There are many people who have been beaten down by life (circumstances, and/or a person, or various people). And for this reason, they find it difficult to face life with any confidence that they are worthy of breathing another breath. They feel weighted down by the oppressiveness of what has happened to them. And for that reason, they find it difficult to experience the “joy of the Lord.” They have lost all confidence in who they are.
For those of you who are feeling this way, we want to encourage you to keep in mind that God does not make junk. All that God created in the beginning had purpose and meaning. He even said, “It is good.” And all He continues to create has purpose and meaning and “is good.”
It is people that mess things up and put a different spin on that which God creates. But if we are “called according to His purpose” we can “KNOW” “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” [See Romans 8:28.] And for this reason we can live in confidence. No matter what was done to us, we are loved “with an everlasting love.” God will redeem that, which the enemy of our faith tried and tries to do against us.
Living in Confidence as God’s Child
As a redeemed Child of the Living God, we don’t have to hold our heads in shame. We are not worthless. That is true no matter what any person or the enemy of our faith may say. Our Heavenly Father loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life. [See Jeremiah 29:11-13.] He can bring beauty out of ashes as we present them to Him. He is our Redeemer.
As a child of the Living God, please don’t entertain the enemy of our faith by allowing your mind to go where it shouldn’t. Why would you want to bring joy to those who have hurt you? God loved you enough to breathe life into your lungs when you were born. And He can take that life away at any time if He decides that it is time. But because you are still here, it must mean that He knows something you need to know. He has a plan for your life and He ordains that you participate.
He won’t force you to live up to your potential. But He wants you to participate with Him in His Kingdom work.
So whatever has troubled you in the past, and whatever is troubling you now, we pray you will grab the challenge that the Apostle Paul shared in Philippians 3. He wrote. “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Dwelling on the Past
What is meant by “forgetting what is behind” is that you aren’t to camp there or live there. You aren’t to keep dwelling on that, which will hold you back from going forward with the future God has for you. You see what you were, and what WAS. But you are to PRESS ON to take hold of that, which Christ Jesus has for you. At times it is a real battle to get to that place, but it is worth it!
Hebrews 12 says, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Don’t lose heart and allow yourself to give up fighting. Keep in mind that the enemy of our faith does not want any of us to live victoriously —to be an instrument in helping God draw others to Himself. There is a spiritual warfare involved in trying to get us to think that we are worthless and that even our Heavenly Father doesn’t see any value in us. But that is a lie handed to us from the father of lies, the evil one himself.
Fighting the Enemy of Our Faith
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
We challenge you to “demolish arguments” that keep you bogged down in a defeated posture in life. God loves you and because of Christ, you can live victoriously.
With this in mind, below is something that could help you in this battle. When you feel defeated, remember who you are in Christ —because of Christ! Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life!
“The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!” (Dr Neil Anderson)
The following is found in book, Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ
WHO AM I?
I am accepted!John 1:12 … I am God’s Child.
John 15:15 … I am Christ’s friend.
Romans 5:1 … I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 … I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 … I have been born with a price. I belong to God.
Ephesians 1:1 … I am a saint.
Ephesians 1:5 … I have been adopted as God’s child.
Ephesians 2:18 … I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:14 … I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:10 … I am complete in Christ.
I am secure!
Romans 8:1-2 … I am free forever from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 … I am assured that all things work together for good.
Romans 8:31-34 … I am free from any condemning charges against me.
Romans 8:35-39 … I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 … I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:3 … I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 … I am confident that the work God began in me will be perfected.
Philippians 3:20 … I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 … I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Hebrews 4:16 … I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
1 John 5:18 … I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.I am significant!
Matthew 5:13-14 … I am the salt and light of the earth.
John 15:1, 5 … I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
John 15:16 … I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 … I am a personal witness of Christ’s.
1 Corinthians 3:16 … I am God’s temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 … I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2 Corinthians 6:1 … I am God’s co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Ephesians 2:6 … I am seated with 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.
Here are additional linked articles to give you added insight to live in confidence because of Christ. Please read:
In Closing:
Here is a video, featuring Matthew West that I pray will inspire you:
Cindy Wright of Marriage Missions International wrote this blog.
If you have additional tips you can share to help others, please “Join the Discussion” by adding your comments below.
More from Marriage Missions
Filed under: Abuse in Marriage Mental and Physical Health Spiritual Matters
(USA) I especially like the useful Scripture references and that they are sectioned by specific lies we believe. I am going to print them out to have handy when I feel worthless and discouraged.
(SOUTH AFRICA) What a encouraging read!!!