I recently read The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Kris Vallotton, a senior pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. The book is primarily about how many of us don’t see ourselves the way God does, but that would be a simplistic assessment of the book. Vallotton shares his personal journey out of what he calls a pauper mentality and translates it effectively for us.
In his words, “a pauper is born into insignificance. As he grows up he learns through life that he has no value and his opinions don’t really matter. Therefore, when he becomes a king, he is important to the world around him but he still feels insignificant in the kingdom that lies within him. Subsequently, he doesn’t watch his words or the way he carries himself. He ultimately destroys the very people he is called to lead.”
We Live Out of How We See Ourselves.
If I see myself as insignificant, I will live like someone who has little to offer. If I see myself as powerless, I will pray small prayers. If I see myself as a failure, I will be afraid to take risks. But if I begin to see myself the way God sees me, everything can change.
God created me. He calls me His own. He has given me an identity, a purpose, and an invitation to participate in what He is doing. That isn’t pride. It is learning to agree with God about who I am.
How We See Ourselves Affects Others
We can’t help others feel valued if we don’t feel valued ourselves. To steal from Henri Nouwen, wounded people wound others. Kris encourages us to see and love ourselves the way Jesus sees and loves us. When we begin to see ourselves that way, we can help others feel valued and learn to trust us. Therefore, we will act accordingly.
We did not create ourselves; God created us. We are the work of His hands. When we tear ourselves down or make self-deprecating jokes we are not being humble. You are not just a worm worthy of nothing more than rolling in the dirt. We are no longer sinners. We are saints. We are joint-heirs with Christ. We are a royal priesthood.
How We See Ourselves Affects How We Read the Bible
This book attacks our view of self with enough force to change our behaviors. Vallotton states, “so much of the way we read and interpret the Bible has been affected by pauper mentality. When we feel small and powerless, we tend to dilute the word of God down to something we can accomplish in our weak state so we don’t feel convicted for not doing what’s required of us.” Paupers are afraid of failure because they view their identity by what they do. If they fail, then they are a failure. The pauper’s reasoning is: “God’s Word says I am an overcomer, so I better not do something that makes me feel like a failure.”
This is why so many Christians still struggle with saying they are not a sinner. They know they sin. But if you view yourself as a sinner, you cannot help but sin because sinners sin. But just because you sin doesn’t mean sin has to define your identity. God wants to rewire the way we think about ourselves. God wants to rewire our thinking.
I would highly encourage this book. It will challenge your thinking, hit you with surprising truths, and take you into a greater love of our Heavenly Father.