Love is a four letter word that is thrown around so frequently that it often loses its effect. Sometimes we need to be reminded of what the definition of love is. Webster's dictionary says that love is, "a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person; attraction that includes sexual desire; the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship; and a person you love in a romantic way." Even though the simple definitions are great, I prefer the full definition of love as, "the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration; a beloved person; unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as the fatherly concern of God for humankind, brotherly concern for others, and person's adoration of God." These fuller definitions talk about a love that is deep and not explainable. Loving yourself is something we hear about often. Justin Bieber has a whole song called Love Yourself as does Hailee Seinfeld whose song is called Love Myself. I want to talk about loving yourself in a different way though, loving yourself in God, but in order to do that we first must understand God's love for us.
God's love is best described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Yes, this verse is mainly used to show how we should love one another, but to me it represents how God loves us. God's love is trusting and hopeful and never fails. Additionally, we better understand God's love through his sacrifice of his son. As John 3:16 says "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." Gods loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you. We can only learn love because God loved us first as said in 1 John 4:19.
Now that you understand God's love you can fully love yourself, and once you love yourself, you can truly love others. How can you love others if you don't love who you are first? Embrace all of the things that make you, you. My favorite verse on self-love or self-esteem is Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well." God made you just the way you are, and He loves you more than you will ever know, flaws and all. The God that made everything from the sea to the mountains to all of the stars, made you too. You are beautiful and loved by a Holy God; never forget that. You are a princess or prince to God as he is the King of Kings and your heavenly Father. You are a beloved daughter or son. Colossians 3:12 says, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Britt Nicole says it best with her song Gold :
"So don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved
And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough Yeah there are days that we all feel like we're messed up
But the truth is that we're all
You're a king you're a queen
This is for you, wherever you are-
You're gold."
You are beloved and gold in God's eyes, and if He can see it, you can too. So love yourself, because God loves you no matter what you do or what is happening in your life. Loving God first and understanding His love is what allows us to love ourselves, which opens up our hearts to loving others as well.
