Ever feel like someone is telling you that you can’t measure up? That something is wrong with you?
If so, have you ever stopped to ask, “Who is saying these things? Who is causing me to doubt myself? Is it me? Is there something from my past that led me to believe this? Or is it the enemy of my soul disguising his voice as my own?”
Satan is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him (John 8:44). Oh how he loves when we believe his deception and fall into the ditractions of feeling inadequate and insecure.
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.
In his book, Victory Over the Darkness, Dr. Neil T. Anderson says, “The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!” Here is a compilation of Scriptures Dr. Anderson’s ministry created to remind us of who we are in Christ.
I am accepted . . .
- John 1:12 I am God’s child.
- John 15:15 I am a friend of Jesus Christ, as His disciple.
- Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
- 1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
- 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 8:1–2 I am free from condemnation.
- 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.
- Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
- 1 John 5:18 I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant . . .
- John 15:5, I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
- John 15:16, I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16, I am God’s temple.
- 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 did you need to hear most today? What lie do you need to replace with truth 
as you reaffirm your significance, security and acceptance based not on what you say or do, but on what Jesus said and did for you!
When you’re tempted to measure up today, focus “up” instead and remember Whose you are and who you are – in Him!
Slip me a note and let me know what’s on your heart as you read this and/or my devotion through Proverbs 31 Ministries today. Simply click on “share your thoughts” below this post and your note will be placed in the drawing for our…
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I am so enjoying your site and your 7 day doubt diet. I feel called by God to do a ministry but keep putting it off. I often don’t feel I can do as well as others have in the past and I am allowing Satan to whisper those lies to me. I am going to start replacing those thoughts with some of the scripture you outlined. Thank you. I know God will finish what He has started.
As I am taking steps forward in life following a divorce earlier this month after nearly 30 years of marriage, I really treasured this verse: Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ. I am learning again who I am in Him – Thank you Lord! Thank you for your encouragement.
This is exactly what I needed to hear!!!! Thank you, Renee!
I woke up this morning in a mental place of self doubt and feeling that God is not near. I know God is feeling my pain and doesn’t leave my side. But it’s something I struggle with especially since I am looking for employment and dealing with the recent loss of my unborn child. This morning I read your post via Encouragement for Today, which I receive everyday but don’t read everyday. God spoke to me through your message. As a result, I turned to the Bible to lift my spirits rather then wallow in self doubt. Thank you. All Praise Due to the Father.
Thank you so much for sharing your God given gift of writing and encouraging. I really needed this message as I do tend to compare my life to my friends…If only I could be a mother like her…If only my kids would behave like hers…If only…If only…If only… I need to focus on what God has in store for me and me alone. My job is to be the best wife, mother, friend and child of God that I can be, I just need to rest in His truths. Thanks for the reminder in the verses you shared.
Just LOVE this. Thank you!
I like to do have a small Bible study with your book. This book speaks to! This is my favorite versus Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me, and I remind myself every day, because yes I have doubts: am I being a good Christian mother, wife, leader, follower. I pray for God to fill me up!
This is such a helpful reminder — Satan is the father of lies. I *know* this in my head, but why does my heart forget?! Thanks for the post! Your book is on my to-read and to-purchase list.:)
I could not wait to read your book ever since last week when I read your other devotion concerning doubting ourselves. I already ordered it. (However, I’m sure I could find someone to share with if I won this one.) I just wanted to let you know that this is so incredibly encouraging, and so very timely for me. Thank you for being a vessel for God to use and bless others through!!!
You were preaching to me today, sister! I am so guilty of self doubt and insecurity, when I know deep down I am His creation and so blessed. I need to remind myself of Eph. 2:10 I am His workmanship. Makes me realize my insecurities are sort of a slap in the face to Him! Can’t wait to read the new book!
Renee, Thank you for this devotional today. What a great reminder that we need to hear again and again!
Thank you for the devotional today. As an older Christian I still face the need to know that I am accepted. ! Cor. 6:19-20 tells me that I have been bought with a price and that I am a temple of the Holy Ghost. Wow! After reading passages of the Bible for years, sometimes they just stand out in a new light to me. Even when life’s road is not smooth and things are not the way “I” want them to be, I must pause and be thankful that I am accepted into God’s holy family and can fully belive HIs promises.
All I can say is WOW – I am so guilty of this. I try so hard not to compare, but it creeps in time after time. I have tried to be content with what God had given me and rest in the knowledge that He is enough, but I still get tempted to compare. Just when I have become content, it starts creeping in again!!! Looking forward to your book – sounds like some amazing truth we all need to hear!!!!!!! Thanks for your minsitry!!!!!! Staci
Thank you for sharing this encouragement today. So often the lies seep in and attempt to discredit the reality of who I am in Christ. Many thanks for this beautiful reminder of the riches which are mine through Him.
Thank you so much, Renee. I find myself constantly comparing myself to others. We all have a tendency to think that the grass is greener for someone else. That’s not true. We all have our trials and struggles. Those are the things that God uses to build our character. This reminds me a lot of Laura Story’s song, “Blessings.” We sometimes wonder why does she have this and I don’t. For some unknown reason, God did not give it to us. He decided it was best for us to have the things that we have and not what he gave to someone else. He knows what he’s doing. It ‘s just sometimes hard for us to understand why he does the things that he does. With a truck driver for a husband and a two year-old at home, I find myself constantly wondering what God was thinking. But, it helps to remind myself that “I can do all things through Christ.”
I love coming down early in the morning to read your thoughts for the day. It starts my day out on a positive note of encouragement. It gives me confidence that no matter what happens today to tell me otherwise, I can handle it because my Father is with me and gives me strength. I am a daughter of the King and the accuser can’t change that fact. Thank you for ministering to all of us who need reminding and help chasing away insecurity.
I love your question; “Who is saying these things”. I literally wanted to turn around and “look” to see who my accuser was. I know God doesnt think these things of me, but i definitely deal with doubts and insecurites often. Thank you for reminding us who we are in Christ.
Thank you for your thoughts Renee.
Today I was encouraged by Ephesians 2:10 – I am God’s workmanship.
I have slowly overcome many of Satan’s lies that were literally taking over my life a few years back, but my negative attitude towards my physical appearance has continued to be a struggle. The idea that I have been made beautiful by God’s hands has continued to be a really hard concept for me to grasp. But I am God’s workmanship. No matter what society may tell me or what other people may think, I am beautiful, because I was created by the one and only true and perfect God. And that is a very good reason to push Satan’s lies aside and praise God!
I am excited for your book to come out. A must read!!
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Hello Renee, thanks so much for what you’ve shared. Your words are so inspiring and such a great channel for God’s Word to flow through.
The promise that spoke to me most this morning was this:
Philippians 1:6 – I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.
I keep worrying that with my weaknesses and huge egoism I stand in God’s way and thwart all His efforts to have me bring fruit. I try with all my heart to cling to Him in all my doings, but I’m terribly low on self-esteem and it always seems to me that I’m throwing away all the chances I get from Him.
Thanks so much for reminding me that He WILL complete the good work He started in me.
Have a blessed day, Renee.