For much of my life, I struggled with self-esteem. When I was young, I would play various roles that I thought would allow me to fit in. None of these roles reflected who I was, but they did serve a purpose. I could be the cool guy to catch the girls. I could be the tough guy to win respect from the boys. I could even play super Christian to fit in at church. I was searching, trying to find myself.
I learned to be seen and not heard. It was a very devaluing season for me. I honestly believed that almost every person around me was more deserving of good things than I was. As a result of all this, I stayed depressed. In college, I found ways to escape reality. Unfortunately, I embraced those ways.
I think what meant most to me during that dark time is that God never let me go. In my darkest moments, somehow, I knew He was there. I was not serving Him. I was not thinking about Him. I had become hardened to sin, but I knew He was there. He saved my life several times when I got involved in some foolish situations. I was raised as a traditional Christian, but it was not until I encountered the Holy Spirit and was filled with Him that my life began to change dramatically.
Some say the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for today. I can tell you most assuredly it is. God will never waste the lessons learned from a person’s past. I have learned a lot in my 69 years on this earth, and I have a desire to share it with my listeners.
I believe God has gifted me with the ability to see people through His eyes. I have always had a tender heart full of compassion, especially for the underdog. It sounds like a religious cliché, but I want to see people get free. I think discovering our true identity is the key to a healthy and fulfilled life. My show, Self Talk with Dr. Ray Self, is about helping people.
I believe my show is a vehicle the Lord can use, and I am grateful for everyone who listens.
For more on how important it is to find your identity in Christ rather than trying to be what you think those around you want you to be, listen to the full episode of Self Talk on the Charisma Podcast Network here. {eoa}
