{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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Thank you for your words of encouragement. I was a sexually agused child and for many years I struggled with being accepted. It seemed liked no matter what I did I was punished and could never measure up to anyone’s expectations. I am so glad we have a loving, forgiving, and understanding Heavenly Father who does not abused His children.
I still struggled with feeling inadequate many times,even today, but I know He is always there for me!
Thanks so much for your message today. I often put myself down and doubt myself. I often see other peoples response to me as telling me I am wrong or that they have a better answer than me. I know they do not mean it this way but that is how I often see it. I also know that Satan is whispering or rather at times yelling lies into my ear but I need to be reminded who is telling me those lies. I need to remember that I am a child of God and he made me and loves me. Thanks for the encouragement today!
Thanks for the encouragement. I can be my own worst enemy with the thoughts of negativity about myself.
These bible verses are timely. I tend to be a people pleaser. I compare myself to others and i’ll get either envious or critcal.
I have a hearing loss. God allowed me to have several conditions that should make me seek and depend on him daily. He allowed my life to be what it is and that he made me this way for a reason.
It’s so easy to start comparing ourselves with others. I have three little boys, and I am NOT a tomboy and never was. I compare myself to other moms who love the extra activity and noise that comes with little boys and feel like I come up short. I need to remind myself constantly that God chose me to be their mother for a reason, and that I am equipped for the job. Thank you for the scriptures today.
Your message really made 1 John 5:18 come to life for me. I truly am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. My future is sealed. All that comes against me must bow to the will of God for my life. That just gives me such peace. Christ has determined my path and nothing can take me from the calling he has given me. It is not by my strength that my God works but by his divine eternal power! Through Christ, I am now unstoppable, untouchable and unable to fail! Praise God!
I spent part of this morning copying the FM thoughts onto index cards. It feels good to focus on who loves me, who I belong to..There was joy in my heart reading ch.6 monday. I have to say, it surprised me how angry I felt just now reading about how the devil (that weasel) worked against me when I was just a defenseless little girl). What really made me mad is he continued to tell me lies as I grew up and I fell for each and every one. Well, the jokes on him. God chose me to be His Oct 13,2003. I was a slow learner but I’ve got it now. I can see how necessary it is to build my defenses and keep reminding myself that God is in control. I will keep telling myself who I belong to, who I am in Christ and why I am secure and Who makes me significant. Thank you Renee for A Confident Heart. I’ve never done a bible study online but God brought me to yours so I can continue to grow and develop a confident heart.
Renee,
I love that scripture about comparisons. The funny thing is, if we really meditate on the truth about our uniqueness, and how special we are in God’s eyes, it might sink in and then we wouldn’t want to be like anyone else! Part of the way our enemy gets us is by telling us that it is selfish to bask in the knowledge that God loves us just the way we are–character traits, personality quirks and all. Besides, the world would be so boring if we were all the same!
Thanks for sharing this encouragement!
Selena
This topic is something I struggle with often. Living in a foreign culture I am always alert to how I think we’re being perceived. As I watch other women in ministry, I often see qualities that I envy and feel that if I had those qualities the Lord could use me so much more. I’m so thankful for the Lord’s frequent reminders that He has equipped me to serve Him and is faithfully transforming me into His image. One of my Bible college professors used this theme verse often and I have come back to it time and again. Thank you for such a well-expressed reminder.
Just found your website today – what a wonderful reminder of how each of us are God’s special creation and He takes delight in each of us! This fits perfectly with the message at church this Sunday which talked about our uniqueness and to be grateful for who we are – not to envy or compare ourselves to others but celebrate our own special gifts. I know it’s a message that God’s wants me to take to heart! Thanks for the encouraging words and the scripture reminders.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
I have been under attack from his lies for some time now and everyday I give God the praise and glory for not giving into them. I know he cannot touch me but it has not stopped him from giving up yet. Thank you for sharing and caring about women!
Love all of it & shared it! Thank you!!!
The verse in Ephesians about me being accepted and being God’s child. I’ve been struggling with that for a while…could God really love me after all I’ve done? Satan has been feeding me lies about myself (and I’ve let him do it…my voice has now taken over for him) and its left me feeling broken, sad, hopeless. And that was the verse that stuck out for me. I need to know I’m accepted for who I am…no works, nothing can separate me from God’s love. Thanks for this compilation. I will definitely keep this handy so I can refer to it whenever I need a confidence boost!
These last two chapters have really hit home for me as God is showing me that I have been VERY focused on myself (my insecurities and weaknesses and inabilities and fears and worries) and so badly need to get my focus back on HIM. So much that I even needed to turn around the identity list… Instead of it being about my identity I needed to make it about GOD. : )
For example: Romans 8:31–39 – Instead of “I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love.” I’m turning it to “God has set me free from condemnation and will not let anything separate me from His love.” John 15:16 means God has chosen me and appointed me to bear fruit for Him.
I went through the whole list and it felt like a profound exercise in getting my focus back on Him. I am thankful God led me back here to help me do that today and suspect He might want me to go over that list daily for a while til my eyes are reflexively back on Him instead of myself. Thank you for faithfully reminding us of that.
Thank you so much for this devotion I can’t begin to express how much I needed it today.
I never felt good enough when I was growing up and I never really knew why. Your article on opened my eyes that I am accepting lies from Satan and comparing myself to others. THANKS
Thank you Renee for your book A confident heart, The biggest mistake I have ever made was to place my eyes on man, humans, “husband” to be exat, I cried through chapter 4, and now 5 and 6 are no different, how much I still have to learn, I Praise God that the work He has started in me- He will bring to completion, Thank you for reminding me that it is HE and HIM only that is in control of my life- I have totally surrendered to HIM, Renee, God Bless You and thank you for sharing your life with me ❤❤❤
Praying for you sweet Michelle! I know your pain. Jesus wants to hold you and love on you through this. He is there. Hope is on the way!
I was teased from the time I started first grade at age 5 by my older sisters, who told me I was ugly, stupid, and that no one liked me. It got to the point that I only spoke to them when I had to, they made fun of everything I said. When I was old enough I joined the Navy and gained so much, they had no preconceived notions of me, accepted me at face value. I had an Aunt who took me to church as a child and after joining the Navy I started going to church again. I came to know Christ at 32 and have been growing in him and as an individual for the last 21 years. We have recently taken in a young lady of 25 and her 3 year old daughter as she goes through some of lifes struggles. It has opened my eyes to areas in which I need to grow. Day by day and step by step we grow stronger in our Lord.
Thanks for sharing today. What a great reminder of whose I am and what I am in Christ.
Romans 8:31–39 I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love.
As a child I had buck teeth, and while this may not seem like such a bad thing to adults, as a child it set me apart. I was a target for taunts, and teased horribly daily. It got to the point that I didn’t want to even go to school. I cried the day I got braces on, I was so happy. I thought it would stop the teasing, and after all weren’t the people in high school more grown up anyway? Instead I traded the hurt of teasing, for betrayal by a friend, and was shunned by those who I had though were my friends. They bought into my former friend’s lies about me without even asking me a single question. A lot of time has passed since then, but my mind is still stuck in the mode of little girl with buckteeth who felt ugly, and the teen who was betrayed. I have a hard time trusting people, and an even harder time looking in the mirror, and loving the woman that I see. However, back then I looked to others to validate me, and fill me up, but since I started this study I have been letting the Lord fill me up, looking to His truth, and what he says I am. Although I haven’t completely overcome the past, I no longer believe it is the truth about me. Indeed I am “free from condemnation”, and I wont believe the lies of others! God loves me no matter what others think of me, and in his eyes I am beautiful.