LOVE YOURSELF

AS THE IMAGE OF GOD

Transforming into His character

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying
its power. And from such people, turn away! ...men of corrupt
minds, disapproved concerning the faith.

2 Timothy 3: 2–5, 8 (NKJV)


This week

You can only love others as you love yourself

This week we consider how our internal perspective of God and ourselves affects our perspective of others.

INTEGRITY

Advertisements often present products or services in over-the-top or polished ways, creating false expectations for viewers. Campaigns tend to twist words, exaggerate pictures, and use mental triggers to make unnecessary or exorbitant purchases seem mandatory for happiness, success, or status. Whether you're haunted by the need to read the fine print of everything or escaping the car dealership completely exhausted and spending more than you planned, you can totally appreciate a new era of transparent, online, simple, and affordable purchasing. Habakkuk 2 verse 15-16 warns against intentionally exploiting and taking advantage of others and even omitting the truth is not loving others as God expects. Having integrity means that your motives, deeds, and words are known and honorable before God and others, regardless of the consequences. As kingdom citizens, Jesus Christ offers no fine prints, no gimmicks and no deception, so allow the Holy Spirit to grow the integrity of each of our hearts and transform our marketplaces, homes, and world.. Be true to God's principles even when you can't trust being true to yourself.

READ

1 Chronicles 29:17a NLT

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there....

Proverbs 20:7 NLT

The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

Habakkuk 2:15-16 NLV

It is bad for him who makes his neighbors drink, mixing in his poison to make them drunk, so he can look on their shame! 16 You will be filled with shame instead of honor. Now you yourself drink and let your own shame be seen. The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and your greatness will turn to shame.


PRAY

Heavenly Father, I thank you that I can trust you with my whole heart and rest in You knowing that Your love for me is pure and true. Forgive me for not representing you well on earth and for having corrupt thoughts and motives for my actions. Comfort those I have hurt and help them to forgive me. Create in me a clean heart and mind before you, Lord, that others trust You in me and be drawn to You to experience the integrity of your Word and your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

DO

generosity

In the aftermath of the pandemic the iconic periodical, Readers Digest, featured an article of twelve extraordinary stories of generosity. These true stories spotlighted exorbitant restaurant tips, modern day good Samaritans and free grocery deliveries to neighborhoods of elderly residents. As a Kingdom citizen, we acknowledge that we own nothing and every talent, treasure and even time is a gift from God entrusts to us to steward. As such, we are expected to be the hands and feet of our King and share our talents, treasure and time to reflect the God that lives within us. Generosity is not just an act but a willing and obedient heart that seeks to honor God by giving and serving His work and others to create a community of hope and love as He commands.

READ

Luke 12:15 NLT

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

2 Corinthians 9:11 NLT

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

Matthew 6:19-21NLT

19 Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

PRAY

My Father, thank you for loving me so much that You gave me free will to choose to share and manage all You have given me. Forgive me for using the time, talents and treasure according to my will and dishonoring Your will. I acknowledge that I am and can do nothing without You. I know this is all temporary so help me the make decisions about all these resources and give me creative ideas to share this eternal benefit to honor You. Teach me to stay focused on You and not get distracted by materials things and money but to see them as tools to achieve Your plan on earth, In Jesus precious name Amen.

DO

  • Seek to manage personal finances and address any debt so that you can be generous with a free heart.  Research and allow biblical financial principles to transform your mind about money like Crown Financial Ministries .

  • Journal ten creative ways to share your time and talents with those in your home, our street, your church, with no expectation of payment.

  • Get busy with your list above at least one a week.

thankful

With over 6,500 living donation transplants annually, there are thousands of recipients worldwide who are grateful for a kidney, a piece of liver, and other organs or tissues. Recipients naturally express deep gratitude and thankfulness after experiencing the life-changing consequences of damage to these vital organs. Many enthusiastically recount how this one random act of kindness has transformed their lives, with some even seeking to identify and connect with their donors. The magnitude of an unmet need typically deepens the sense of gratitude towards the individual fulfilling that need. At different stages of our lives, various givers meet our desperate needs: our parents feed, clothe, nurture, and comfort us; our educators teach us; our community of faith prays with us; and most importantly, our Savior, Jesus Christ, saves us. Regardless of the need, God has already met it on earth and in eternity, through His Son and His chosen people. So as a daily recipient of this life, our thankfulness to God and others should be outstanding, setting us apart as true representatives of God's kingdom in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and world.

READ

Colossians 3:15 NLT

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Ephesians 5:20 NLT

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

PRAY

Heavenly Father please forgive me for missing moments to say thanks to others and to You. I am so grateful for all you have done and all those you have placed in my life. Please keep me aware of your grace and many blessings through others and transform my heart to grab every opportunity to express thanks others and most importantly You , in Jesus name Amen.

DO

  • Meditate on the words of Gratitude - Brandon Lake - Lyric Video

  • Practice being intentional about noticing what we are grateful for. Journal twenty things you are thankful to God for and twenty things you are thankful to family and friends for.

self control

What's your traffic-light style? Are you the texter, the dancer, the singer, the hurried honker, the make-up fixer, the daydreamer, or the 'exhaler'? How we approach physical stop signs and traffic lights as drivers often reflects our mental and spiritual state. The 'exhaler' takes every opportunity to practice deep breathing and intentionally enjoy the forced pauses of life to listen for God's still small voice and soak in the beauty of His handiwork around us. Like the traffic signals, life's pauses can be God's caution, patience development, or just a healthy rhythm of life. Regardless of the purpose, self-control allows us to choose to rush through relationships and life issues, or to seek God's will and submit to it. True self-control is allowing God to control your-self not you controlling your-self. Next time you find yourself stuck at a red light, relish the moment of forced pause and reflect on how you allow God to control life's green light moments.

READ

James 1:19–20

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 25:28

A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

PRAY

My Father and King, thank you for gifting me your Holy Spirit and helping me live in Your power and love. Father forgive me for not submitting to Your control. Keep my mind and heart disciplined to Your will and ways as I grow in You and learn more and more of You. I know when I am weak You are my strength and pray that Your Spirit will help me submit my will to You and show me every aspect of my life that I struggle to give You control. In Jesus name Amen.

DO

loved

Scientific facts only confirm God's handiwork. With the exception of identical twins, forensic science reports that the odds of any two people having the exact same DNA are virtually zero. This means that there is not one person among the 117 billion people who have ever lived on our planet so far who is like you. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are each God's masterpiece, carefully designed to fulfill all He created us to be, exclusive to Him. He loves each of us so much that He never duplicates us, and He continues to gift the world with more of Him each day. Loving how He made us and who He made us to be is critical to having the capacity to love others. Your life can only be lived by you, so honor God's divine creativity by loving the reflection of His image in the mirror.

READ

Psalm 139:14 NLT

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

…“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

Ephesians 3:20 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

PRAY

My Father and King, thank you for gifting me your Holy Spirit and helping me live in Your power and love. Father forgive me for not submitting to Your control. Keep my mind and heart disciplined to Your will and ways as I grow in You and learn more and more of You. I know when I am weak You are my strength and pray that Your Spirit will help me submit my will to You and show me every aspect of my life that I struggle to give You control. In Jesus name, Amen.

DO

forgiveness

A pastor's mission trip to Sri Lanka allowed him to witness the elephant rope syndrome firsthand. The villagers explained to him that tying young elephants to huge trees trains their minds to think that they cannot escape the tree or rope and that they are bound for life. Even when they are much older and several tons heavier, they believe what binds them is stronger than they are. As a Kingdom citizen, you have all the spiritual power and authority to break free from anything that binds you, but the rope of unforgiveness can keep us tied to hurt, pain, bitterness, resentment, and vengeance. Like these Sri Lankan elephants, we can choose to make unforgiveness stronger than us, or we can choose to allow the Holy Spirit to help us embrace forgiveness and break free to explore God's best for our lives. It may not be easy, but freedom begins with choice, and forgiveness is always possible with God.

READ

Matthew 6:14 NIV

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Psalm 86:5 ESV

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Colossians 3:13 ESV

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

PRAY

Thank you Father that You overflow with grace and forgiveness for my constant sin and doubt. Forgive me for not extending the same grace and forgiveness to each person that offended or hurt me Father. I invite the Holy Spirit, to soothe my aching heart and emotions and strengthenmy faith to forgive and not allow triggers of the past to bound me and cripple my mind and heart. Teach me to fight the painful thoughts with Your Word and break free from unforgiveness to experience Your best for my life. In Jesus Name Amen

DO

  • Pray the prayer above and after 'my faith to forgive…" insert the name of the persons that come to mind, who you need to forgive.

  • Listen to this biblical audio drama entitled Offering Forgiveness https://unshackled.subspla.sh/78346pm and allow the truths to penetrate your mind and heart.

© 2026 Robert Henry. 21KC™. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Humility in heart

I have been told that being humble can make a person happier, healthier, and more emotionally stable as it helps them understand themselves better. However, true humility starts in the heart. Heart humility is knowing who we really are and appreciating our limitations without judgment or condemnation of ourselves or others. God always calls us to live with a heart of humility. Just as King David gave God the credit for his victories and even refers to himself as a servant, even a dead dog and a flea (1 Samuel 24:14). We to are called to live a life of humility unto God. Heart humility invites us to release control and perfection trusting God to mold us into something far greater than we can imagine

READ

Philippians 2:3-4

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

James 4:6

God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble,

Proverbs 18:12

Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor

PRAY

Father, please forgive me for my transgression, and please forgive me if I have boasted about myself in the past; I am sorry, Lord. Please humble my mind and heart in focusing on what You have done for me rather than my accomplishments. Jesus give me your mind, Lord, so that I may boasts and speak well of You from now on. Amen!

DO

Set aside some time, approximately 10 minutes. Stop doing everything and focus on how God kept you alive and supplied for you during the difficult times. Simply thank and praise Him for His mercies and grace.

© 2026 Robert Henry. 21KC™. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

choose god

Sometimes, I think we forget to really appreciate all the amazing things in our lives. It feels like we've kind of forgotten how to spread hope and positivity in a world that really needs it right now. I once had a friend who was always so negative and grumpy. He always seemed unhappy and never saw the good in anything or anyone. It feels like a lot of us have gotten to a point where we struggle to see the good things in our lives and the world around us. We've gotten so caught up in our own struggles and letdowns that we might be missing out on the chance to share some positivity and hope when times are tough. Proverbs 13:9 talks about how the light of the righteous shines brightly. Being someone who values the good things in life also means being grateful for the blessings we've got. We really should take a moment to recognize the good things we've been given and all the great stuff we can still do.

READ

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart

Proverbs 25:26

A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven

PRAY

I love you, God. Please forgive me for disliking things and people in my life that are and have not been good to me. I know you are Lord of all, and I want you to help me view people as you do, with love. Thank you for answering my prayer in Jesus' name. Amen!

DO

Put some good into the world today. It could be anything from covering a payment to spending time with a lonely person to giving someone a ride. Pray for direction from the Lord. I also encourage you to nourish your spirit through the Bible, prayer, and friendship with other strong believers. You are not alone, and seek out those who enjoy doing good.

© 2026 Robert Henry. 21KC™. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Not being Headstrong

From time to time we will have arguments and conflicts with our children, spouse, and colleagues; this is where a breakdown in communication and relationship starts when something that may seem small to one person hurts and damages another. The ultimate goal of the devil is to break relationships, bring confusion and uncertainty. God cannot use us when our relationship with the people around us is damaged., we must be willing to forgive. The first step to overcome being headstrong is being teachable and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us the truth by His word which also requires us dying to our strong wills and seeing others how God sees them with strengths and weakness just like you. Though it can be difficult to overcome on your own, The Holy Spirit as well as others who have gone through challenging relationships can help us ultimately overcome and allow God's will to be accomplished in our life.

READ

Ephesians 5:15

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps

Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day

PRAY

Lord Jesus, You are my only God and King, and I praise You. Please forgive me for the way I have treated others in the past and for being hard-headed and not listening to your voice. Help me today Lord, let your Kingdom come, and your will be done in my life today. Amen

DO

Pray and ask God to reveal His purpose for you, also seek out books about discovering your purpose in Him.

Humility in Speech

I remember my high school days, when my buddies and I would get quite passionate about who among us who had the best basketball skills. We would go over who can dribble fastest, jump the highest, and aim most accurately all in an effort to let other see how good you are. God does not think well of boastfulness. Proverbs 27:2 in the Bible encourages us to let others speak highly of us rather than flaunting our own abilities. This suggests that we should not advertise our own accomplishments but rely on others to recognize our achievements. God hates proud talk as it usually goes along with boasting. 1 John 2:16 states that everything in the world—including our physical needs, things we see and desire, and our pride in our stuff—comes from the world rather than God, so we boast must in God. We should learn humility and refrain from being proud, God wants us to find contentment with our present circumstances.

READ

Psalm 25:9

The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

2 Chronicle 7:14

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

PRAY

Father, please forgive me for my transgression, and please forgive me if I have boasted about myself in the past; I am sorry, Lord. Please humble my mind and heart in focusing on what You have done for me rather than my accomplishments. Jesus give me your mind, Lord, so that I may boasts and speak well of You from now on. Amen!

DO

Set aside some time, approximately 10 minutes. Stop doing everything and focus on how God kept you alive and supplied for you during the difficult times. Simply thank and praise Him for His mercies and grace.