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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Hi Renee,
I read your P31 devotional this morning, and it really spoke to my heart. The Lord’s been talking to me lately about this issue of confidence vs. insecurity. I listened to Part 2 of a six-part series by an author named Mary DeMuth. The subject was healing. I didn’t expect the Lord to speak to me about confidence in this series, but He did. He spoke to me through Mary about being “healed” of insecurity by trusting in Him and not being afraid/hesitant to do His bidding because of what others may say/think. Also, I’ve been doing a devotional book by Susie Larson called “Balance that Works When Life Doesn’t.” A couple of days ago my reading spoke about insecurity. She talked about it as being a form of selfishness–“When our thoughts are wrapped up in all that is wrong with us or all that we lack, we miss what’s beautiful around us and in us. When we are insecure (or prideful, for that matter), we make decisions with ‘me’ in mind.” And, she also spoke about being faithful to do what God’s calling us to do, and not letting what others may think/say hold us back.
Then, this morning, there was your devotional. God does have a way of driving home a point. Doesn’t he? Thanks for having the confidence to write on this topic. 🙂
Blessings,
~Carissa
For many years I’ve struggled with insecurity and self doubt. I’ve really enjoyed the encouraging emails that I receive through P31, and the ones that you submit usually really hit home. I’m so looking forward to reading your book! Thank you so much for the encouragement you allow God to share through you! You are a blessing!
I know I need a revelation that will stick. This habit of self doubt is a complete dead end and it not only hurts me but also loved ones and anyone who would try to get close or know me I’be been here way too long. So glad you cared enough to write and do all you are doing to try to connect and change lives with the hope of how yougot free.
Today I am handing in my resume’ for a teaching position. Your devotional came at just the right time-I am amazed at how God can align these events. This morning as I walked the dog I was reciting in my brain all the possibilities of how I could fail at this job. I received yesterday in the mail two glowing letters of recommendation, I was thrilled. Today I thought perhaps they don’t know the real me, the me that fails or gives up too soon. Thank-you for reminding me of my heavenly Daddy that loves me, wants the best thing for me, has gifted me to work with children. Thank-you! I am printing the devo as a continual reminder. God Bless you!
Been struggling with the feeling of being “less of a mom” than all the others who make it look so easy, oh and those dreadful parenting magazines who threaten that if my children aren’t doing it ALL then surely they will not become successful adults. I’m a slightly ‘older momma’ who didn’t have the first until I was 36 and adopted the second 4 years later. Thanks for remiding me of HIS love and of my own special place in HIS heart.
The 7 Day Doubt Diet devotions have hit me right where I live. The encouragement that
it is giving me to find my worth in God is invaluable. It has also helped me
to realized that my doubts & insecurities didn’t necessarily originate from the
people around me but from Satan. I especially enjoyed the interview with
with Jennifer Rothschild. Thank you Renee for your blogs & devotions.
You asked us to leave you what was on our heart after reading this and first and foremost, the power of God and how he guides us to the right place. I am a subscriber of Lysa’s blog (and yours too now) and I was led to your blog today through her. I almost deleted her email but God nudged me to read it. So I did and here I am! I have struggled with relationships, my weight, my job, my finances, etc. and I knew that there was an underlying factor but I just haven’t discovered it yet. God has been dealing with me lately on some of these things but I just seem to keep hitting a dead end or failing again. Reading your blog and listening to the trailer for your book, makes me think that all of this could come from a lack of confidence. As I stated on Lysa’s blog earlier, I almost feel like I am so self-conscious sometimes that I make myself awkward for others to be around. I am pretty sure that I can pin point the time in my past that has brought me here but I am not quite sure how to break the curse. I have carried it now for 20 years and I am so ready to be free. I want to be happy in my body, happy with who I am, secure in my relationships and feel like a winner not a loser. So, that is some of what is on my heart today. If I were to share it all, it may take days. The bottom line is I feel like God has written me a little love note today that says, “this is where you struggle sweet daughter” and this book is just a piece of what He wants me to know.
I don’t have anything eloquent to say. I am simply interested in reading your book. Possibly it is a book everyone should read.
A thought that came to me one day while driving to work, praying about my people pleasing tendencies, is that when we worry about what other people think, we are placing them before God and making those people god of our lives instead of Jesus. Thanks so much for writing this book! I cannot wait to get a copy!!
Hi Renee. the scripture that popped out to me today was Philippians 1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me. ~ I have to believe that I am destined for good things! I have gone through a lot of things in my life but just to share a few, since i was a teenager i was physically and verbally abused by boyfriends. Then I joined the Army in hopes to “get away” from things. I ended up getting deployed to Iraq, where I was raped and mistreated by my superiors, and got injured. then I met someone who i thought was “the one” I had a baby who was a preemie and had several issues going on with her (she’s had 5 surgeries before she was 3yrs old) the Dr’s told me she was going to die. but by the grace of God, she is still here with me and healthy! but then her dad left us when she was 1 and hasn’t seen her in almost 4 years. so i’m a struggling single mom to say the least. I admit i lost faith for a while but one day my girl told me that she was in heaven with jesus and the angel’s and she saw me praying for her when she was sick and that “he”asked her if she wanted to stay with him or come to me. I was in awe! and found my way back to HIm. i still get real depressed though and sometimes find it hard to work full time and raise my daughter. I struggle financially, physically and spritually. ( i need to keep reminding myself that God loves me, and will complete the good work he started in me) i would love to win a copy of your book, as i believe it will help me in my journey. have a blessed day 🙂
I loved your devotional, and I realize how those thoughts and fears and doubts whispered by the evil one can steal my peace. They cause us to doubt, to compare, and to invariably feel as though we don’t measure up. But it is not true! God made each of us just as He wants us to be, and through trust in Him we will grow to become the women He made us to be.
Satan’s lies can cripple. Thanks for the encouragement and reminder who I am in Christ!
I need to remember that I am God’s workmanship. When I am criticizing myself, I am criticizing His handiwork.
the line that says how Satan’s lies cause 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,” really spoke to me. It reminded me of the times I’ve heard the story of Peter going to Jesus on the water – how he was able to walk on the water just like Jesus as long as he kept his eyes on the Lord, but as soon as he looked away, he began to sink. It’s a good reminder of keeping the focus on Jesus – it’s all about him, always about him.
The other things that really spoke to me were the verses you listed that talked about how there is no condemnation in Christ. Such a wonderful reminder of how blessed I am and how much I don’t deserve it!
This whole topic is something that rings so heavy in my soul. I feel my confidence has been shaken to its core. I have nothing in my past to contribute to these feelings. Your comment about satan disguising his voice as our own really made me stop and think. I’ve never thought about that before. Would love to read your book.
I’m going to re-post what I posted to your facebook page……I can’t put it any better than this except to say that my foray into the world and my family today turned out fine because I took Jesus with me and left the whispers of Satan behind.
I try so hard to live by God’s measuring stick now, not the worlds, not my family’s and even not the one that has been planted in my head for many, many years. I will never, ever measure up to the stick I am measured with by my family……….I’m never good enough, do enough or give enough according to their measurements…….in the world I am not pretty enough, thin enough, rich enought, etc. When I focus on God and what He has planned for my life and when I strive to walk the narrow path, that is when I know that I am on the right track. Heading off into the world today……that contains much of my family…knowing I am protected by the One who sees me like Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for making this possible.See More
Today, I had decided I was done with how I’d been living. So I started searching for a devotional online. I’ve been lazy, my mind has turned against me, my husband feels like giving up, and I’m broken. I’ve been away from God for far too long. Your devotional really spoke to me today. It was just what I needed to hear.
Two verses spoke to me as I read your blog. The first is Romans 8:28 and the second is 2 Timothy 1:7. I have lived my life constantly stuffing the good and bad way down deep and never dealing with anything. Some medical issues have caused me to be home. I truly believe this was God’s way of getting me to slow down and look at Him and not the world. Since I have had alot of time at home it has brought up all the ugly things that I have “stuffed” and “pushed” deep down inside that has caused anxiety, worry, doubt and fear. The “not good enough” feelings and emotions. These two verses are ones I am going to read several times a day as reinforcement to keep pushing forward.
Just catching up on some of the Prov 31 posts after being on vacation. This post was just what I needed as I go in to a busy ministry season at my church. Thanks for the great reminder of who I am in Christ.
I recently re-entered the workforce this summer and I know that I know that God has His hand upon it because it’s such a perfect fit for my personality and abilities. However, I have been bombarded with all of the doubts that you list in your doubt analysis. I’m so thankful that God directed my path to your book… that He directed you to even write the book in the first place. I am encouraged by your words, and have found hope that I can get rid of these doubts once and for all. Thanks!