Filed under: Teleios Letters
Below is an e-mail I received from a gentlemen who attended a gathering we had last week (The Men’s Summit in Dallas, TX). It also includes my response. My prayer is that this dialogue will encourage all of you to become Teleios Men. By the way, I used a fictitious name (Richard) to protect the identity of the writer. Enjoy!
Hi Dad (Larry),
Hope that all is well. I just wanted to say thank you again for having me at the Men’s Summit this year. Each day was Spirit-filled, encouraging and edifying.
Thank you so much for all that you do. You are loved and appreciated beyond words.
At the Summit, you told me that I’m not seeing myself like God sees me. I understand that I can learn how God sees me through studying His Word, but what are some other ways that this new sight can begin to take place?
Love you, Dad. Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you,
Richard
Hi, Richard:
I can’t even tell you how proud I am of you.
Your image of who you are comes from past experiences, mostly in childhood, that causes you to relegate yourself to a false and inferior image. That image of yourself has to be exchanged for what God has created you to be before you were ever born. You look like him, incredibly anointed and uniquely gifted, way beyond who you see yourself as being. You’ve got the wrong picture of yourself in your wallet. You need to exchange pictures of yourself. God views you light years ahead of who you see yourself to be.
God has given me, and probably all of us, an ability to see people for who they are, rather than what they think of themselves. Believe me, if you knew how awesome you are, you’d be doing hand stands right now, just like Jesus seeing Peter as a rock.
There are some other tools you can consider implementing:
1. Don’t compare yourself with anyone else. God created you in his image, and you’re the only one like you.
2. Don’t try to be like anyone else. You can use godly examples to imitate, but that’s only for the purpose of giving you a model in which to follow. But when you come in to your full potential in Christ, you will look like no one else.
3. Learn to talk to yourself, inner-talk, in words that continually build you up. “I’m awesome and I can’t even help it. That’s the way God made me.” Don’t use inner-words, mind-talk, that tears you down. “Oh, I’m so stupid.”
4. Be sure and let the Holy Spirit direct your future. He knows God’s schematics, plan and purpose for your life.
5. View others as God views you, incredibly gifted and creatively endued from their Maker.
6. Be around people who build you up and encourage you, rather than tear you down. Pessimistic people will eventually begin to negatively affect your self-image.
7. Don’t be afraid to risk things. Be like Peter who got out of the boat. It would be better to risk things and fail then to safely remain in the boat and succeed at doing nothing.
I love you more,
Dad
