Value in God’s Eyes
Psychologists say that we form opinions of ourselves early in our lives. These opinions are often developed by positive or negative experiences, by others’ comments about us or by our perception of ourselves. Our society has given us role models that are bigger than life: fashion models, sports figures and movie stars. We evaluate our self-worth based on standards set by a world of which Christians are not a part.
Yet the image that the world presents does not exist. Why do we even try to attain it? Because we look at ourselves through the eyes of a secular society, not the eyes of a loving Creator. We need to learn to see ourselves as He sees us.
When I was about to marry my husband, I received an anonymous letter that declared I would ruin my husband’s ministry because “as a Mexican-American I was a second-class citizen.” The letter said that no one would come to our church because of who I was.
I was devastated! I decided I would not marry John for fear my accuser, the devil, was right. I’m thankful John finally convinced me the letter should be ignored! But it was not easy for me to overcome the sense of inadequacy I felt.
One Sunday, my husband preached a sermon on righteousness that set me free. He asked for a volunteer to come from the pews and stand in front of the altar facing him. Then he eloquently described a sinner saved by grace coming to the throne of God with a petition.
Instantly, he said, Satan comes to the throne and begins to recount all the sinner has done to bring shame and dishonor to the name of Jesus. Satan reminds the sinner of his unworthiness to receive anything good from God.
John then took a white robe and draped it over the shoulders of the person standing in front of him. He said: “Whenever a person comes to the throne of God, Satan begins to accuse him of all the sin he has ever committed. But the Father responds in His infinite wisdom, ‘I see no fault in this man, only the pure white robe of My Son, Jesus. I see the goodness of My Son imparted to those who call themselves My children. I see the righteousness of My Son. I will grant him the desire of his heart.'”
I realized in that moment that God was not looking at the ugly person I saw myself to be. He could not see my imperfections and failures. Because I was clothed in the righteousness of Christ, He could see only the perfection of His Son.
It doesn’t matter how you see yourself, on the inside or the outside. What matters is how God sees you. And to Him, you are beautiful. To Him, you are special because you were created as an extension of Him. And to Him, you are full of potential, a woman created to accomplish the works He preordained for you to do to expand His kingdom and bring Him glory.
You may think you need a sinless past, years of theological training or a ministry license to become a woman of God and fulfill His call on your life. That’s not true. But you will need to acknowledge your divine identity as a daughter of the King, to pursue your divine destiny and to see your value in God’s eyes.
As difficult as it may be for you to believe, God made no mistakes when He formed you. You are beautiful to Him, and the more you believe this truth, the more beautiful and the more mature a woman of God you will become.
Diana Hagee serves as chief of staff for John Hagee Ministries’ TV ministry as well as special events coordinator and leader of women’s ministries at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. She is the founder and director of the King’s Daughter: Becoming a Woman of God national conferences.