{WELCOME Encouragement for Today Readers & Online Study Friends!!}
In my P31 Encouragement for Today devotion, I posed the question… Do you ever feel like you don’t measure up?
And now I want us to dig a little deeper. Have you ever stopped to ask, “Who is saying these things? Who is causing me to doubt myself? Is it me? Has something from my past led me to believe this? Or is it the enemy of my soul disguising his voice as my own?”
It is crucial for us to realize we have an enemy. Satan is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him (John 8:44). And he loves when we believe his deception and fall into the distraction of feeling inadequate and insecure. {It’s a huge distraction!}
The meaning of the word lie is “a falsehood with the intent to deceive.” Satan intends to deceive us and he does so by getting us to take our eyes off of who we are in Christ and focus on our flaws. That way we’ll spend our days figuring out how we can hide them. It’s exactly what he did with Eve:
“Then the eyes of both [Adam and Eve] were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’
He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” (Gen. 3:7–11)
In response, God asked who told them they were naked. In other words, “Who told you that something is wrong with you?” By asking this, God made sure they knew someone was casting shame on them—and it wasn’t Him.
The enemy whispered lies into their hearts, causing them to move away from Him and from each other.
Satan’s intent is the same for you and me as it was for Eve, but we don’t have to go along with him. Instead we can refute his lies and temptations with truth. If we have put our trust in Christ as our Savior, we can stand on the promises of who we are in Him.
When you’re tempted to measure up today, focus “up” instead and remember Whose you are and who you are! Here is a compilation of Scriptures to remind us of who we are in Christ.
I am accepted . . .
- John 1:12 I am God’s child.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
- Ephesians 1:3–8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
- Hebrews 4:14–16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure . . .
- Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
- Romans 8:31–39 I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love.
- 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
- Colossians 3:1–4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
- Philippians 1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
I am significant . . .
- John 15:16, I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
- Ephesians 2:6, I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
- Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship.
- Ephesians 3:12, I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
- Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Which one of these promises encourages your heart most today?
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I was praying to God this morning to forgive me for always comparing
myself to my friends and others. I wanted forgiveness, but I also
said that I wasn’t sure how to change and love myself more. Then I
opened “Encouragement Today” in my emails and there was your
message. It really spoke to me! I need to remember those verses
and work on being happy with the beautiful gifts I have in my life. I have
2 kids that I don’t want to pass my insecurities on to and I really want to believe
In myself and be more confident in who I am as a wife, mother, friend,
and just me! Thank you!
This was awesome! Thank you for the reminder of how my Father sees me. This is the Truth I can rest my soul on. The promise that encourages me is:
■Ephesians 2:10, I am God’s workmanship
What a beautiful thing!
I struggle with insecurity and inadequacy thank you for the reminder that God made me what and who I am for His purpose and I should not question that.
Thank you, I needed those reminder versus today. I have begun reading (studying) A confident heart but needed the encouragement TODAY! Thank you for all that you ladies at Proverbs 31 do to keep us in tune with God’s desires for us.
This is my first visit to your site and I am profoundly aware of how God works to bring the right thing to us IF we are paying attention. I have been working on issues relating to self image and wondering why I act in such self-defeating ways????? This is truely a gift to come in contact with your writing this morning. The Eph 2:10 verse is perfect to reinforce what I know in my head and need to accept in my heart. Thank YOU!!
I am constantly amazed how God answers us when we seek. I have been struggling with feelings of inadequacey in dealing with my two step-daughters. We are dealing with blending a family on top of trying to undo a lot of bad influence from his ex wife. I have been feeling that there is not enough of me to go around and that maybe I’m not the one for this job. But I do know that God put my husband and I together and He gave me two more children just as He gave me mine. I am trying to remember that His power is infinitely adequate to handle my situation; that it is not my power that the kids are depending on. Thank you for following His promptings in your life; it is amazing what God can do through us!
This came at the perfect time. I spent all day yesterday writing the first chapter of the book that I have been talking about writing for the past ten years. Sitting in the library, I couldn’t help but look around at all the other books and think, “who am I to think that I can add something to all that is already out there?” Thank you for the reminder that I am secure in God and the rest is just up to Him.
I am a tired and weary Mom of 4! My oldest has cerebral palsy and my youngest is showing signs of autism! My two middle children stuggle to get the attention they need and want! I sometimes beat myself uo for having more children thinking I was being terribly selfish! I have stuggled with self esteem my whole life and it has started to get the best of me! I love my children so much but they say if you dont love yourself you cant love anyone. I dont want my kids to be hurt by my insecurities! Thanks
I constantly measure myself to others, in my jobs, my volunteer areas at church, in the community. And I alwaysfall short of thestandard I think I should have.
As a 35-yr old, never-married, without kids, it’s increasingly difficult, as friends have playdates with their kids and outings with other families, to feel accepted and significant. The posts on and on P31 were very encouraging this morning.
Hi MarySue
I have felt like you describe many times. I still struggle with comparing myself to others.
At 35, I was single without children. I desperately wanted to be loved and married and have children.
I did not see much hope for my future. Today at almost 43, I am married have two teenage step-sons and two beautiful daughters ( 3 1/2 and 5) When God has a plan He sure can do things quickly. Please don’t get discouraged… turn to Him with your desires and doubts as Renee is teaching us to do.
God gave me what I desired a little over 6 years ago, however this new journey as wife, mother, step-mother has not been easy and I am learning again to TURN TO HIM to satisfy all my needs and take away my inadequacies and insecurities.
Phil 1:6 spoke to me clearly today that GOD ALWAYS COMPLETES SOMETHING THAT HE STARTS!
I Believe that HE has started a GOOD WORK in me…. who am I to DOUBT THAT HE WILL NOT FINISH IT:)
Thanks for sharing where you are, if I can be of any help/comfort/encouragement please let me know:)
Karen
This definitely spoke to me today. I have been feeling woefully inadequate and hearing Satan’s whisperings of “you are a complete failure” more and more loudly every day. Many days I struggle to believe that God could actually love me. But I try. Thank you for the reminder.
This is soooooo encouraging. Just what I needed today. I’m sharing with my daughters. Thank you so much!
Thank you. I really needed this today. I have been measuring myself wrongly for far too long. Thanks again
I love this post. It is so me. Trying to measure up by comparing myself to others. I wear a black ring around my index finger. It is simple, just a plastic plumbing ring, but it is a reminder to me that Satan is the one who causes me to doubt. I learned this trick at a conference I attended years ago. I still wear it today. I immediately thought of it when I read this week’s post. Satan simply can’t stand it when God is in control of our lives. It is amazing what a simple piece of plastic used as something it wasn’t intended for can make such a difference. Thought I would share the tip.
It’s my reminder God is in control and Satan only tries to lie, steal, and destroy my hope and trust in God.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
*All things* are for my highest good! ALL THINGS!
What a great reminder this devotions has been. Having raised three daughters, we have had to instill importance and self-worth into all of them numerous times. Comparison seems so natural for us women that we compare everything. My daughter is in honors class and on the soccer team and plays piano and teaches Sunday School to the preschoolers every Sunday and …. the list goes on. Who gave us permission to not be satisfied with what God has instilled in each of us? Why do we not accept what God gave us? Does He not know what is best for us and therefore we should be content with it? We need to be reminded of this concept over and over again. Thanks for sharing.
This spoke to my heart this morning. I am always comparing myself to other women, thinking that “if only I had what she has,” it would be so much easier. Thank you for reminding me that I am a child of God, and that’s what I should focus on.
I have been reminded to focus on God & on doing what I know to be right despite the lies of Satan that try to divert my attention & get me to focus on anything but my Jesus! ~Blessings~
Hi there.. This devotion spoke to me because as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, employee, I often place so much focusing on how I measure up in other’s eyes. This reminded me to stop and focus on what God wants for my life, for my heart and how I serve him. If I keep my eyes on this, then even though all the other relationships and burdens of my heart might not be resolved, I will have something to anchor myself to in the midst of all the changing expectations that affect me each day. I really look forward to reading a Confident Heart….I would love to win a copy, but if not, I will probably purchase one anways. Thanks for the great reminder.
Thank you for this reminder. I needed to remember that I am accepted by God just as I am because of what Christ has done for me, regardless of what I think I lack or the many ways I mess up. He loves me and gives grace to allow me to “measure up” to His standards.
Renee,
Thank you so much for today’s encouragement. I was an unwanted child — and I’ve known from a very early age that no matter what I did, it would never be enough to earn the love and affection of my mother or father. I struggle everyday with being worthy of God’s love and forgiveness. I know what a dirty, rotten sinner I am – no one has to convince me of that! Why would Jesus love me enough to die a miserable, agonizing death on the cross after all the sin I have in my life. My own parents couldn’t love me, so why would God? This IS my daily struggle, so your thoughts today have struck right at the core of my heart. Please help me pray that I can rely more on God and defeat the devil and his lies!
Thank you for this message today. I needed it to remind me that I can be anything that God wants me to be. The devil is constantantly filling my mind with trash about not being smart enough . With God “ALL Things are Possible!”
Excellent encouragement to stay away from a mental ruler and to recognize that satan loves to trip us up. Thanks Renee!
My 2 friends and I have been trying to be accountable to one another as far as our somewhat warped thoughts can be -mostly around measuring up and comparing ourselves to others. This was right on target for what we have been dealing with. God is soo good that He uses others to bring us what we need.
THanks Renee!
April,
I understand your feelings. It’s so hard you break those patterns of thoughts that are embedded so deep. My situation was where my mom re-married and I was was part of the package. I think my step-dad loved me in a way but I know he was never taught. He came from a past of violence and abuse. He and my mom both just died in February. Months before they died, I thought I don’t want to look back on this time with regret. So, they both moved to Ohio with me. Up until my step-dad died, I tried to have some sort of father-daughter relationship. I got that but just a little. Even when I tried to hug him, he only let me for a second and then he pushed me away. He died a few days later from cancer. All we can do is pick up the pieces, and make the best of what we have. My Mom loved me but she made some bad choices that we all have had to live with. This makes me want to show my kids even more how special they are to me. We all make mistakes and we can’t take away the past. But we can learn from it and try to do better. My pain seems to ease a bit when I do things for others or when I’m with uplifting Christian friends. <3
Ephesians 2:10 has the answer for me. I was a child not wanted by my father and I was always told it was because he wanted a boy instead of a girl. I am not sure and perhaps never will be but, I knew that my mother wanted me and later I discovered our merciful Lord’s love and realized that I am God’s workmanship and He doesn’t make any junk! I have only praise and thanks for Him. Sending up prayers for you April, to be blessed by God with a clear understanding of how much HE LOVES YOU!!