{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 love reading this book. It is so true that we must get our confidence from Jesus! There is no other way! I have been through a year myself that very easily could have allowed me to turn away from Christ. Instead I have grown so much close to Him. This is good even in the midst of my turmoil. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Sometimes our biggest blessings are discovered during times of trial!
Thank you for the words of encouragement today. Philippians 1:6 – I am confident God will complete the good work he started in me. Praise his name!
Thank you so much for this message today, its timing was perfect. For my entire life I have compared myself to others, thinking “if only I had what she has, my life would be perfect. Secure.” God is working through circumstances in my family to show me that true security only comes from Him. I am learning day by day to trust God for my security and He is showing me that He will finish the good work He started in me! I love your devotions….thank you!
I have always been really shy, and I have often felt through out my adult life that my shyness is holding me back. Over the last year I have made huge strides in being more confident in who I am – not who I think I should be or who I think others want me to be. When doubt does creep in, the verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is one that I often repeat to myself.
I have struggled with this issue for all of my life. This devotional was so inspiring and gives me the encouragement to change my way of thinking to God’s way of thinking. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing the word. That is what I have enjoyed the most about this Bible study. The Word of God is powerful! I like how The Message says it: “His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.” Speaking to our doubts with Scripture is powerfully effective!
Hi Renee,
Wow, God really works through you. Today I found myself wanting to compare and not measuring up, and proceeded to beat myself up, then I remembered what I could what you said in your book about how we tend to compare ourselves, from reading it in your first study. Now I read your post for today and your devotional, since you suggested it, and it’s exactly what you are talking about. thank you so much! I had just asked God for some loving encouragement. Reading your post I see how Adam and Eve were afraid of God in the garden, and that made mr sad for a moment. It reminded me of the fear I’ve had of my estranged husband and I just couldn’t imagine being afraid of God like that, when I need Him and His love so much.
Then reading your devotional, about how Satan wanted Eve to doubt herself and God, that’s exactly what was happening in my marriage. Thank you for all your loving encouragement today!
As a person who went back to college at a much older age, I wonder will I ever find the job that fulfills that step of faith that I took. Am I too old, ‘do I measure up’? Only my heavenly Father knows. In Him I must trust!
Thank you so much for the encouragement you send daily. 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 was unwanted by not only my birth mom but the mom that adopted me. I struggle everyday with being worthy of God’s love and forgiveness,even though I know the truth about our Heavenly Father. He made me and loves me unconditionally,He blesses me every day, I ‘m always in ahhh of what God does and will continue to do in my life. Without Him I am nothing.
I have friends that have told me smiliar stories and I would love to share these books with them. I try to help them see what our Amazing God can and will do if we just give it all to him, instead of keeping it on our on shoulders.
Work in progress …being the confident woman God wants me to be.
Thank you
I’ve never heard the passage about Adam and Eve explained that way – that God asked who told them they were naked, as if saying “who told you something is wrong with you?” I feel this is one of my biggest struggles – alwasy feeling not good enough, or like I am letting someone down, and never wanting to tackle anything because of the fear of not doing it well. It’s very difficult to change that mindset.
I struggle with constantly comparing myself to others. I always thought it was just part of my nature; part of how my brain worked. I am learning though that these thoughts are not mine; they are seeds planted by Satan to draw me away from God. I still have to remind myself of God’s promises as stated in the Bible, but I know that I am who He says I am, and everything else is lies. I am a beloved child of the most high God 🙂
It feels so good to be loved by Him.
I have suffered from the belief that “I don’t measure up” my whole life – recently God has been working in my life to free me from this lie. The enemy has come in to steal, kill, and destroy. Thank you for this message, its a confirmation of the theme that God playing out and teaching me at this portion of my life. I would love to learn more about your studies & books on confidence.
Thank you for todays encouragement as i have litearlly gone through life feeling so unwanted and still do. My parents to this day make me feel this way a nd I know that nothing i will do will change that. But thankfully have a wonderful husband and kids and in laws that do and that no matter what God does and I will always measure and be of value to him
Wow did God speak to me through this today! I had just been talking about the feeling of doubt and thinking it is such a stronghold of the enemy. I need to speak truth and stop believing lies and distractions of the enemy!
Isn’t it sad how just one negative comment can affect the way we feel about ourselves? That one comment causes us to dwell upon that characteristic that another person has identified to “help us” while in reality it demeans us and makes us question ourselves, then the self doubt begins. This is often brought on by colleagues but all too often it’s the comment from a trusted family member that discourages us. But the flip side of the coin is how joyful it is to know that we are “a chosen people, royal and holy, a people belonging to God that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9. So I choose to ignore the darkness (the black ring) and to look upwards towards the light.
It’s a choice I can make because he first chose me! God Bless you all!
What a great reminder to keep our eyes on God and remember he loves us for who we are right where we are. I will be sharing this with my BFF also because she has days that she forgets this. It’s always good to have these kinds of reminders to get our minds and hearts back to where they belong…. On God!
I love knowing that “I can do anything through Christ, who strengthens me.”
God Bless,
JoAnn
“I am God’s child”. I Need to remind myself of that all the time. I don’t know why I feel unworthy but I keep praying that my confidence will grow. Thank you for your encouraging words today.
■John 15:16, I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
This is the verse that speaks to me the most today. Thought that I have been chosen. and by the Lord of the universe at that! The thought that I can bear good fruit??? Oh how my heart has longed to know that with Christ I can love others and give to others and be a positive influence on others. How many years have I believed that I just should stay at home in a shell because it seemed all I did was hurt others all the time. Thank you Renee for sharing and being so honest with your story as well! <3
Oh wow, so many great verses! One of my bizillion favorites has always been Ephesians 1:3–8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. The very fact that He, the God of the universe personally chose me just blows my mind, how awesome to be “chosen”. I can’t pick just one so i will add this one Romans 8:31–39 I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love. I am adopted by the God of the universe and nothing, nothing, nothing can separate me from Him or tear me out of His grasp. What an awesome assurance that is to my insecure self. And then one more Philippians 1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me. This has always been a special verse to me also because I am His no matter how much i screw up (a lot) He “my heavenly Father” will not give up on me. Thank you Renee for this devotion. I am printing it out to keep in my bible and to share with others.
Thank you so much for the Bible verses/promises posted today! I loved the ones in Chpt. 6, also. I have printed the section of verses, cut them out and glued them onto index cards. I will be carrying them with me everyday. Especially this July when I have to fly out to Oregon to visit my husband’s family. I have a terrible fear of flying after having a panic attack the last time I flew. I have avoided it at all costs over the last few years. I will begin to claim these verses, especially the “I am secure” verses. I am praying God will help me ‘wrap my thoughts’ around allowing Him to guide me through this as I am already finding myself caught up in trying to get out of having to go on this trip! I know it is satan using my fear against me.
Thank you again for posting these verses as it gives me a tangible way of seeing & claiming God’s promises and allowing Him to change my fear and doubt into trust, peace and a sound mind.