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Reachout Trust 24 Ormond Road Richmond Surrey TW10 6TH England Phone & Fax: 0845 241 2158 E-mail A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 4162936. A registered charity number 1087085

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Our self-image is based on all the input we have had since we were born, and affects everything we do. If the majority of the messages we received from parents, teachers and other influences were positive, we will feel valued and self-confident. If they were negative, we will more likely be insecure and have a low self-image. But the Bible puts a new perspective on this.

God says that before you were born, He had you in His mind. You were not an accident, you were born for a purpose.

"Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Ps.139:16).

He called you by name before you were born.

"See, I have engraved you one the palms of my hands." (Isa.49:16).

God says that you are precious and you are chosen for a purpose for the Kingdom of God.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God." (1 Pet.2:9).

This is the nation of the people of God, and this nation doesn't have underdogs - we are all chosen the same.

You need to look at yourself in this new light - you need to know who you are. The way to do this is to get into God's Word and find out what He says about you and the promises He has made and the gifts He has given you. At the same time you need to get to know God better so that you learn to trust Him and take Him at His word. There is no shortcut to this. You need to take the time to learn what God has said, and especially to get to know Him better.

Before you leap into the air you have to draw in tight to prepare for the release of energy. If you jump from standing up you will not go far as there is no energy to release. You need to tuck in before you lift off. It is the same with our lives. Sometimes we take shortcuts and still expect to have the power of God. We need to spend time closely with God to lay our foundations and gather our strength before we leap out. "Let us throw off everything that hinders." (Heb.1:12).

Knowing what God has said will not change you unless you really believe it, and unless you believe that it applies to you. Then you will be set free from the judgements of the past and be able to become what God intends you to be. Whatever life has made you, you can be different. God can change what you have become through circumstances, into what He has made you. You need to say with the Psalmist, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Ps.139:14).

Based on a talk given by Ruth Ann Canning at the Ladies Meeting of the Apostolic National Convention 2004

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