Before the smartphone, you needed someone to either take your picture with a camera, or sit down and have an artist paint your portrait.  Today, smartphone selfies are a phenomenon capturing self portraits by the millions. But self portraits have actually been around since artists first began seeing their own images in the mirror.

In the late 1700’s, Spanish artist Francisco de Goya painted at least three pictures of himself – self portraits, canvas selfies. Art collectors date some of the oldest preserved canvas selfies to the late 1300’s.  Today, almost everyone with a smartphone either has someone take their picture, or snaps their own selfies.

Just For Fun?

Most agree selfies are lots of fun.  But some say all these selfies are nothing more than vanity. Others say it’s a clear sign of narcissism.  Recent studies seem to indicate the amount of time looking at other people’s selfies causes image problems for some. 

Findings from recent studies presented in May at the Annual Conference of the International Communication Association in Seattle, leaned toward a connection between time spent on Facebook and negative body image, mainly for women. It’s really no surprise that the results showed those who spend more time on social media are more likely to compare themselves physically to others, and that in turn generates negative thoughts towards their own appearance.

The truth is, concerns about one’s self are not new.  While social media gives us a new way to project ourselves to others, it’s our own internal thoughts about ourselves that are critically and clinically important.

Of course we all want to put our best foot forward.  But after that, isn’t the inside more important and vital than the outside?  Speaking to women, the Bible says to not be extreme with the outer adorning, but rather, “let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

Our culture seems to impress upon us that other people’s opinions about us are paramount and matter most.  But it’s impossible to be liked by everybody, isn’t it?  That was an obvious lesson we learned in school.  Actually, it’s pretty obvious as an adult too, isn’t it?

Poor self image greatly interferes with everything in our lives.  The thoughts you think about yourself, good or bad, true or false, affect and influence every part of your life.  The starting point and foundation for a good healthy self image is first accepting who you are in God’s eyes.

A Very Ugly Selfie!

Before we were saved we were downright ugly!  Lost, broken, sinners without strength, without God and without hope.  I’m really glad there are no selfies of that picture lying around!

But because of Christ’s completed work, God did a perfect and complete work in us; He redeemed us, forgave us, made us righteous, gave us His spirit, gave us eternal life, and so much more.   And yes, even though we strive to live and manifest all that He made us to be, we fall short; none of us exhibits a perfect walk.   

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons scripture many times encourages us to put off the old and put on the new. We not only need to know who God made us, but we need to see ourselves that way: righteous, forgiven, holy, lovely. As difficult as that may be at times, that’s how we should see ourselves.

Again, none of us have perfected our walk, but are we to wait until we do before we see ourselves as He made us?  That’s gonna be a long, long wait! The book of James talks about when you forget what the Bible says, it’s like seeing yourself in the mirror, but then forgetting what you just saw.

We need to forget who we were, accept who we are now, and manifest it, live it, exhibit it.  The Apostle Paul said to forget the things that are behind us. “I once was lost, but now I’m found!”

Is it too corny to say, “Post an amazing grace Bible selfie?”  I think the best selfie I can show everyone is who God made me. How?

• I can reckon the old “broken” man dead, and myself alive in Christ.
• I can let my light shine so my heavenly Father gets the glory.
• I can do my best to put on the mind of Christ.
• I can demonstrate God’s love to all those around me.

Now isn’t that an impressive selfie?

Photo Credit: Mister Oy via Compfight cc