Do you ever wonder why you didn’t get the gift of confidence like others you know? I used to feel slighted by that. But over time I realized there was more to confidence than just being born with it.
Lasting confidence comes from knowing and believing that our value isn’t determined by our performance or competence. But that is not always easy to believe because we have an opponent who will do all he can to convince us otherwise.
Some avoid talking about the devil because they don’t want to give him too much attention. But I think it’s important that we realize we have an enemy. The Bible calls him the accuser of the brethren. Satan loves to accuse us and make us feel worthless so that we never become all that God created us to be!
One of the ways he works is by getting us to doubt ourselves. In my P31 devotion today, I shared how a few years ago I realized I was going along with the enemy’s schemes every time I’d do something wrong and then ask: What’s wrong with me?
A few years ago, it dawned on me that every time I asked, “What’s wrong with me?” I was actually telling myself something was wrong with me. Then I would try to figure out my elusive fault so I could change it or hide it. Do you ever do that?
It’s not what God wants us doing to ourselves, but Satan loves for us to focus on all that is wrong with us (real or perceived) so that we become consumed by self-doubt and condemnation as a result. Peter tells us what we need to do about him: “Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8, GW).
Keeping Our Minds Clear
Jesus says in John 14:26 that God has given us an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to teach us everything and to remind us of all that Christ said. The Holy Spirit lives in us as believers, and He is great at helping us keep our minds clear. Let’s ask Him daily to clean out the clutter of insecurity, pride, and Satan’s lies in your thoughts and replace them with the clarity of Truth.
Staying Alert
We can stay alert by listening to our thoughts. If our thoughts are against us, then our feelings will be too. What we think determines how we feel, and our feelings often determine how we live.
Think –> Feel–> Live
However, with the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Promises, we can ask Jesus to change the way we think, which will change the way we feel and eventually transform the way we live!
The next time you start having negative feelings about yourself, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you’re thinking that is making you feel that way. Then compare your thoughts about yourself, or the circumstances you are in, to God’s thoughts. Do they match? If not, find a promise in God’s Word to replace the lie that has filled your heart with self-critical thoughts For instance:
- When you feel defeated, focus on the truth that God says, “In all these things [you] are more than [a conqueror] through him who loved [you]…” (Rom. 8:37, NIV)
- When you feel worthless, focus on the truth that God says, “You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you.” (Isa. 43:4, NIV)
- When we feel inadequate, focus on the truth that God says, “’You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.’” (Isa. 43:10, NIV)
If we have Christ in us because of our faith in Him as our Savior, then we have God’s power and promises available to live with a confident heart!
* If this is an area of your life you sense God leading you to dig deeper into, more about this part of my journey and this topic are in chapter 6 of A Confident Heart,
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As part of a little celebrating we’re doing at my house, (see note below) we’re giving away 5 copies of A Confident Heart along Confident Heart Scripture stickies we’re having created this month!! Just leave your name or a comment to enter by clicking on “Share Your Thoughts” to let me know what God has you thinking about after reading this post, or my devotion. I’ll be reading your comments today and praying for you. It would be my honor to do that.
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Today my family and I are celebrating some “only God could do this” news we recently received…over 20,000 copies of A Confident Heart are in the hands of women around the US, and it’s now being published in Korean!! We’re totally blown away – that in the midst of my father’s passing, my daughter’s speech disorder diagnosis and my mom’s hospitalization all during my book release – God is doing immeasurable more than we could even imagine. I know part of it is women reading reviews and hearing from other women so I want to thank you for sharing those, too. JJ and I love reading the stories in the reviews and seeing what God is saying to your hearts through the words He poured through mine in each chapter!!
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Renee, thank you for all that you’ve endured to write this book! You’ve shared that it wasn’t easy and your family struggled through that year. I, for one, am immensely grateful that you chose to endure and keep going (and your family, too, thank you!)…because what God has done through your writing is tremendous. There aren’t words enough to describe how God is using this book to show me things about my own heart, life, journey — it’s transforming, Renee! And it’s really oh so very good! The lessons I’m taking away from every chapter are so valuable — I feel as though I’m finally getting into the realm of being the Jesus Girl who God dreamed me to be and I’m walking in the right direction. 🙂 Blessings to you and your family! When we get to Heaven one day, I am going to give you such a big hug!
I just watched your vlog post over at Melissa Taylor and you mentioned your starting up another round of Confident Heart. When will that be? Sadly,I’ve kinda have missed most of Melissa’s study.
Thanks so much for you timely video message God used you and spoke directly to my heart:-)
thank you for the post and the book offer. too often I doubt myself and am having to retrain my thoughts to go to God and His word and not the negative stuff
This is me! Iam always asking what is wrong w/ me. i am striving to believe its all about God, not people.
Renee,
Thank you for always speaking life to my Spirit and encouragement to my soul. I leave your page with renewed confidence time after time. It amazes me how so much of what you write is my story, too. 🙂 I guess that makes us soul sisters. 🙂
Love,
shelly
Renee,
I can’t thank you enough for writing this book. I can’t tell you how much I LOVE your book! I have never had confidence I needed to except myself as I am. I always thought that I was not pretty, smart, or able to measure up to those around me. This book is helping me let go of everything that has held me back from living and loving life to the fullest and letting God be in complete control. As i read each chapter I feel like everything I have gone through had been written on the pages. I could feel God nudging me to get your book and read it. There is so much highlighting in the book, that the pages are turning yellow. I have also recommended this book to several people and I know they bought copies. Thank you again!!!
Thank you so much for this. I’m a professional musician and have struggled with confidence for my entire career. God has been working on healing me, slowly but surely, and this post is another step along that journey.
As I read your post, I was convicted about the many times I put myself down to others with my remarks. I realize they are a reflection of what I’m telling myself. I vow today to stop doing that as I believe it discredits the God who made me.