This post holds a collection of self esteem and self love bible verses.
God does NOT make junk!
I repeat…
God does NOT make junk!
That’s the summary of what I hope you eventually take away from this post.
Our self-esteem and feelings of self-worth can fluctuate dramatically. But when it comes to the ups and downs of life, we know that God is our steady rock.
We can lean on him when we feel down and don’t know which way is up.
It is through His strength and the uplifting words of self-love Bible verses that we can find our value once again.
When you allow God’s Word to sink into your heart, it can have a glorious impact on your self-esteem (if you let it).
Let’s see what God says about self love by looking at some Bible verses that can help you realize—without a doubt—your own self-worth.
related : 50 Christian Affirmations to Quiet Anxiety & Renew Your Mind
30 Bible Verses to Read When You’re Low on Self-Esteem and Need to Love Yourself a Little More
1. 1 Peter 3:3-4
“3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
I love this Bible verse about worth and beauty.
Although we spend a lot of time on our outward appearance, the Bible points out that grooming our spirit is far more important.
A healthy self-esteem comes from knowing whose we are—not from what we look like.
This verse also points out the value of a gentle and quiet spirit. To me, that means walking in our purpose with a gracious & humble attitude.
2. Ephesians 2: 4-5
“4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Many of us seek to be perfect, but this scripture points out the obvious.
We all make mistakes, but God provides grace and mercy despite them. As a result, we can rest confidently in knowing that our faults are met with forgiveness.
On that note … If God can (and will) forgive us, surely we can forgive ourselves.
There’s no sense in beating yourself up over past mistakes. Bible verses like these show that you can love yourself because God loves you.
3. Matthew 22:39
“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Ever wondered if God tells us to love ourselves? Look carefully at that last phrase, “as yourself.”
In today’s rush-rush society, we hardly take the time to speak to our neighbors. However, loving other people is vitally important to our own well-being.
In fact, many studies show that caring for others is the quickest way to relieve ourselves of feelings of depression.
4. Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the fact that God’s Son was selfless enough to give up His life to provide us the gift of eternal life.
It was truly the greatest gesture of love of all time. Nothing you’ve ever gotten on Valentine’s Day has even come close!
So tell me…do you think the receiver of such a remarkable gift is worthy of love? Absolutely!
Our self-esteem should be rooted in knowing that we were given life by the One who knows we were worth dying for.
5. 1 John 4:16-17
“16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world, we are like Jesus.”
This is a beautiful Bible verse that highlights the importance of self love. We are like Christ when we love.
In fact, this scripture says that love is complete through the wholeness of God. When we understand that God’s love makes us whole, our self-esteem will not suffer.
6. Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
(see Joshua 1:9 coloring page)
At times, our self-esteem suffers because we worry about things we have no control over.
When we fully trust God, we can be at peace with ourselves, relying on His strength—not our own.
7. Hebrews 10:35
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
Do you want a confidence that cannot be shaken? Then place your confidence in the only One who never changes.
Don’t throw it away by basing it on things of this world.
When your confidence is in Him, it will be “richly rewarded.”
8. 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
An accurate view of God translates into an accurate view of ourselves. We are called His “special possession” and “chosen people.” As in, he looked through a crowd and selected you! That’s so powerful!
I’m afraid that we tear ourselves down because we don’t fully understand the King to whom we belong to.
The pathway to loving ourselves is paved with a proper perspective of who we really are.
So next time, you’re low on self-esteem, encourage yourself with scriptures on self love like these.
9. Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
(see Philippians 4:13 coloring page)
If you ever feel like you can’t accomplish something or reach your goals, recognize that feelings can be deceitful.
This confidence-boosting Bible verse says you can do all things. Just don’t miss that last part: It is “through him who gives me strength” that makes it possible.
So whether you are facing insurmountable odds or you’re simply having a hard time getting out of bed, read this scripture to help you feel better about yourself and your abilities.
I encourage you to read it out loud like you would a positive affirmation.
Next, join my e-mail group for weekly tips on positive living 🙂
10. Isaiah 32:17
“The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”
When we set our sights on doing good, there’s a certain peace that comes with that. What does that have to do with self love, you ask?
Well, self love isn’t about being selfish. It’s about taking care of yourself so that you can then pour into others and exercise righteousness.
The effect of doing so is “quietness and confidence forever.”
When you fall short, as well all do, remember that Jesus is our righteousness. While we are called to “good works,” they have nothing to do with our position in Him.
Rest in that.
11. James 2:8
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right.”
Do you love others? Bear in mind, I’m not asking if you have a perfect track record in this arena.
But do you want to help others? Do you try your best to be kind? Do you care about your fellow man?
If you do, rest assured you are “doing right.”
12. Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
It amazes me that we have access to God’s throne of grace. Not only that, but we’re told to approach it “with confidence.”
How could I possibly approach the Lord’s throne with confidence?! Some days, I’m not even confident enough to leave my house!
I’ll tell you why it’s possible:
Because Jesus made it possible.
And that, my friends, should give us all the confidence in the world.
13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
I love that a single scripture can have so many applications.
Loving yourself should not involve being boastful, proud, or self-seeking. So while this verse is geared toward loving others, it can easily be one of the best Bible verses about loving yourself as well.
It shows what love really is and what it should be—whether directed outwardly or inwardly.
14. Psalms 139:13-14
“13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Of all the Psalms about self love, this one has to be my favorite.
Hold your head up! God doesn’t make junk.
If God took the time to form you in your mother’s womb (and He did), then you are worthy of life and all the good that comes with it.
To help you meditate on this verse, here’s an “I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” coloring page.
15. Leviticus 19:18
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
Have you ever heard of the dangers of unforgiveness? Maybe you’ve experienced it for yourself.
It is the person who harbors the grudge that is most negatively affected by it. Bitterness eats away at you like a poison.
So while it doesn’t look like it at first glance, I see this as a self love Bible verse because loving our neighbors is just as much (if not more) for our own wellbeing as it is for theirs.
16. Proverbs 3:25-26
“25 Have no fear of sudden disaster, or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.”
The famous Corrie Ten Boom once said:
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
Does worrying about a thing ever change it?
No! What it is, is a recipe for anxiety, which can lead to a lack of self love and self care.
So when you face something that threatens to steal your joy, give it over to Him who is “at your side.”
17. Proverbs 19:8
“The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.”
Self love is about treating yourself with kindness and respect. But it goes a step beyond that. It is the act of nurturing your own self-growth and joy for life.
In this verse, the Bible says that the person who obtains wisdom and loves understanding is the one who will love life and prosper.
I think we want that for ourselves, don’t we?
So how do we obtain wisdom and understanding?
In the book of Psalms, the Bible says that it is the fear of God that is the beginning of wisdom, so that should be our starting point.
18. 2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
It is worth repeating that God wants us to be confident. We just have to be careful about where we get that confidence.
Self love and confidence go hand-in-hand, but neither should be based on our own merit, but on His.
(Meditate on this scripture with this 2 Timothy 1:7 coloring page).
19. 2 Chronicles 32:8
“With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”
Hezekiah was speaking to his people to motivate them. He understood a very important truth:
If we have God on our side (and we do) then our battles are already fought for us. The victory is ours!
By the way, that includes victory over self-doubt and negative self-talk.
20. Isaiah 40:31
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
When you need a bit of motivation or a spiritual pep talk, this is the scripture for you.
Here we see that our mental health, physical health, and overall strength to endure this race called life should be rooted in our hope in the Lord.
21. Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Guess what happens when we all take the time to love each other like we’re supposed to?
We are all taken care of.
It’s the law of reciprocity beautifully at work. Our needs are often met as we help to meet the needs of others.
22. Ephesians 5:29
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church”
Christ loved the church enough to lay down His life for it.
And that’s how He says we ought to care for ourselves. Recognize your self-worth, and take the necessary steps to care for your mind, body, and soul.
23. Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
This is a gentle reminder to not get carried away with negative thinking patterns.
Your brain is wired to follow anything you give it the right to do. That being the case, we must be mindful of how we think and what we speak to ourselves.
24. Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
I know I’ve said it before, but it can’t be said enough:
Self love is not about being selfish.
When we do something for selfish reasons, it never provides the satisfaction we think it will.
We may believe that we have a lot to gain from those actions, but in reality, they lead us down a path of loneliness and even self-loathing.
Loving ourselves is uniquely tied to valuing others.
25. Luke 12:7
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Think about this verse for a minute. The God of heaven is so mindful of you that He knows the very number of hairs on your head.
I think this is one of the best Bible verses on self acceptance in all of scripture. You can accept yourself just as you are because God declares your worth right here! And He has shown that you are priceless.
26. 1 John 4:8
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Although we often prioritize other things, God tells us that love trumps all.
Do you think you can love others appropriately if you don’t even love yourself? You must first fill your own cup before you can pour out and invest in others.
27. Song of Solomon 4:7
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.”
Solomon is talking to his bride here, but it is a beautiful picture of our relationship with our own Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
So when you read this Bible verse, imagine Jesus speaking it to you.
In His eyes, there is no flaw in you.
28. Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The Christian walk involves setting aside attitudes and mindsets that do not honor God.
Tearing yourself down is not a God-honoring action.
Do you honor an artist by speaking negatively of their art? Absolutely not.
When we accept Christ, our lives are no longer our own, but are to be used for the glory of God.
29. John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John makes it clear that we are well-loved by our Creator. There is nothing that we can do to take away God’s love for us.
That fact, once full grasped, should be a huge self-esteem booster.
If you are in a phase of life where you’re learning to love and accept yourself for who you are, remember that God loves you and accepts you no matter what.
30. Mark 12:31
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
There sure have been a lot of “love your neighbor” verses on this list, hasn’t there? There’s a reason for that.
I want to highlight the fact (and solidify it in our minds) that self love doesn’t equal selfishness.
One of our biggest responsibilities in life is to go about our day with love. Although that seems simple, it can be a challenge sometimes.
We can love others by treating them with kindness, showing them respect, and giving them grace when they make a mistake—all of which we should show to ourselves, too.
That’s all for today. I hope this list of Bible verses about self love inspires you to be kind to yourself and show yourself the same respect you show to those around you.
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