Look Up, Not In: Worship Changes What Self-Focus Can’t
Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 16 August 2025
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV):
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
You’re Fighting a Battle You Can’t Win Alone
Ephesians 6:12 is a reminder that our biggest battles aren’t physical, they’re spiritual. Yes, we deal with emotions, habits, struggles, relationships but behind it all, there’s a deeper fight.
It’s not your personality you’re wrestling with. It’s not just your past or your insecurities. It’s a spiritual war. And you’ll never win that war by staring at your flaws. You win by lifting your eyes. By worshipping. By beholding God.
Self-Examination Alone Will Leave You Defeated
Let’s be honest. Many of us spend more time criticising ourselves than actually connecting with God. We replay our mistakes, rehearse our weaknesses, and compare ourselves to others. We try harder. We analyse deeper. And still we feel stuck.
But here’s the truth: You don’t get free by looking at yourself. You get free by looking at Jesus. You are not changed by self-focus. You are changed by Spirit-filled worship and God-centred focus.
Beholding Is What Transforms Us
2 Corinthians 3:18 says,
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate (or behold) the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory...”
That’s the key: We are changed as we behold. Not as we try harder. Not as we obsess over what we’re not. But as we worship, as we fix our gaze on Jesus, He changes us.
In worship, the lies lose their voice.
In worship, the shame lifts.
In worship, the enemy flees.
From Condemnation to Confidence
There was a man in our church who constantly felt defeated. Every time he tried to pray, his thoughts would accuse him. He would say, “I’ve failed too many times. I’m not worthy. I’ll never change.”
But one Sunday during worship, he decided to stop trying to fix himself and just lift his hands. He focused on God’s mercy, His love, His holiness. And something broke. Tears flowed. Healing began. He said later, “When I stopped looking at myself and started looking at God, something changed inside me.”
That’s what happens when we behold Him.
3 Truths to Remember in the Battle
1. Worship is a Weapon
You’re not just singing songs, you’re shifting atmospheres. Worship silences the enemy. It confuses hell. It draws heaven near. When you worship, you are reminding your soul who’s in charge. God is greater. He is worthy. And He is with you.
2. Your Identity Is Found in Christ, Not Your Flaws
Yes, we all have weaknesses. But if you’re always magnifying your flaws, you’ll never see your Father clearly.
In Christ, you are:
Forgiven
Loved
Chosen
Empowered
Being transformed
Stop rehearsing what you're not. Start declaring who He is — and let His truth reshape how you see yourself.
3. Looking to God Brings Lasting Change
Change doesn't come from self-hatred. It comes from Holy Spirit transformation. The more you see God for who He is, the more you become who He made you to be. That’s why Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
You Can’t Win Spiritual Battles with Human Weapons
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us this is not a flesh-and-blood fight. It’s not just about working harder or managing behaviour. It’s about knowing where to fight from, the place of worship and spiritual focus.
You were never meant to win on your own. God’s power is available. His Spirit is within you. But you’ve got to lift your eyes. You’ve got to look up, not in.
Maybe you've been stuck in a cycle, trying to fix yourself, trying to measure up, trying to feel worthy. But the Holy Spirit is whispering today:
“Stop looking at your flaws. Start looking at Me.”
It’s not about ignoring your issues; it’s about approaching them through the power of worship and the lens of grace.
So next time you feel overwhelmed, don’t just analyse. Don’t just try harder. Worship. Look up. Behold Him. Because the more you behold Jesus, the more you become like Him and the more your past and flaws lose their grip.