Each one of us has an inherent need to love and BE loved.

But you can’t pour from an empty bucket.

If you don’t love yourself, then nothing anyone else says or does will ever be enough… no matter how hard you try.

If we feel a void or lack of love, we have a tendency to strive… filling the void with other stuff, things, and people.

This leads to life of lack, along with a feeling of discontent. It creates a much larger void that begins an emotional cycle of torment and pain. We begin reaching out for mind/emotional altering experiences to fill that void, and self-medicate the pain.

A lack of love and connection is likely the root of most vices and addictions. We search for identity, but we end up lost… we lose ourselves.

So how do I break the cycle? How do I learn to love myself?

I first have to understand that God loves me. A lot! I’m a son. He’s my Father. God IS Love. He is the only love that will ever fill the need in my heart… and He’ll do it in more ways than we ever think are possible.

He loves me so much more than any of the lies, shame, guilt, judgments, and insecurities that stand in the way of loving myself.

We find this love by seeking it out… in Him.

Jesus said “seek first the Kingdom and all its righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” He didn’t say “seek stuff, and maybe you’ll find the Kingdom.”

Seek first. In all ways.

Once we believe and understand the truth of this, we are able to break free from those lies that hold us back.

We do this by being intentional. By speaking the truth out loud, and walking in the confidence and identity of a son/daughter who is loved, safe, and protected.

Receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Repent from our hearts for seeking love and comfort from other things/people/etc., and turn our hearts back to God… who is the source.

We learn to understand that God meets our needs. He KNOWS what we need before we even ask.

Trust in God’s provision to meet our physical, mental, spiritual, financial, and relational needs.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

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