The Freedom in Loving Yourself

“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” — Galatians 5:1 (The Message)

If you ever come into my house, you’ll stop in my kitchen and see lyrics from my favorite rap songs. Don’t ask me why—it’s just one of my favorite things.

And my absolute favorite framed lyric?

“To the ladies in the place with style and grace.” —Biggie Smalls.

Because honestly? Style and grace should be the standard.

But for so long, I didn’t believe I had either.

Last night in Bible study, we dug into the lies we’ve believed about ourselves—the ones passed down through generations, the ones the enemy has whispered for years, the ones we’ve carried as our own identity.

And as we worked through those truths, something stood out to me.

Not one.

Not two.

But several women had a hard time naming anything good about themselves.

They struggled to write down their strengths.

They couldn’t find words of affirmation for themselves.

They had spent years believing they weren’t enough.

And I realized this wasn’t just insecurity. It was bondage.

Because when you believe you are unworthy, unlovable, or not enough, you are still holding onto something Jesus already set you free from.

For years, I lived under that weight.

I let my past define me.

I let guilt shape my decisions.

I let broken relationships tell me who I was.

But freedom in Jesus means we reject what the enemy has tried to use against us.

And one of the biggest ways we walk in that freedom?

We love who we are.

Not in arrogance.

Not in self-righteousness.

But in complete and total agreement with who Jesus says we are.

Because loving yourself isn’t a suggestion.

It’s required.

When we love ourselves in Christ, we:

✔ Reject the past. We are no longer bound by shame, regret, or guilt.

✔ Refuse the enemy’s lies. We stop believing the narrative that we are too broken, too far gone, or not enough.

✔ See ourselves through a different lens. We accept the grace and redemption of Jesus, knowing we are whole, loved, and chosen.

This is true freedom.

I don’t know what you’ve believed about yourself.

Maybe you’ve told yourself you’re not worthy.

Maybe you’ve carried guilt for too long.

Maybe you’ve let your past mistakes write your story.

But today, you have a choice.

To see yourself differently.

To reject the things that have weighed you down.

To embrace the freedom that Jesus died to give you.

Because freedom is loving yourself.

Not as an option.

Not as a luxury.

But as an act of obedience to the One who calls you worthy.

My Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

I refuse to carry what You have already freed me from. I reject the lies, the shame, the past that has tried to define me. Help me to see myself the way You see me—whole, worthy, redeemed.

Give me the strength to walk in that freedom daily. Let my love for myself be a reflection of my love for You. Let my confidence be a declaration of Your truth.

I am not bound. I am free. And in that freedom, I will love the woman You created me to be.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This version centers on freedom—that loving yourself is rejecting bondage. It’s stepping into the truth of who Jesus says you are, without hesitation, without guilt, and without holding onto things that no longer serve you.

Let me know if this fully captures what you’re feeling, or if you want any adjustments!