefs control us anymore. We renew our minds with what God says in His Word. As we do, God changes us to become like Jesus. We are transformed into a new person as we let God change the way we think.

God generously offers us the heart connection we so deeply desire. Here’s the truth: God sees you, knows your dreams and your pain. God understands. He is with you and He is on your side!

Isaiah 49:15-16
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…”

God Sees You
Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good."
2 Chronicles 16:9
Jeremiah 12:3
Matthew 6:4

God Hears You
Jeremiah 29:12
"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Isaiah 65:24
"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."
Psalm 34:17
Psalm 145:18-19
Psalm 116:1-2

God Knows You
Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Psalm 139:1-4
"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely."
Jeremiah 17:9-10
1 Chronicles 28:9
1 Samuel 16:7
Ezekiel 36:26

This is your true identity. You are seen. You are heard. You are Understood. Live from your new identity of heart connection to Jesus Christ!

There are reasons you may doubt yourself, feel inadequate or worthless. Feelings of inadequacy are a pervasive issue in today’s society.

So what can you do?

Psychologists and modern thought says that worth comes from within, it is simply your own sense of value, confidence or satisfaction about yourself.


That’s not what God says.
God says your worth is not limited to your thoughts about yourself, your confidence or satisfaction with yourself.

God says that your worth comes from being his daughter, his son. You were born worthy. God says you are precious to him. You are loved. And He created you to be amazing and do awesome things with your life.

Don’t get stuck trying to find value in your “self.” Believer, your life has been united with Christ’s. Your Life is not your own. It’s so much more!

ACTION STEP: Increase Your Self-Worth by Declaring Who God Says You Are and What God Says You Can Do.

Declaration #1: I am a daughter/a son of God. God created me to be like Him. He made me amazing.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

Declaration #2: When I gave Jesus my life, He joined his life with mine. I’m not alone. My worth is not from myself but from Christ.

Galatians 2:20 NASB
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

Declaration #3: God loved me so much that he had Jesus give His life to set me free from Satan and sin. He not only saved me, He made me a son/a daughter, so we can live life together - forever.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Declaration #4
My life is not meaningless. God intentionally and carefully created me to do specific works to establish His kingdom here on earth. God trusts me to work alongside Him to touch the world around me with His love and His power.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If you are struggling with low self-worth, you need to do declare these 4 declarations and accompanying scriptures over your life every day. Twice a day – morning and night would be best. These declarations release the Power of God’s Word into your mind and heart and restore your true worth in Christ.
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2 NLT

Link to Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson: https://amzn.to/40RORao (This is an affiliate link.)
YouTube Playlist: “30 Days to Radically Shift Your Identity in Christ”
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT6YqbJJJzQjsugD0bEYGgbvMDAMSFJZ_

00:00 Desires unfulfilled are as source of great pain in life.
02:17 What to Expect of this course: “30 Days to Radically Shift Your Identity in Christ”
03:52 The Story of Jabez
08:12 Action Step: Pray the Prayer of Jabez

You may be a woman who returns home to live with her parents with 4 kids, no money and a husband who took everything and fled, a middle-aged executive who is overlooked for promotion despite years of hard work and dedication, a stay-at-home Mom who slaves morning till night to care for her family but is totally taken for granted, or a retired foreman whose life is now empty of the approval of his team and the performance awards you used to receive.

People fail to give us recognition and approval when we need it.
The need for acceptance and approval is real. We feel empty, incomplete without it. But we can’t rely on people to give us the acceptance and approval we need.
Let God fill that need.

The Story of Jabez
1 Chronicles lists hundreds of names in the genealogies of the 12 tribes of Israel. One name, gives us a powerful lesson about acceptance and approval.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV

9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Jabez’ mother apparently had a difficult birth or for whatever reason, was in great pain (physical or emotional) when he was born. So she named him Jabez which means: pain or sorrow. His name literally could mean “one who causes pain.”
Every time someone called his name it would be a curse – “one who would live in pain or cause pain.” It was a prophecy Jabez didn’t want to fulfill.
So he prayed:
10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would greatly bless me”
“To bless” in Hebrew culture at that time meant “to ask for or to impart supernatural favor.”
Jabez prayed for God to give him supernatural favor.

He continued: “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”
Jabez asked God to enlarge his territory to increase his influence!
Jabez continued, “Let your hand be with me.”
The “hand of the Lord” refers to God’s supernatural power and authority over creation. It is used to invoke God’s blessing and favor, also His guidance and protection.

Jabez finished his prayer, asking God “and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.
And God granted his request.”

God gave Jabez supernatural favor. He increased Jabez’ influence. Jabez became the head of his clan. And God kept him from causing pain to others or living in pain himself. God changed his IDENTITY and his destiny.

God’s desire is to bless you – to give you supernatural favor and influence.
Psalm 90:17
Diligence Brings Favor
Proverbs 22:29
Psalm 5:12

ACTION STEP: Let God give you His acceptance and approval. He may use people to do it, but he will be your source.

PRAY 1 Chronicles 4:10 with me:
“God, Oh, that you would bless me (give me supernatural favor)
and enlarge my territory (my influence)!
Let your hand be with me, (Your supernatural power and authority, Your blessing and favor, and Your guidance and protection)
and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. (that I will not cause pain or be in pain)
God, as you did for Jabez, grant this request. May my life bring glory and honor to You!”