Where is it that we find our value as a person? Do we seek out this fallen world to tell us what we are worth, or do we seek The Creator of the universe to see what He says about us? If we find our value in what the world is saying to us, we will never be worth anything. The world tells us that what we have is not enough, the way we look is not good enough, what we drive isn't new enough, etc. An advertiser's job is to make you feel that what you have is inadequate, outdated, obsolete, useless, or ineffective. Looking around at what is advertised on a daily basis, it's surprising that anyone wants to get out of bed at all if what the commercials say is true!

It's a great relief to know that our value doesn't have to come from this world! Our value is written to us in many scriptures, from both the old and new testaments. One of my favorite sections of scripture is in Psalm 139. Starting in verse 13, it says “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” It speaks of God, our Creator, knowing us before time began, before the earth was formed, while we were still in our mother's womb! And if we were woven, we have to have a weaver, that's God! If He takes the time to create us, breathe life into us(Gen 2:7, Acts17:25), have our days written in a book, we must have some sort of value to Him. John 3:16 is another powerful verse that sheds some light on how important we are to Jehovah Jireh. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”! We are so important to The Father that He sent His Son Jesus (Who knew NO sin), to die on a torturous device like the cross, to take our place as THE perfect sacrifice and atone for our sins. We are so valuable to God, that He made a way where there was no way, so we have an option for eternal life with Him in glory!

Don't let the quick paced world tell you where to find your value. You are loved by The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit! Your value isn't given to you by what people say about you, it is given by The Creator of the universe, The One Who is, and was, and is to come!

If we allow this world to continue to dictate where value comes from, we will have no hope. Good for us we know that the creation isn't as great as The Creator! The deception from the world is heavy, and satan wants us to be numb to it's effects. Depression, suicide, bullying, constant seclusion, these are all symptoms of not knowing our value. We can see that depression in all age groups is devastating, suicide and suicidal tendencies have exponentially risen in previous years, and it seems to be spreading more quickly than ever before. How do we battle through the fog of the enemy? We need to be involved in the community and learn about, and from, other people and their experiences. Spend some time with that person that most people don't talk to, offer a helping hand even when you are in a rush, share the gospel with someone, live out scripture!

In Philippians chapter 2, we are given some pretty good instructions on how to live out our daily lives as Christians. If we follow those instructions we may be able to help keep others from falling into the trap of the world's value system. In verses 3-5, it says this “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”