Truly Treasured {And a GIVEAWAY!!!--You Don't want to Miss!!}

Her sunlit silky straight hair bounced delightfully on her shoulders as we strolled around the neighborhood circle.  Her stroll was more of a skip-like dance as she zipped by grass patches neatly trimmed and tidy.

She paused briefly as her eye caught a glimpse of golden treasure sparkling in the sunlight.  Wide-eyed and giddy, she bent down and picked up her treasure.  Clinching her fist, she held the new found treasure tightly.

Her excitement bubbled over like a fountain without containment as she gently opened her palms to reveal the treasure she had found.

"Mom!  I have a surprise for you!", she exclaimed with joy! "Come see what I have for you in my hands!"

She opened her hands to announce her precious find. Within her hands lay a dry, crinkled dandelion.  However, to her, this dandelion was not a tattered yellow weed, it was a dazzling treasure miraculously found growing amid the boring green patches.

"The Lord will hold you in His hand for all to see--a splendid crown in the hand of God."  Isaiah 62:3 

The Lord holds you in His hand.  You are His treasure, "a splendid crown", securely fastened in His hand.

You may feel like a dry weed, but He doesn't see you as crinkled and tattered.  He sees beauty.  His creation. His treasure.

Today, I want to offer you a chance to win this beautiful wallet I purchased at the Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference last weekend.  The conference was amazing and I wish I could have taken all of you along with me (how fun would that be!).  However, since that isn't possible, I wanted to bring you something back.

Isn't it cute!!  

To enter, all you have to do is "Like" my Facebook page and share this link on your Facebook page.  

If you have already "liked" my page, then all you need to do to enter to win this gift is share it on your Facebook page then go to my page to comment on this post to let me know you shared.  

You have until Friday to share.  I will be drawing the winner on Saturday morning and will announce the winner here! 

A wallet holds treasure.  I pray that every time you hold your wallet in your hand, you will be reminded that the Lord holds His greatest treasure in His hand, you.

You are Acquitted

Day 14:

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?  Has no one condemned you?”

 

She said, “No one Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11

We have an accuser and his name is Satan.  Our accuser would like nothing better than to defraud the name of Jesus.  

Jesus doesn't accuse us.  When the enemy can get us to agree with him that Jesus condemns us, he is indeed seeking to disprove our Lord and claim that Jesus is our accuser.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  

Jesus defends His daughters and raises them out of the dirt.  The context of the verse above was that a woman had been caught in the act of adultery.  The "religious people" of that time had drug her out and thrown her in the dirt to stone her to death.  Jesus stepped in and saved her.  

Jesus stepped in and saved us.  Don't let the enemy or "religious people" condemn you.  Jesus doesn't.   He carried away our shame on the cross. He was beaten so we could be made whole and healed.  He was accused so we could be acquitted.

Child of God

Day 3:

You are a child of God

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."  John 1:12



For those of you just joining us, we are on day 3 of 40 days of finding our true identity.  It just so happened that the memory verse for the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study Limitless Life lined up perfectly with today's verse for finding our true identity!

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be the daughter of a king, a princess?  My little girl is seven and just the other day she was telling me how she would love to be a princess and live in a castle.  I would venture to say most little girls dream about being Cinderella at one point or another.

When an earthy prince or princess is born, it is not of their own power.  They didn't do anything to become royalty.  They were simply born into royalty.   And as a result of their birth, earthly princes and princesses receive certain privileges and rights as heirs in their kingdom.

When we were reborn into our heavenly inheritance, it was not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13). When we received Christ and believed in His name, we became royalty not by any effort on our part, but by the power of God.

We became a child of the Most High King.

Rest on that thought for just a moment.

God.  The One who created the Universe.  The One who formed the seas and separated them from the land. The One who existed before time began.  The One who carefully placed every star in its space.  The One who measured the distance from galaxy to galaxy.  The One who formed mankind out of dust and breathed life into our beings. That God loves us and calls us His.

It is amazing to imagine that He (most powerful Being in the Universe!) could love us as His own child.  Yet, He does.  And He doesn't get it wrong like some earthly parents do.  He is a loving and caring Father, who longs for a close, intimate relationship with you, His child.  He never gets it wrong.  He will never leave.  He will never reject.  He will never abandon.  He is love.  He is waiting with open arms.

As children of God, we have a spiritual birthright and are heirs of His Kingdom. Because of our birthright in Jesus, we have been given spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).  Since we are His children, we are His heirs.  We are heirs with Christ of God's glory.

We may have all dreamed about being Cinderella at one time (and for the record I love Disney fairy tales). But I have to say, Cinderella, your fairy tale is a shoe short.  We don't need a fairy god-mother when we have the Father God as the Creator of our glory story.

Father God, Your love amazes me.  You love me as your daughter, the same as You love Your Son, Jesus.  You loved me so much that You sent Jesus to die in my place.  Father I pray that You would surround me with Your love and reveal more and more of Yourself to me.  And I pray that I would rest in the assurance that I am Your beloved child.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.    

You are Light

Day 2:

"You are the light of the world."  Matt 5:14a

Matt 5:14-15 says, "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

Think about New York City at night.  When the night lights of New York are shining, the city is radiant and there is no way to hide it.  If the power goes out, only then do the lights go out and it is hard to see in the dark.  

God created us to be light.  God's very presence is light.  In Revelations 21:23, it says, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."

The Living God lives inside of us and His light is present in us.  He has made us new, bright and shining!

His power is what fuels our light.  As long as we stay connected to our power source, our light shines.

People are attracted to the light inside of us.  They are aware of their need for light in order to find their way. It is hard to see in the dark.

 Father, You said that we are light.  I thank you that Your light is inside of us and I pray that we would shine for You.  I pray that others would be drawn to You in us and would want to move out of darkness and into the Light so they too can see.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

You are Salt

Day 1:

"You are the salt of the earth."  
Matthew 5:13a

Have you ever sat down to a delicious looking meal and bit into it only to realize that it was missing something....salt?  Salt is an important ingredient and without it, there isn't much taste to most foods.  

I did some research on salt.  In ancient times, salt was considered extremely valuable and the lack of it could effect the health of an entire population.  In a world without refrigeration, salt was the only means of preservation.  This fact made it a popular trade item worth its weight in precious jewels and ounce per ounce in gold.   

I found it particularly interesting that about 2500 years ago, salt was a highly valuable commodity in Rome. Roman soldiers were paid with "salt money" or "salarium argentum", which is where the word "salary" was derived. 

So, when Jesus was teaching that we are the "salt of the earth",  "salt" was viewed as one of the most valuable resources of the day.  

However, like food without salt in the ancient times, if we are not sprinkled with the seasoning of God's Word, our spiritual health will decay.  

We are valuable, and as a result, we need to stay in God's Word so we don't lose our "saltiness".  Food without salt is just bland.  As children of God, we need to show the world that God brings flavor to our lives so they too will want to "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Ps 34:8)

Our saltiness or lack thereof, can also effect the health of the population around us.  Please pass the salt...

Would you consider "passing the salt" by sharing this post with your friends today?  

If you would like to subscribe to this blog, you can do so in the upper right hand corner or click here to go to my facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-Free-in-Him/172862542849883    

40 Days of Finding our True Identity

 

This summer I wanted to spend some time going through different scriptures discovering our true identity in Christ.

Currently, I am reading two books.  I am reading Limitless Life by Derwin Grey with Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies and Victory over the Darkness by Neil Anderson.  Both of these books focus on finding our true identity in Christ.

Through Derwin Grey's book, I am finding that I have believed labels about myself that simply are not true. Labels such as failure, afraid, rejected, unloved, unlikable.  These labels or other negative labels, if believed, limit our lives.  These labels are false and do not define us.  God defines who we are and He says we are complete, courageous, accepted, loved, and His friend.

In Neil Anderson's book, he states, "It is not what you do as a Christian that determines who you are; it is who you are that determines what you do."

When we have the wrong labels on us, it determines what we do and like I said above, it limits us and what God wants to do in our lives.  When we believe what God says about us and replace wrong labels with the truth, our actions will reflect our beliefs and God is able to work more effectively through our lives.

So, for the next 40 days or so, I want to focus on identity.  I want us to see ourselves differently, through new lenses by the end of this summer.  I want us to see ourselves as Christ sees us, a perfect reflection of His grace and love.  Who is with me?  Who is in for this 40 days of finding our true selves?!  

Wresting with Identity

"God will put you in a position to wrestle with your identity and choose whom you believe; Him or you."  -Beth Moore

These words changed my life about three years ago as I wrested with God over the new calling and gifting He was revealing to me.

In 2011, I began writing and for months I struggled with whether I had any credence to be writing and who was I to think I could be used by God in this way.

Then, one day these words jumped off the page in a devotional I was reading and I had to make a decision...

Who was I going to believe?  Me or God.

Was I going to believe my own fleshly mind filled with self-doubt?  Or would I believe God.

The most true thing about anything is what God says about it.

Do you know what God says about you?  I want to give you some verses today to look up.  As you look them up, may you discover the most true thing about yourself.

I have no doubt God will also put you in a position where you are forced to wrestle with your identity and choose whom you will believe...you or Him.

1.  1 Peter 2:9
2.  Ephesians 2:10
3.   Zechariah 2:8
4.  2 Corinthians 5:17
5. 1 Thess 5:23
6.  Isaiah 43:1
7.  Isaiah 43:25-26
8.  Isaiah 61:3b

I would love for you to come back and comment on which verse spoke to you!  

True Love Conquers All {With a Frozen Twist}

Love...

The most powerful force there is.   I love Disney movies and princess analogies.  : )

The evil villain places a spell on the princess that can only be broken with... true love's kiss.  The prince comes in to rescue his love by giving her true love's kiss.  She awakens. Evil is defeated.  And true love conquers all.

However, the most recent Disney movie, Frozen, places a new twist on true love breaking a curse, a more accurate depiction of true love.

"Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  John 15:13

I don't want to spoil the movie in case you haven't seen it, but in it there is a selfless act of true love that saves the princess.  She lays down her life in love for another.

Where fear had once dominated and controlled, love set the curse free and true love overcame fear.

Love conquered fear and broke the curse.

Jesus defeated fear and every other scheme of the enemy on the cross.  He demonstrated His perfect love for us by laying down His life for us.  His act of true love conquered fear and redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galations 3:13)

The enemy wants to hold us in bondage to fear. Faith and love work together to conquer fear.  Galations 5:6 says "Faith works through love."

Perfect love casts out fear, and it takes faith to operate in that love.

 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."   1 John 5:10 

We have Jesus' conquering kind of love inside of us!  (1 John 4:12)  Fear flees when we choose love.

Rest in His love today, His love abides in you.  Give it away.  Love will drive fear away.

True love conquers all.  

  

Grasping for Affirmation

I don't know if you believe God speaks through dreams.  He did it in the Bible so there is no reason in my mind to question if He would speak to His children in this day through dreams.  I cannot say it has happened to me often, but it has happened and I believe it happened again a couple weeks ago.

I thought I was fine.  I thought I had overcome a fear I had for 30 years of my life, the fear of rejection.  I felt secure...well, in certain situations and around certain people.  The truth was that my security was founded on shaky ground.  I had begun to find my security, not on the Rock of my Lord Jesus, but in leadership, position and works.  At church, I was respected and had influence.  However, what would happen if that position was stripped away and the influence I thought I had was unveiled as a shallow wispy foundation of security.

Jesus revealed the truth.  My position was gone and those who I thought loved me and respected me were vapors of affirmation who could not longer be grasped.  In fact, the more I reached out to obtain any kind of affirmation from these ghosts, the more futile the effort. It was like reaching for air that could not be held.   I had to come to terms with the fact that I had been rejected, perhaps not because of myself, but because of other reasons I am not able to understand.  However, the reason does not matter as much as the result.

For months I mourned the loss:  the loss of relationships;  the loss of influence;  the loss of position;  the loss of security; and the loss of affirmation.

The foundation of my flimsy security had been uncovered, and I was falling.

Fear gripped me.  Anxiety over the need for affirmation from others seemed unbearable at times.  I had done nothing wrong, yet I felt like a dog rejected, desperate for a friend, anxious to be affirmed and shown love and care.

In reality, I had friends who loved me.  I also had a wonderful husband who would hang the moon for me and three children who adore their Mommy.

But, the accuser highlights what is lacking and echoes our conscience with lies. When we are low, it is easy to forget all the good and become consumed with the negative if we are not wise to his tactics.  We are emotional beings, which is God ordained, but the enemy also uses those emotions against us.

After months of feeling rejected and living with fear, through much prayer, God intervened.  For all those months, He was always so sweet to me, but I couldn't get past what others had done or the rejection.

In the end of December/beginning of January, God reminded me of all I had.  He reminded me of the good friends I have and have had for quite a while.  He reminded me of all my blessings.  He spoke loud and precise through His actions. He hushed the negative voices of the enemy.

However, I still felt the need for affirmation from others.  There were times it would seem as if my breath was quenched and my chest would ache for the need of it.  Then God.

As I stated at the beginning of this post, I had a dream.  Friends, I cannot know for certain that this dream was from God, but I will let you read it and decided for yourselves what you think.

 In this dream,  I was sitting next to a man.  He was talking to me about the need for affirmation.  He wasn't speaking to me as if I needed to hear it, but rather in general terms.  He said that when we look to others for affirmation, that we are placing them as idols above God.  I sat there next to the man and what he said gripped me and I pondered it.  It was as if I knew I was in a dream and wondering if this was a message for me.  I knew to pay attention to what this man said.

I woke up remembering the dream and what the man had said and wondered what it all meant.

"When we look to others for affirmation, we are placing them as idols above God." 

Wow, what a statement!  Was it true?  Was it accurate?

Well, after some thought, I have come to conclude that it is truth.  When we based our security and worth on what others say or think about us rather than what God says about us, we are in some ways saying that what others think or even our perception of what they think outweighs what God says about us.  Isn't that placing them above God?  Please hear me, I am not condemning you if you struggle with fear of rejection or insecurity.  I am only pointing out what I think God has revealed to me because of my struggle with it.  I am right there with you and I need this as much as anyone!

Oh my sweet friends, God doesn't condemn us.  He reveals His truth to us to draw us closer to Him so we can live free in His power and grace.

Maybe it is just me, but if you struggle with this, I want to invite you to pray this prayer with me (and if you don't struggle with it...awesome!  Maybe you can just pray for those of us who do.) : )

Father, we first ask for forgiveness for the ways we have put what others think above Your Truth.  We ask for forgiveness for placing others in a position of idols. Help us overcome all fear.  We pray for the Truth of Your love and acceptance to outweigh any fear of rejection or need for affirmation.  May our affirmation and security rest solely on You, Your love, and Your Word.  We pray that You would grant us according to the riches of Your glory, that we would be strengthened with might by Your Spirit  in our inner man, that we would be rooted and grounded in love, that we may know the breadth, length, depth and height of the love of Christ which passes knowledge and fill us with the fullness of You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Power Verses:  

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galations 1:10

"There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king;
Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.
Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 4:16

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6 (emphasis added)

Related Posts:  Rejection {Part 1}

                           Rejection {Part 2}

When You Need a Bigger Boat

In 1 Samuel 17, we find David about to face the giant Goliath. Now, Goliath was huge.  He was nine and a half feet tall, and you can bet he worked out!  

When David heard about this giant who threatened the Israelite army, he asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"  David showed no fear.  He knew God was on his side.  He had seen how God had helped in the past and knew He would help him in this situation ( 1 Sam 17:35-36).

He faced the giant and spoke to the giant, "The battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands." 

We too have giants we need to face.  They may not be physically nine feet tall, but they can seem just as insurmountable in size.

Like David, we need to know some things before we are ready to face our giants.

What did David know?  What was it that made Him so ready and EAGER even to face this giant with certainty that he would come out victorious?

1.  David knew His God.   He spent many hours in the presence of the Lord.  Before David was a giant slayer, he was a harp player.  He spent many hours singing and praising the Lord in the middle of the meadow.  David had a strong relationship with the Lord, which fed his confidence.

2.  David knew His God was with Him and would help him.  He drew confidence from past victories.  "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." (1 Samuel 17:36).

3.  David knew who he was.  He knew God was on His side and that he was in the army of the Living God.

We too can get in a position where we can confidently face our giants: 

Spend time in the presence of the Lord in praise and worship and prayer.  

Remember past victories where God has provided and proved faithful time and again.  

Know who you are, that you are in the army of the Living God.  You are a child of the Most High.   

Who is this giant who dares defy the child of the Most High, and the army of the Living God? 

Once you are ready to face the giants, call them out.  David had to identify the giant, call him out and face him.  What are your giants?  Fear? Insecurity?  Pride?  Marriage issues?  Children struggles?  Health?

After you have identified your giants, speak to them as David did.  Speak God's Word.  God's Word is a double edged sword and it will defeat those giants.

For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb 4:12)

As I identified my giants, I began to speak to them.  I had many scriptures memorized to help conquer the giants.  One giant in particular was bigger than I realized and I knew I needed more ammo.

I thought back to the movie Jaws.  When they went out to face the "giant" shark, it wasn't until they stood face to face with the giant that they realized they might need a "bigger boat."  David only needed one stone, but sometimes we need a "bigger boat".

Get your Bible out and look up verses to speak to your giant.  I found about eight and wrote them on note cards.  Anytime my giants try to rear their ugly heads, I am going to stand like David did and speak to them.  The spoken Word of God is stronger than any sword and more powerful than any giant.  They have to fall in defeat when hit with the ammo of the Word.

Face those giants and speak to them!

Who is this giant that he should defy the armies of the living God. The battle is the Lord's and He will give you into my hands.  Victory is mine!  (Sue paraphrase)  : ) 

A Confident Heart {Week 6}: When I Fail

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8

Grace.  It may be the sweetest word I know besides the Word, Jesus.

My daughter's middle name is Grace.  When we were naming her, people would ask if she was named after anyone.  She is named after the Lord's grace. 

We fail.  We mess up.  We blow it big time at times!  I am so thankful for God's grace which covers our failures and gives us room to grow.

This week, we read Chapter 10 in A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, "When Doubt Whispers, 'I Can't Follow God Consistently.'"

I used to be terrified of what others thought of me.  I was afraid they would realize I wasn't perfect and then not like me. I use to think I had to pretend I didn't mess up or hide it when I did.

The truth is... we all fall short.  So, why all the pretense?

"'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' 

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest of me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  for when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I am not as spiritual as Paul.  I cannot say I take pleasure in my weaknesses.  Although, I should take pleasure in them because it is through these weaknesses that I realize my need for Jesus. 

Paul said he would rather boast in his weaknesses.  He wasn't afraid of what people thought.  He knew God would be glorified when people saw his humanness and God's POWER at work in him for overcome his weaknesses.  God's strength shines through our weaknesses.

However, Renee points out most prudently that grace is NOT a license to sin. 

"Some people ask if grace is a license to sin.  A confident woman knows that it's not.  Instead, she realized grace is the security of knowing God's love is guaranteed for her because she trusts in Christ.  Really understanding His sacrificial gift accomplishes the opposite of granting a license to sin.  When we grasp what Jesus did for us, we want to return the gift of His life by offering ours to Him, even if our offering isn't perfect or even perfectly consistent."  pg. 187-188.

God knows we are not perfect.  He sees us as who He created us to be, not as who we are.  He sees the potential in us.  If we will allow Him to work in our lives, He will mold us to become all He designed for us to be before the foundations of the world! 

Renee uses Gideon in the Bible to demonstrate an example of God's grace in taking someone from weak in themselves to strong and confident in Him.  For length sake I won't write the story here, but you can read about Gideon in Judges 6:12 through Judges 7: 25.

"God is not looking for a woman who is perfect.  He is looking for a woman who wants to walk with Jesus and find her confidence through her daily dependence on Him."  pg. 201

Reflection and Discussion Questions (pgs 201-202):

1.  Have you ever blown it and felt like God was ready to give up on you?  Do you sometimes doubt God's grace and patience with you?  If so, describe what happens and how doubt perpetuates more doubt and distance from God?

2.  Sometimes life's hardships make it hard to follow God consistently.  Do you ever ask God why life has to be so hard?  What did you learn from Gideon's story?  How can his experiences about asking why and trusting God's promises help you as you take the next step He may have for you?

3.  Have you ever prayed for God to change your circumstances and instead He changed you through your circumstances?  If so, describe what happened and how it helped you grow closer to Him.

4.  What did you learn about the importance of knowing God intimately and experiencing aspects of His character to build your trust in Him?

5.  Describe an area of your life, or role you have, where you feel like a wimp and you want God to make you a warrior.  Through dependence on Him, what would it look like for you to be "more than a conqueror through Him who loves you."  (Rom. 8:37) in that area or role?

I would love for you to share your thoughts on any or all of these questions in comments. 



 

So Long Insecurity, and Good Riddance! + A GIVEAWAY!

Ten weeks have past since we opened the cover of the book So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore.  The words on the pages inspired by the Holy Spirit have held much revelation and encouragement for me and I hope for you as well.

Woohoo!!  SO LONG INSECURITY and may I add, GOOD RIDDANCE.  You really have been a bad friend.

Here are some of the main points from each week:

1.  God created us, He knows our humanity and all our faults and loves us unconditionally. He knows we are but dust.  He has everlasting mercy on us and wants to help us. 

2.  The excellence of the power of God lives in us.  The Spirit of God lives in you.  Do not doubt that you can do what God has called you to do, He has equipped you for every good work. He has chosen you to glorify Him. ( 2 Cor 4:7. Eph 2:10)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  2 Cor 4:7

3.  Some of the most prominent figures in the Bible dealt with insecurity and by God's grace they overcame.  Insecurity is rooted in fear.  Identify what you are afraid of and go to the Lord.  He delivers us from all our fears. 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Ps 34:4


4. There are many roots of security and many run deep.  Rejection is a common root of insecurity.  Our perceptions of rejection are not always accurate.  Whether it is perceived rejection or actual rejection, we need to disregard the voice of rejection and listen to what the Lord says.  He accepts us.  He wants us.  He loves us.  He pursues us.  He fights for us.

No matter what our root of insecurity is, He has made all things new including us. 

5.  We are clothed with strength and dignity.  We are covered by God.  He has called us worthy and honored.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  Proverbs 31:25

6.   Ask God to help you see others through His eyes.  Keep your eyes on Jesus. 

7.  Think of yourself as the one Jesus loves. 

8.  We have the power to choose security.  We can choose to spiral up instead of down by choosing to react a different way when face with insecurity triggers. We don't have to attach insecurity to our hurt, disappointment, uncertainty, humiliation, failures, etc. 

9.  Be mindful of others.  Personalizing people helps disarm your insecurity triggers.  Everyone has insecurity triggers.  Eyes off self and on others and Jesus.  Build others up.  Don't play the comparison game.  Don't do "bad math" (See "Eyes Off Us" post).  

God calls us lovely and has chosen us as His dwelling place.

How lovely is Your dwelling place, Oh Lord Almighty.  Ps 84:1

10.  Trust God. 

Doesn't number 10 just sum it all up nicely?   Thank you for going on this journey with me! I hope you  have enjoyed it as much as I have. 

In celebration of our security in Christ, I am giving away a copy of the So Long Insecurity Journal and small resource book The Promise of Security.

To enter to win the GIVEAWAY, you can do one of the following:

1.  Become a follower of this blog.  I would LOVE for you to become a follower! 

2.  Leave a comment below with your name, so I will know who you are.  : ) 

3.  Share on facebook or leave a comment on facebook link. 

You have until Friday morning at 6:00 am. to enter.  I will announce the winner on Friday.  Thanks to all you SECURE women in Christ!!!  (and men too.. )   : ) 

Eyes Off Us

Last Monday night, we actually discussed two weeks of the Bible study.  It was all too good to put on just one post.  So, here is part two.....


Sometimes we are victims to our insecurity triggers.  Others times, we are the ones pulling the trigger.

Today, at work or school or shopping or at the gym, there are women all around you ALSO with insecurity triggers.  We unknowingly and unintentionally do things to bring out insecurity in others.

I don't want to play a part in pulling the trigger for any of my fellow girlfriends.  However, we all have probably done it at one time or another.  The result is that we all go around a little wounded from being shot at, whether intentional or not.

Insecurity has robbed us of some wonderful female friendships.   Why do we feel threatened by other women?  Why do we compare ourselves to them?  Aren't we all mostly all the same? 

Why do we assume that it takes away something from ourselves if another person is pretty, smart, witty, talented, well-to-do, organized, or well-off financially.  It doesn't take anything from us.  God made us all different and He has given us all different talents, gifts, and abilities. 

Beth Moore talks about "bad math" in her book, So Long Insecurity.  This math concludes:

I tried to talk to her + she didn't seem like she wanted to talk to me= she doesn't like me.

She is beautiful + she gets all the attention= she must be a snob

She's got this + she's got that= I've got nothing.  

She doesn't have this problem + I have that problem= everything is great for her and not for me.

Bad Math - why do we assume because someone else has something we do not have that it means we are less or that we are nothing. 

We need to trust God that He has given us what we need.  He is our provider!  He has promised to give you everything you need. 

We are fearfully and wonderfully made! (Ps 139:14) God created us and put everything in us He wants us to have, and He has a good plan for all of us.  When we trust in His plan and obey Him, we have no need to compare.

Knowing that ALL women have insecurity triggers and many of them are constantly using bad math gives us the opportunity to look outward and upward instead of dwelling on ourselves.  When we go into a situation, look around you, be mindful and aware of others.  Let's get our eyes off of us and onto others. 

Personalize people, get to know them and the barriers go down.  The problem is that we don't allow ourselves a chance at a relationship with someone we feel is superior to us in some way.  They are not.  We tend to be threatened by people we don't know personally because we assume they must be perfect or not have any problems.  Not so.  They too have issues and insecurity triggers.

We have Jesus Christ living inside of us, we should be the most secure people in the world!!

Not only does God say you are loved, He also says you are lovely!

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almight!  Ps 84:1


Let that sink in for a moment.  I've sure you have heard this verse or even sang it.  Have you thought about the location of his "dwelling place"?  It is YOU!  You are His dwelling place! YOU ARE LOVELY!!

Remember Who is inside of you.  He made you lovely.  He chose YOU as His dwelling place.  He could have chosen anything to reside it.  Heaven seems like a nice place to reside.  You are more lovely....what a Treasure you hold.

Walk around today with the knowledge and assurance that YOU ARE LOVELY and YOU ARE A LIVING VESSEL OF THE GREATEST TREASURE. 

This Wednesday will be the last post on this series.  Tune back in Wednesday for a GIVEAWAY!  

So Long Insecurity, Week 7, Playing God

I know this Bible Study summary is a little tardy.  I usually post it on Wednesday, but it just wasn't going to happen this past Wednesday.  This girl was happy to get some much needed catch up rest and study up on the back of her eyelids.

On Monday, though, we did have Bible study.  If you are just now joining us, I have been hosting a Bible study at my home on Monday nights for the past several weeks.  We are now on week 7.  We are studying So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore.  AWESOME BOOK!

This past week, we read about our tendencies to want to play God.  You may be thinking, "Not me, I don't ever try to play God."  Well, girlfriend, maybe you haven't.  However, I discovered that I have been guilty.

God is omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowing).  Both of these words come straight out of the Latin.  Glad my four years of Latin in high school were good for something! 

Only God is all powerful.  Chronically insecure people have a need for power and control over others. Does anyone you know come to your mind?  Pray for them, they most likely are chronically insecure. 

It is essential that we remember that we are not God, we are not all powerful and we cannot control anyone but our own reactions.  Even that is a stretch, we also need the in-filling of the Holy Spirit to help us react rightly and Christ-like.  We cannot even control our own actions correctly without the Lord, so how do we expect to be able to control others. 

The only person we can change is us.  If there are problems in a relationship, the place to start in making positive changes is in ourselves.  We may want to try to change the other person, but we cannot.  Only God can work on a person's heart and pull it in a direction for change.  However, God cannot even force a person to change.  It is ultimately up to the person to decide to work with the Lord to change.  If God cannot even force a person to change, why do we think we can?  We need to work on ourselves, and submit the situation to the Lord in prayer. 

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.   1Thessalonians 5:23-24


When you became born again, praise the Lord, you were made a new creature.  Your spirit was made new. Holy. Blameless. Righteous.  However, our soul (mind) and body are still in the process of sanctification.  You have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  His ability is in you.  Work with the Lord to fulfill what He wants to accomplish in you.  He who called you is faithful to do it.


Thankfully we do not have to play God, He is alive and working in us and will complete what He began in us and others. 

God is also omniscient or all knowing.  Sometimes people try to play God by digging in and trying to find out more information than they need to know. 

Here is an example from the book: A girl broke into her old boyfriend's email account after they broke up to find out if he had been talking to other girls while they were dating.  The Lord had clearly told this girl that this man was wrong for her, but she couldn't just leave it there.  She wanted details.  She discovered not only details but detriment.  What she learned devastated her. 

As Beth revealed, she had eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.  Genesis 2:17
 
It can be tempting to go beyond what God reveals.  We can be deceived that it will bring wisdom as Eve was deceived.  Her eyes were opened and destruction followed. Only God can know everything and handle it perfectly.

Anything we search for beyond what He reveals can lead us down a path towards death.  It may not be a physical death, but of self-worth, emotional or spiritual.  I am not saying that God won't reveal secrets to us because He will.  However, we know when we have crossed over the line of His divine revelation into our own curiosity.  We are not omniscient and we shouldn't try to play God by digging for every fact in every situation. 

We need to let God be God and let ourselves be human.   We are going to make mistakes, but praise the Lord that He is perfecting us day by day to make us more like Christ.

We don't have to be in control, He is.  We don't have to be omniscient, He is.  Phew, what a load off!  A facet of our security comes from knowing the Great I AM is also the Great HE IS.   HE IS everything we need Him to be.  HE IS more than enough.  HE IS GOD and we are not.

So Long Insecurity, Week 5, Clothed in Strength and Dignity

I have to say I am loving this Bible study.  I love the ladies coming, the material, everything.  I am so glad you decided to join us here today.  This week we are talking about our clothing, but not your average clothing.

Clothes are fun!  As women, we love to go shopping and get new clothes. The way we are dressed can definitely impact our outlook.  It can also affect our inlook, meaning how we view ourselves. 

(I know inlook is not a real word...but maybe it should be one.) ; ) 

What we wear can determine how we act, how we walk, or talk.  We just feel a little better about ourselves when we have the right clothing on and our countenance reflects it. 

There is nothing worse for triggering insecurity than when we go somewhere and realize we are under dressed.   Likewise, the same is true if we go to a party and everyone is in jeans while we are wearing an evening gown.  The right clothing helps us feel secure. 

The Bible talks a lot about our clothing, but not our material clothing.  God says we are clothed in salvation, we are clothed with a robe of righteousness (Is 61: 10).  He says to "put on" (as clothes) kindness, humility, patience (Col 3:12).  We learned this week that He also says we are clothed in dignity and strength.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.  Proverbs 31:25

When you think of the term "dignified", who comes to your mind?  I think about our Pastor's wife, Nora King.  I also think about Presidents and first ladies.  Do you think of yourself?

God says we are clothed in dignity.  Doesn't that make you stand up a little taller, throw your shoulders back a little more, and make you feel better than when you have a new outfit to show off?  (I know none of you show off, but just saying.)

When we KNOW we are clothed with strength and dignity, it will cause us to act and react differently to situations. 

Psalms 8:5 says:  God has "crowned (humans) with glory and honor."

A crown is a type of clothing.  We are crowned with glory, honor, strength, dignity."  When someone is "crowned", doesn't that immediately say to you that person is worthy of respect and honor?  That is us! 

God has covered us with His strength and His dignity.  It increases our confidence when we know who we are in Christ, and who God has created us to be.  It not only increases our earthly confidence, it increases our confidence with the Lord. 


Hebrews 4:16 says "come boldy [with free and fearless confidence] to the throne of Grace".  In 1 John 5:14-15 says:


This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.


If we ask ANYTHING according to His will, He will do it.  There are certain things we KNOW are God's will and that is where we can be confident it will be done.  However, we have to "know that He hears us" and believe He will do it. 

You can take this one to the bank--It is God's will for us to be secure.   It is God's will for us to know we are worthy.  It is God's will for us to understand that we are clothed with strength and dignity and to walk in that strength.  If you have been struggling with insecurity, you can begin to pray to ask Him for help.  Ask Him to lead you into security in Him.  He will answer.

He has a brand new outfit waiting for you.  So, stand up a little taller, throw those shoulders back a little more and show off your new outfit from the Lord, the clothing of strength and dignity. 

So Long Insecurity, Week 4: Our Roots

Roots....they go down deep, spreading and burrowing down, becoming our life force.  They are an anchor to us.  Sometimes that anchor holds us securely in a desirable place.  Other times, that anchor needs to be dug up and thrown away.  The later is the case if that anchor has held us back from all God has created us to be.


Credit: Free images from acobox.com







Let your roots grow down into [Christ Jesus], and let your lives be built on Him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the truth your were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 

If we have insecurity in our lives, we have roots of  insecurity.  Some examples of roots of insecurity are:
1. Instability in the home (for example: verbal, physical, emotional abuse or financial difficulty or mental/physical illness)
2.  Significant loss  (person, home, relationship)
3. Rejection
4. Dramatic Change
5.  Personal limitation (disability, scar, etc.)
6. Personal disposition and temperment
7. Our culture and media
8. Pride
 (Source: "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore, Chapters 5 and 6)

Hopefully you are not like me.  I can check "yes" to almost all of the above.   No wonder it has taken a long time to dig out those roots.  I am still digging.

It is difficult to dig deep to get down to the roots of the "why".  It can be painful to go there and sometimes it just seems easier to leave it all alone.

However, God is calling us to higher ground in Him.  He wants to uncover the roots and expose them, dig them out and replant us as a tree planted by rivers of water bearing good fruit in its season (Psalms 1:3).

Don't you know who you are, dear child of God!  You are an Oak of Righteousness, a planting of the Lord, the display of His splendor ( Isaiah 61:3).

Easier to leave it all alone?  Not on your life!  It is not easier to live in fear.  It is not easier to live in bondage.  It is not easier to live held down by the chains of condemnation!  ( I know, I use to be up to my eyeballs in bad roots that held me down!)

No, dear child of God.....the price of leaving it all alone and not forcing yourself to dig down to the roots is a life of bondage.   That price is one too high to pay.

Jesus already paid everything we need to be free.  The only requirement from us is to cooperate with the Lord, and let Him open and heal our hearts.  He won't force Himself in, we have to ask Him and allow Him access to the deepest depths of our brokenness.

Once, I thought I was completely healed of a devastating pain.  The Lord showed me that there were some areas that still needed a deeper touch from Him.  I had closed that wound up.  He revealed to me that He would need to open the wound  to heal it completely and thoroughly.

I pleaded with Him, "Lord, I don't want to go there...it is too painful."   It was painful because I was not completed healed yet.  He needed to re-open the wound to cleanse it with His Blood's healing power. 

Is there an area of your heart you have not allowed God access to because it is too painful?  I encourage you to go to Him in prayer and let Him into the depths of your heart.  He already knows what is in there. It won't surprise Him, I promise.  It may be painful in the moment, but healing and wholeness will follow.  He heals the brokenhearted and brings liberty to the captives ( Isaiah 61:1).

There is a root to all insecurity.  However, we can dig down and with the Lord dig up all those bad roots.  We want our roots to be planted by the Living Water, imbedded deep in the truth of God's Word.

Roots planted deep in the Lord Jesus Christ provide a secure anchor for our soul.

.....You already have everything in you to be secure if Jesus lives in you.


I love this a little further down from the verse above in Colossians 2:10..........

And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 

If you went down the list of roots of insecurity and could identify with them like I could....it is comforting and encouraging to know that He says:

YOU. ARE. ENOUGH.  I will never reject you.  Trust Me, let Me in, let Me heal.  I went to the cross for you, to free you.  I love you no matter what.  Nothing, nothing can ever separate you from My love.

How about it?  Will you let him heal?  Will you let him into the deepest parts of your wounds?  Healing awaits. Security follows.

So Long Insecurity, Week 2 + A GIVEAWAY!

 A nice quiet, relaxing evening.  Hours of quiet time spent before bible study tonight preparing my heart.  A peace surrounded my home and filled my soul.  Or.....not.

Chris was out of town tonight on business, so it was only me and three little munchkins.  I adore my munchkins, but tonight they were not so adorable.  The drill is, they go to bed and then the ladies come over for bible study.  At least, that is how it is suppose to happen.  Not tonight. 

Throughout the whole time with the ladies tonight in my living room, we heard little footsteps parading around upstairs.  Through the ceiling, we heard small giggles muffled in failed attempts of being discreet in their "secret" play.

Oh, what is a mother to do?  It was still a good night with the ladies.  God can work in less that perfect conditions.  God can still do heart surgery even when the environment is not sterile.

The kids are just now finally in bed.  Only 3 short hours later. Ahem.  Needless to say, there will be no Wii this Wiikend in the Molitor home.

Thankfully, my security is not defined by if my kids go to bed when they should. Oh, how thankful I am. 

Tonight (amid the frequent footsteps overhead) we discussed how to define "Insecurity"?

Fear, not secure in oneself, not secure in who you are, unsettled in a situation. 

Beth Moore's one-word description is self-sabotage.

Let's look at self-sabotage for a moment.  Do you feel like you do that in your relationships?  We discussed tonight about expectations in friendships or relationships.  Sometimes our expectations are so high that we set ourselves (and the other person) up for failure.

A few years ago, I read a wonderful book by Don Clowers titled Right and Wrong Expectations in Friendship.  People are people and they will disappoint us, they will let us down.  How we respond is what matters.  He says in this book:

         "Our best course of action is to expect nothing and to receive each response as though it were a
         gift to be enjoyed and treasured."

This approach allows us to give grace to our friends.

We all need relationships.  We can say "All I need is Jesus" and sound very spiritual.  However, as one of the ladies said tonight, "We need some love with skin on it." : ) Yes, we do!

God knows that.  He made Eve to be with Adam.  He puts the right people in our lives for us also.

However, it is false to believe people can make us secure.  There are many false assumptions (Beth calls them "False Positives") that attempt to make us believe we will be secure.  They fail as much as my kids did tonight at trying to be discreet in their "secret" play.

These false assumptions are "if only's."  You know......If only I was thinner. If only I was rich. If only I was popular. If only I were married. If only I had that job. If only I had a different career. If only I had more eduction.  If only my kids would go to bed when they were suppose to.  *sigh* ; )
If only............, then I would be secure.

No, we wouldn't.  True, some of those may help for a time, but only Jesus can give us the internal security that will carry us through the long haul.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  2 Corinthians 4:7  

The excellence of the power of God lives in us!  God's security is already in us and that is why we can be secure.  It isn't based on anything outward, it is based on Christ residing in us.  I said last week that God has given us a Diamond as a symbol of His everlasting love for us.  Jesus is the treasure that lives in us. 

Crystal, a lady from the bible study, gave a great analogy tonight.  She has given me permission to share it with you.

When someone receives a gift from Tiffany's, part of the gift is the signature blue box.  The blue box is valuable because of the treasure it contains.  The recipient does not throw out the blue box because of it's worth.  We are like the blue box from Tiffany.  We hold a great treasure.  We, as vessels (or boxes), are valuable.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 

He created us to perform His plan.  We are His vessels, His workmanship.   He has already equipped us.  He has already placed in us everything we need to do His will.  All we have to do is walk in it.

God has given us the gift of security.  We are the blue boxes that contain it.  I want to give you a gift today as well.  Today, you can register to win a FREE Copy of So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore.  To register, you can leave a comment, become a new follower, or leave a comment on facebook.  (You can do all three if you want!)  I will be drawing the winner on Friday and announcing the winner on Friday's post.  So, tune in then to see if you win! 

ps.  Do you like the new design?!!! 

So Long Insecurity, Week 1

Tonight was a good night.  Preparations had been made.  Prayer over the coffee pot to work properly and not have grounds in the coffee this time.  Carpet vacuumed (thanks to my wonderful husband!). House clean. Atmosphere prepared with prayer. 

Ladies began to arrive at my abode.  Some had hectic days, others more relaxed.  All with a heart for God, longing to grow in Him.  Now I sit with my lukewarm decaf coffee with vanilla cream, (I like it lukewarm. : )  I don't like my relationship with the Lord lukewarm, but I do like my coffee that way. ) reflecting on the conversations that filled the room previously in the night. Oh, and the coffee pot worked!  No grounds!

I love bible study!  LOVE IT!

O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, bless His holy name! 
O my soul, bless God, don't forget a single blessing! 
He forgives your sins --every one.  (Oh this is good...)
He heals your diseases--every one.   (Wow, every one!)
He redeems you from hell--saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy--a paradise crown.  (Can it get any better?)
He wraps you in goodness--beauty eternal.  (Yes, and it does. Oh, how good you are oh God!)
He renews your youth--you're always young in his presence.  Psalms 103: 1-5 (The Message)

That wasn't the part I was going to share, but it was too good not to put in here!  Anywho...here is the part I was going to share:

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 
for He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey his precepts.  Psalms 103:13-18

This last week the bible study read "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore, the Introduction and Chapter 1.  God is so merciful.  He is so loving, compassionate, and patient with us as we grow to become more like Jesus.  He remembers that we are dust and mere humans.  Last week I mentioned that insecurity was sin. Let me say that was not to condemn, but to reveal a truth you may not have thought of before.  God is patient with our weaknesses and He is not mad at us.  He knows our struggles and our shortcomings and He wants us to be free more than we want it for ourselves. 

We all deal with insecurities to some extent.  We all have had to deal with thieves that have stolen part of our security.  Jesus Christ died to give it back to us.   

We cannot get security from how we look (youth is fleeting).

We cannot get security through our jobs or accomplishments.  It does not last.  Someone is always doing something better and we cannot keep up nor should that be our aim.

We cannot get security from another person.  People will always disappoint.  Not that they are bad, just also human.

We cannot get security from a man.  They cannot deliver! They may give us a temporary feeling of worth void of any true substance.  It only harms us to bend ourselves and often our character in order to feel a false sense of validation.  We end up acting or trying to be something we are not only to gain their approval.  I adore my man, but I would be in trouble if I depended on him for my affirmation and approval.  I cannot seek my security from my man and it is not healthy for you to seek internal security from yours.

So, where do we get our security?

But blessed is the man who trusts in the lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green, It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.  Jeremiah 17: 7-8(NIV)

I like the way The Message bible says it:

Blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. 

"The woman who sticks with God." We find our security, our hope, our confidence by trusting in the Lord, by sticking with God!  I like that visual.  It also reminds me of a band-aid commercial jingle....."I'm stuck on God because my God is stuck on me."

"Like a tree planted by the water that sends outs its roots by the stream."   We plant our roots by the Living Water--Jesus.  Never fearing, leaves always green, no worries, always bears fruit.....that is living in the security of Jesus.

It isn't just a fairy tale, it is available for all of us.  I would love for you to join us as we read this book.  I mentioned last week that I am planning to write about it every week after the bible study to share with you what we are learning.  The goal...... to finish this book with an unshakeable confidence in Christ, that He has given everything needed to fulfill His purpose.  There needs to be an unbeatable security filling the space where self-doubt once resided.  "So Long Insecurity....You've Been a Bad Friend."

Kick Insecurity to the Curb

Monday night I had the privilege of having 15 wonderful women of God over to my home to start a new bible study by Beth Moore.  This is the 3rd year of hosting Bible Studies for me and I LOVE IT!  I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to open my home to these women who are hungry to grow in the Lord.  It is a blessing beyond words for me to be a small part of what He wants to do in their lives.

This fall we are reading the book "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore and doing the "Group Experience" workbook that goes along with it.  I know you all cannot come to my home, but I would like to invite you to be a part of this study with us if you are led.  My hope is to write about what we are learning once a week.

You are welcome to come here and be a part of what the Lord is doing by commenting here.  I would love to hear how the Lord is speaking to you.  If you would like to read the book with us, we are reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 for Monday.  I will plan to comment on them sometime next week. 

For now, I will share about the Beth Moore video we watched the other night.  It was from a webcast she did on Security.

For years I was haunted by a voice.  This voice, I learned the other night, was a "bad friend" to me.  This voice would say things to me when I was in a group with other people.  It would say things like, "Why did you say that?", "That person doesn't like you", "You don't fit in here", " You are not good enough to be friends with them", etc.   What a horrible friend!!!  Why would anyone keep a friend like that hanging around? It went with me everywhere I went so you would think we were best friends.  I don't know why I let it hang around for nearly 30 years of my life!

Well, about a year and a half ago, I finally told that "friend" goodbye!  I had had enough!  I told that voice that I didn't believe it anymore and I was going to believe what God said about me, and who I was and not listen to it.  It actually was not a friend, it was the enemy.   Its name is  "Insecurity".  In my case, A.K.A., fear of rejection.

So, I kicked that bad friend to the curb and replaced it with the security of God's love.

To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  
Ephesians 1:6

He has made us accepted in the Beloved.  Friend, we are accepted.  We are loved.  If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31) And I realized that I am God's girl and if anyone rejects me, they will have to answer to Him.  The truth was, though, that all those insecure thoughts of rejection were just that.....thoughts.  They were mostly in my head and not true at all. 

One issue with insecure thoughts is that they are inward focused.  They turn our eyes upon ourself when our eyes should be out and upward focused.  We should be focused on the Lord and on others, not on ourselves.

However, the main issue with insecurity, and why it is vital to overcome and conquer this enemy, is that it is flat out unbelief.  

It is sin, pure and simple. Ouch!  It grieved me to hear it as well.  Insecurity is unbelief and unbelief is sin.  How could it be anything other than sin?  We are not believing who God says we are when we are insecure.  Either we don't know who God says we are or we are not believing Him.  If we just don't know, we need to know.

Further confirmation for this is how God spoke to me when I was dealing with self-doubt as it relates to what God has called me to do.   He plainly told me that I was acting in unbelief as when the Israelites wouldn't enter the promised land because of the giants (Numbers 13:30-33)  This, my friends, is why I am doing the Bible study, "So Long Insecurity".

I want to do all the Lord has for me to do.  I want to be all the Lord wants for me to be.   I want with all my being to fulfill the purpose and plan He has for me.  I do not want to miss it because of unbelief, because I didn't think I could do it!  God lives in me, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!

It is my heart's cry to be free and help others be free to be all God has called them to be!  I am so thankful for His mercy and grace.  I am so thankful for His patience with me as this enemy called self-doubt is conquered.  It has been a bad friend, and I intend to kick it to the curb!  Who is with me?!

 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37