2021-11-14
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV
Ever heard of imposter syndrome? It’s something we can experience when we don’t see ourselves as capable and worthy of where we are, and we think we’re less competent than others believe us to be. The truth is, these feelings of insecurity can stop us in our tracks. When we feel like we’re not qualified for the task we’ve been given, our self-doubt can even make us act in ways that prevent us from completing it successfully, or even at all.
One of the biggest problems with insecurity is that it’s incredibly difficult to acknowledge, so we don’t bring it into the open and can’t work towards overcoming it. We can be afraid of admitting we’re feeling vulnerable because we think that it’ll weaken us in other people’s eyes, give them ammunition to criticise us, and give others an unfair advantage over us.
Insecurity can make it difficult for us to trust others, so we keep them at a distance and miss out on the counsel and support of people who could help us. Insecurity will whisper to us, ‘If people really knew you, they wouldn’t love you, respect you, invite you, trust you, or spend their time and effort on you.’ So we keep hiding it.
But God has provided us with an answer to our insecurities. Paul wrote, ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.’ The first step towards overcoming insecurity is to start drawing our self-worth from God and learning to see ourselves through His eyes. And we can only do that by spending time with Him in prayer and reading His Word each day.
Num 9:15-23; Exo 24:15-18; Matt 17:1-8; Acts 1:9-11
2021-11-13
1 John 4:7 NIV
In any type of relationship, love needs unselfishness and commitment on our part. Real love is self-sacrificing and it means taking the focus off ourselves and centring it on others. And it doesn’t come easily or naturally to any of us. The truth is that we’re all self-centred. In our own natural selves, we’re reluctant to give up things like our time, money, possessions, or skills in order to meet the needs of other people – unless we’re highly motivated or we’re well rewarded for it. That’s why the Bible teaches us that one of the secrets of having a close relationship with someone else is to first have a close relationship with God.
John the apostle wrote, ‘Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (v.7-8 NIV). And God will download that kind of love into our hearts if we ask Him for it. Here’s how He does it: ‘God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5 NIV). This kind of love grows as we mature it. It develops as we feed it. It expands as we persist in it.
The more we show love by putting others’ needs before our own and treating them with the kindness and generosity that God has shown to us, the more our capacity for love will increase. ‘Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them’ (1 John 4:16 NIV). This type of love isn’t dependent on external circumstances or what we can gain from a relationship. This is the type of love that lasts.
2 Chr 1-4; John 10:22-42; Ps 83:1-8; Prov 26:13-16
2021-11-12
Joshua 5:14 NLT
In the Book of Revelation, God emphasised different things to each of the seven churches, because they each had a different assignment and faced different challenges. It’s important to read good books and articles and listen to good mentors and teachers, but however solid their advice is, you mustn’t assume that what God has told them is also a personal message for you. There are times when you need to hear from Him for yourself. It’s fine to take advice from other people, but before making a move, always get confirmation from God first.
When someone shares a word or a message from Him, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s applicable to everyone who hears it. He may be saying to one person, ‘Go ahead and take the next step now,’ but to the next person, He’s saying, ‘Wait, not yet.’ That’s why it’s vital to use discernment, testing what you’ve heard and checking with God. His blessing on what you’re doing depends on you being where He wants you to be, and doing what He wants you to do, and you must get the plan for your life directly from Him.
Paul wrote, ‘We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us’ (2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). You might like the sound of someone else’s task better than your own, but taking on someone else’s purpose is never going to be as effective or successful for you, and you’ll never reach the full potential that God can see in you. If you find you’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, don’t let pride or embarrassment keep you there. Pray, ‘What do you want your servant to do?’ Then, do it!
1 Chr 26:20-29:30; John 10:11-21; Ps 133; Prov 26:7-12
2021-11-11
2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV
One of Satan’s favourite schemes is encouraging us to use legitimate things and valid feelings in ways that are wrong. Here’s an example: During the wilderness temptation, he tried to take advantage of Jesus’ hunger by saying, ‘Turn these stones into loaves of bread’ (Matthew 4:3 MSG). But Jesus knew God’s Word and replied with a quote from Deuteronomy: ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”‘ (v.4 NIV). If Jesus had given in to His human impulse of hunger, He would have gone along with Satan’s scheme and missed the blessing that was just about to arrive from His heavenly Father. But He trusted the Word of God and stayed strong, in spite of His very real feeling.
Just as Satan tried to tempt Jesus, he also tries to use his schemes on us. For example, we all need money, so Satan will whisper to us that we can’t afford to give a donation to charity or to our church. We’ve all been created with a need for companions, so Satan will play on any fears of loneliness that we have, and encourage us to pick relationships that are wrong for us. We want success, so Satan will hint that we’re not good enough, and nudge us to cheat or lie to get ahead.
So what’s the answer? Paul says, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK). There is only one way to unmask Satan and defeat his schemes, and that’s through a close walk with God, daily Bible study, and a consistent prayer life. That’s how we can guard our minds, our mouths, and our morals.
1 Chr 23:21-26:19; John 10:1-10; Ps 99; Prov 26:1-6
2021-11-10
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
Depression can be very lonely. We can be good at hiding our true feelings, so nobody realises that we’re struggling. And unlike a broken leg in plaster or a sprained wrist that’s been strapped up, depression doesn’t always have obvious physical signs, so some people might not be as sympathetic as they ought to be. But God knows everything about us and He opens His arms to us.
When others have been unkind (perhaps without realising), or we feel unloved, let’s try to turn our minds to remembering how much God loves and values us. We don’t want to appear weak, so we might think things like, ‘If somebody criticises me, it means I’m worthless,’ or ‘I can’t admit an area of weakness; I must be perfect or else I’m a failure.’
But let’s take another look at Elijah’s story. His feelings of depression weren’t fleeting. We’re told that after he ate and rested, he ‘travelled forty days and forty nights’ (1 Kings 19:8 NIVUK), then God spoke to him. The Bible doesn’t say when Elijah was completely recovered, but it’s clear it wasn’t a quick fix; it was a long process. And all through that time, God never criticised, treated him unfairly or unkindly, or got frustrated with him. Instead, He accepted Elijah just as he was, and still had great plans for him.
In God’s eyes, Elijah’s value never changed. He didn’t see Elijah as worthless; He saw someone who needed encouragement and time for restoration. God’s love for Elijah never wavered. His words in Jeremiah 31:3 – ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (NIV) – were just as relevant to Elijah as they were to the Israelites who heard them. And they’re just as relevant to us today.
1 Chr 19:1-23:20; John 9:24-41; Ps 115; Prov 25:26-28
2021-11-09
1 Kings 19:15 NIV
God told Elijah to go to the Desert of Damascus and anoint a new king and also a new prophet to take his place (see v.15-17). In other words, He gave Elijah a new assignment. When we’re going through a time of depression, it’s likely there’ll come a point when we need to let God give us a new direction. He’ll help us take our focus away from the pain of past hurts and problems, and refocus on something new. He might show us ways that we can use our experiences to help others who are going through something similar. Scripture says, ‘Do not be interested in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others’ (Philippians 2:4 NIV).
We might think we’ve failed so badly that God can’t use us, or that He shares the disappointment that we feel about ourselves. But God is gentle and understanding, and He won’t reject us. Nothing in the account of Elijah suggests that God was disappointed with him. In fact, it reassures us even more about God’s love, because He was willing to walk with Elijah through depression. He didn’t once turn His back on Elijah while he was struggling with his feelings.
In the New Testament, Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, but He called him anyway, because He knew Peter would learn and grow through the experience and go on to even greater things. God hasn’t finished with us. If we make a mistake, He’ll pick us up and help us start again. One mistake – or hundreds – doesn’t make us useless, and God has just the right assignment waiting for us at the appropriate time. So let’s be open to what He’s saying to us, and allow Him to use us for His kingdom.
1 Chr 16-18; John 9:13-23; Ps 105:1-15; Prov 25:23-25
