TEN BASIC TRUTHS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

AUGUST 24, 2021

TOPIC: TEN BASIC TRUTHS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF

BY T. O. BANSO

“LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 144:3 New King James Version).

It is important that you know some basic truths about yourself in the Word of God. You need to know these truths and be established in them. This will make whatever is untrue that people say not to influence you negatively. Also, these truths will strengthen you when you are going through negative situations.

Psalm 8:4-5 says, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor” (New King James Version). The writer of the book of Hebrews quoted this scripture in Hebrews 2:6-7. The New Century Version puts Psalm 8:4 thus: “But why are people even important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?”

This scripture shows the value of human beings before God as also reflected in Psalm 144:3: “LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?” (New King James Version.

Although man is like a breath and his days are like a passing shadow (verse 4), God is still mindful of him. Whatever someone is going through does not change the truth that he is valuable to God. He must not allow his negative circumstances to determine who he is.

Here are ten basic truths you should know about yourself:

1. You are nothing without God. God created you in His own image (Genesis 1:27). And God didn’t end there. He is still interested in you because He created you for Himself (Proverbs 16:4a). “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16 New King James Version).

God demands that you worship Him and fellowship with Him. Don’t have another god. “You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god” (Exodus 20:5 New Living Translation).

Make God number one in your life. You are nothing without Him even if you achieve so much in life. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 New King James Version). Begin by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and following His teachings.

You are nothing without God. Build your faith in Him. The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Live by your faith in Him (Habakkuk 2:4).

2. You are blessed by God. You’re not just God’s creature; He blessed you at creation. “He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them ‘human’” (Genesis 5:2 New Living Translation). Before the fall of man, God blessed man (Genesis 1:28). Genesis 5:2 also refers to this blessing. But the fall was not the end of God’s blessing on man.

In Genesis 12:3, God told Abraham that in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed. This was after the fall. Galatians 3:8 refers to this. Verse 9 says they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. You are blessed.

If you’re born again, you’re blessed through Jesus Christ.  He has redeemed you from the curse of the law. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’),  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14 New King James Version).

You are blessed. Ephesians 1:3 says blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

3. God created you good and to do good works. You’re God’s workmanship. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 New King James Version). That means God designed you to do good things.

Doing good should be your pursuit. Redemption through Jesus Christ has restored you to do the good works God had prepared beforehand that you should do. With the help of the Holy Spirit and your obedience, you can do these good works.

4. You can do good and evil. God has programmed you to do good but you also can do evil depending on the spirit you yield yourself to at any time. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 New King James Version).

Don’t yield any part of your body to sin but to righteousness (Romans 6:13). James 4:17 says it is a sin to know to do good and not do it.  You were created to do good works. Be zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). Be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8).

5. You can learn and do what is good. This is related to the last point. Paul wrote, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9 New King James Version). You can learn to do good, especially by following good examples.

Don’t be influenced to do evil.  “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11 New King James Version). But you can also learn and do what is evil. Don’t! 1 Corinthians 15:33 says bad company corrupts good character.

6. You are unique. As the writer of Psalm 139 says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made (verse 14a). Nobody is like you, and you’re like nobody. Therefore, you may do something differently from the way another person may do it. Don’t try to be another person although you can learn good things from others.

Don’t develop inferiority or superiority complex. Don’t be intimidated by what anyone has or does; don’t be envious. Don’t look down on yourself or anybody. Don’t engage in comparison.“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12 New King James Version).

There is no need for you to be under pressure to copy anyone or impress anybody. You’ll lose your uniqueness and individuality if you do so. Don’t live your life to prove a point to anyone; it is pointless. It is needless. Exert yourself.  Be the best you can, not to please man but God. Paul said, “Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” (Galatians1:10 New Living Translation).

7. God created you for a purpose and believes in you. God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (Jeremiah 1:5 New Living Translation). God has an assignment for you, too.

God believes in you. That’s why He created you for a specific assignment on earth. By His strength, you can do all that He wants you to do (Philippians 4:13). Don’t listen to negative and demotivating words. Don’t let anyone write you off, they’re not your Maker. “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings” (1Peter 4:10 The Living Bible).

Believe in God, obey Him, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to become all God has destined you to be. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version).

8. You will have some troubles and failures but put them in proper perspective. You’re not a failure because you failed. Failure does not mean that is your end. Be positive and learn whatever lessons you need to learn from your situation.

Paul had a positive perspective of his chains and sufferings. He said God used his condition to advance the gospel; he didn’t ask people for pity. “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;  and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14 New King James Version).

He said in Acts 20:22-24, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (New King James Version).

Be positive. Don’t give up because of troubles or failures. Paul called his troubles a light affliction, which was temporary. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17 New King James Version). Your troubles and failures have an expiry date too. Don’t despair. Weeping may go on all night, but joy is coming in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19). While you’re waiting for your deliverance, endure. “Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are” (1 Peter 5:9 New Living Translation).

9. Recognize and accept those different from you. Being different doesn’t mean being superior in everything. Somebody will always be better than you in certain things just as you’ll always be better than others in certain areas. That is a comparative advantage.

Learn to accept others. Release what is in you and also enjoy what is in others that they’re releasing. I am not saying you should compromise with those who are living in rebellion against God.

Talking about the church, Paul said, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:20-23 New King James Version). Don’t compete with anyone. Love others (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23, 4:11-12; 2 John 5).

10. God will work all things together for your good. If you’re a child of God and you love Him, no matter what happens, positive or negative, everything will work for your good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (New King James Version). God will take care of you in every situation. He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Be established in this truth; walk in them. And it shall be well with you in Jesus’ name.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to live my life as God’s workmanship and do the good works God prepared beforehand that I should walk in. Father, because I love you and I am called according to Your purpose, let all things work together for my good. Let Your will be done in my life.

(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org