BETH MOORE: Overcoming Insecurity Part 2

Here is Part 2 of 3 in the Beth Moore teaching "Overcoming Insecurity". I hope you are getting as much out of the study as I am!

BETH MOORE: Overcoming Insecurity Part 1

Check out this Beth Moore teaching entitled "Overcoming Insecurity". Here is part one. Tomorrow I will post part 2 and then part 3 the following day. I was so blessed by this teaching! I pray God will use it greatly in your life as well. God Bless, my sisters!!!!!!!

INSECURITIES IN THE LIGHT OF OUR IDENTITY

Hey Ladies!!!!!! Wow...it's been a WHILE! I have been sick and resting, well trying to, and taking care of the kiddies. Otherwise, now I am feeling better and am ready to start back up blogging about our topic! I pray you all have been doing well.
INSECURITY: We all long for a strong sense of security in our lives. We think through situations with a security factor in mind. We want to feel safe, accepted, in control and comfortable. Why? Well, we feel pain. We feel the pressures of life here on earth. We have been rejected, hurt and wronged. We want to protect ourselves. We want to stand on some solid ground. I hope you have been praying about maybe some areas in your life where you have strong insecurities. Or maybe just little daily things. Can you identify any? Where do you lack confidence? What are you hesitant about when it comes to the things of God? Do you think your prayers are not "good enough" for God to hear?
First of all, let's view our identity. As born-again believers, we have become a new creature "in Christ". 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" We are positioned in Christ. My personal "identity" verse is Colossians 3:3 which says, "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." This verse is saying that I am no longer living! "Rachel" is no longer living for herself. She is hidden in Jesus. Talk about feeling secure! My identity...Jesus. My purpose...Jesus. My reason for everything...Jesus. My motivation...Jesus. My source...Jesus. Thinking about who we are in Christ will first bring the right perspective when it comes to allowing God to transform habitual actions and reactions of insecurity in our lives.
Let's meditate on verses that tell us who we are in Christ and look at our insecurities in light of these scriptures. Post up more verses on who we are in Christ below! (Hint: there are a ton of them in Ephesians chapters 1-3!)

Let's Define It

Okay so let's get started! Dictionary definitions of insecurity are "lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt; a feeling of apprehensiveness and uncertainty." Wow. I don't know about you, but to me that barely scratches the surface! Insecurities are a part of every person's life, male or female. We all are a little insecure about one thing or another. What are your "things"? No, you don't have to post it in the comments...just think about it for a moment, between you and the Lord. What are areas in your life where you "lack confidence or assurance"? Do you feel totally and completely loved? Do you like the way you look? Do you like your personality? Do you trust God? Questions like these will bring those insecurities into light. The first thing I want to do is to have us all share our personal definition of insecurity. It's not that hard. If you had to tell someone else what insecurity is what would you say? It can be simple and basic or deep and descriptive...whatever you want! Just post your comment below.

Insecurity is the Winner

Alright ladies! The winner of the poll for the next few weeks is INSECURITY! To be honest, I hate that word. Don't you? Don't we all desire to be secure in the Lord, fully and completely! I'm so excited to start posting on this topic. We'll have devotionals and more shortly! Lord, may you help us grow in our insecurities. Correct our thinking and give us confidence in who we are in You! To God be the glory! I think it all starts with this verse...Colossians 3:3 "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

A SOUND MIND

Thank you Lord! The Holy Spirit has been bringing to mind this morning 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." So often in times of heavy emotion, little sleep and/or trial we are tempted to allow every thought that knocks on the door of our mind to enter in and have a seat! Lord help us! I so want to grow out of that. God enables us by His Spirit to have self-control and not have to be enslaved to tormenting and depressing thoughts. It is so sweet to go through your day in victory and joy...being an over-comer in the battle against your flesh. We are all in this sisters! Do not think you suffer days of intense emotion or negative thoughts alone! What an opportunity to witness the power of God working inside of you. Ephesians 3:20 NASB "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." And how encouraging it is to know "that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). Remember...God has given you a sound mind. The word for "sound mind" in the Greek derived from a word that means "heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole." The battlefield is mostly in our minds and that is where we need God to come in and take over. Be in God's Word. Read it, meditate on it and memorize it. Be in it all throughout the day. Fill your thoughts with scripture. Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." Apply the ointment of God's Word to your mind because it is God's will for you to live your life with a healed, whole and preserved mind. He died on the cross to give that to you. Thank you Jesus! Comment with any other thoughts or scriptures that God has given you concerning your thought life.

VOTE FOR A TOPIC

Check out the poll at the bottom of the page and vote! I am interested in focusing on a specific topic for this month and I want to know what you want it to be. We will discuss this topic by commenting on the devotionals posted. I am also going to be posting book reviews related to the topic! SO....vote and we'll get started!

A Thought From Vicki!

I'm reading this pretty good book that Naomi lent me, "The 5 conversations you must have with your daughter" and last night the chapter discussed how women in the 1800-s were more concerned about being beautiful on the inside than the outside. The outer vanity didn't start until after world war 1 when mirrors became standard in every household bathroom and the compact mirror with powder came out during the "Flapper period".
As women we really need to meditate on like you said, 1 Samuel 16:7, and the others, 'Psalm 139:14 -I Praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful, I know that full well. I like what the author Vicki Courtney says 'What it means: you are created in the image of God and God doesn't make junk! Like a snowflake, every person is unique . No two are the same. God sees you as a masterpiece; and when you look in the mirror,He wants you to "know full well" Try this beauty tip-Every morning when you look in the mirror say Psalm 139:14 and smile . You might even tape this verse on your mirror. And lets continue to pray and read His word on a regular basis, so we can be drop dead gorgeous on the inside may I remind you that Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting ; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Again like Vicki C. says What it means Beauty fades with age, so if you are more concerned with your outer appearance , you will be unhappy when the wrinkles come and the scales go ups. Did you know that age can start as early as 20?
Now this is my thought, Vicki B., Young ladies, my spirit seems ageless, I don't ever feel older, just wiser. But when I look in the mirror I see the changes of age on myself. How awsome is our God to have given us His image and knowing our outer bodies would age and change to less appealing, He has given His word and wisdom to center on Him and His kingdom. Who are we trying to please man or Christ- who died for us. Whose image are you in, the worlds image or Gods image ? Don't you want to be beautiful for Heaven and your King!
Love and blessings,
Vicki
All for Christ.

Turn Away My Eyes

Psalm 119:37 NASB "Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Thy ways."

Wow! What a great verse. The world is all about vanity and appearance. Let this be a verse we hold onto and memorize since we are bombarded with vain images and lifestyles daily. I always remember the verse in Luke 16:15 when Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and He says to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."
Think about the things that are highly esteemed in our culture today. Do they have any value to God or is it an abomination to Him? Is your value system that of the world's or God's?
Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Is your heart set on vanity? Is it set on temporal and earthly things? Ask God to help you "turn away your eyes" from those things! When you do and you look to the Lord and the truth of His Word, you are free from being a slave to this world's vain ways.
Do you have an appearance of spirituality but no genuine heart devotion? Do you cry over your sin? Are you broken and repentant? Ask God to place in you a heart that is fully His. May we each seek to be genuine and REAL in our relationship with Him and may we all appear to be what we really are. Lord, turn away our eyes from looking at vanity and revive us in Your ways!