This cats confidence rocks!



(EMI) -- The Bible says if anyone believes in Christ Jesus they are a New Creation. Old things have passed away and behold all things are new.

Low self-esteem is a very real disease in our society. Everyday we see advertisements letting us know how we have missed the mark with our appearance or not owning the latest trend.

If that wasn’t enough, we are our own worst critics. We help these outside influences by confirming their message.

Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, yet so many people struggle to find it. Sadly, this can be a vicious cycle: People who lack self-confidence can find it difficult to become successful and enjoy a normal social life, milling around with people in general.

After all, most people are reluctant to back a project that's being pitched by someone who was nervous, fumbling and overly apologetic.

On the other hand, you might be persuaded by someone who spoke clearly, who held his or her head high, who answered questions assuredly, and who readily admitted when he/she did not know the answer.

Just as iron sharpens iron, self-confident people inspire confidence in others: Their audience, their peers, their bosses, their customers, and their friends. Gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds fulfillment and success.

The good news is that self-confidence really can be learned and developed.

While Jesus talked to us about "losing" and "denying" our lives and self, He was the most self-confident person who ever walked the face of the earth! Is there a contradiction here: deny yourself, yet be self-confident? Or, deny yourself and love your neighbor even as you love yourself?

For believers, it's all about being wrapped up "in Him." It is in Christ, and only in Christ, where our confidence matters. Within our "selves" lies no good thing. Our righteousness is as filthy rags as are our works outside of Jesus Christ. But in Him we become super-people of sorts! Think about it:

"I can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me."

"And nothing shall be impossible to him who believes."

"Yet through all these things, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The key is "IN CHRIST."

Outside of who we are in Him, there is absolutely nothing of real value that will last...that will stand the test of time. Christ's accomplishments on the cross, and through His resurrection have constructed a rock-solid foundation for true prosperity in the life of every believer!

In 3 John, verse 2, John writes, "I wish above all things, brethren, that you may prosper, and be in health; even as your soul prospers."

Self-confidence is the result of soul prosperity. It is the sanctification and renewal of our minds through the Word of God.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." –Romans 12:2

Now, look what The Message translation says of versus 1 and 2, "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

As we recognize and accept the fact that God already loves us, has forgiven us, and still accept us (He is on our side), what does it matter what others think?

"If God be for us, who can stand against us?"

"...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." –Ephesians 1:6
Never Compare Yourself to others - Stop it!

The very act of comparing ourselves to others drools a lack of self-esteem because you are measuring your worth and ability by anthers successes, personality, or popularity. YOU ARE NOT THEM! YOU ARE YOU!

By measuring your worth against another's talents, etc., in essence you are saying, "I'm not good enough. God must have made a blooper when He created me!" Self-pity is a bi-product of lacking self-confidence.

If the Word of God says that you CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES YOU THE STRENGTH TO DO IT, and you are saying, "I am nothing. I'm a failure. I could never do that like him/her," then you are cursing God's creation! You are God's creation! You have been created IN HIS IMAGE and AFTER HIS LIKENESS.

Give yourself a break and some grace! God isn't finished with you yet. You and I are STILL under construction!

Develop your gifting, talents, and passions. As you do, you will eventually thrive in your gift mix...but you have to find it first.

FINDING YOUR FIT

Have you ever heard the term "A fish out of water?" Basically, that means a fish doesn't last very long at all when he is out of the water - he will die rather quickly because the water is his element - that is where he was created to thrive!

Where is your ocean?

You will be the happiest and the most confident when you are in your element. As a youth pastor for many years, I would drive this point home over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over (get the point) again. I wanted my teenagers to discover their gifting and passions as soon as humanly possible so they could avoid years or even decades of disappointment and sadness. I didn't want them to live too long in the "I hate my job/career" syndrome, because I knew that one of the major keys to happiness is doing what you love and loving what you do. Talk about a self-esteem builder! Yes and yes! Somebody say "Uh-huh!!"

Salt water, fresh water, hot water, cold water? What's your element?

So how confident do you seem to others?

Your level of self-confidence can show in many ways: Your behavior, your body language, how you speak, what you say, and so on. Look at the following comparisons of common confident behavior with behavior associated with low self-confidence. Which thoughts or actions do you recognize in yourself and people around you?

Tip: Balanced Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is about balance. At one extreme, we have people with low self-confidence. At the other end, we have people who may be over-confident.

If you are under-confident, you’ll avoid taking risks and stretching yourself; and you might not try at all. And if you’re over-confident, you may take on too much risk, stretch yourself beyond your capabilities, and crash badly. You may also find that you’re so optimistic that you don’t try hard enough to truly succeed.

Getting this mix right is a matter of having the right amount of confidence, founded in reality and on your true ability in Christ. With the right amount of self-confidence, you will take informed risks, stretch yourself (but not beyond your abilities) and try hard. When you are confident in Christ, you will also become confident in your ability to HEAR from God and to LISTEN to your spirit.

Building Self-Confidence

So how do you build this sense of balanced self-confidence, founded on a firm appreciation of who you are in Christ?

The bad news is that there’s no quick fix, or 5-minute solution.

The good news is that building self-confidence is readily achievable, just as long as you have the focus and determination to carry things through. And what’s even better is that the things you’ll do will build success – after all, your confidence will come from real, solid achievement and a sure understanding and revelation of who you REALLY are in Him. No-one can take this away from you!

You and I can have the same confidence and authority in our lives when we root ourselves in the unchangeable power and truth of God.

If you are rooted in anything else such as your job title, popularity, unpopularity, and appearance (all changeable), your self esteem will fluctuate and be unsure once they fade away.

Today, remember who created you and claim your inheritance. Joy and happiness is your birthright. Taking this one step will boost your confidence and self esteem instantly. Try it and see for yourself.

1. Personalize the Word of God

Start saying out loud on a daily basis - several times a day - what God HAS ALREADY SAID ABOUT YOU!

Since God's Word said, "We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus..." then you can boldly say, "I (or insert your own first name) am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus my Lord!"

Since God's Word already said, "If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away and new things have come," then you can say with confidence, "I am a new creation in christ Jesus and old things are passed away from me...that old self-pity is gone and a new confidence is rising up because EVERYTHING IS NEW!"

Etc., etc., etc.

2. Pray, Praise, and Proclaim

"But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!" –Jude 1:20, The Message

Praying in the Holy Spirit is the best spiritual muscle builder available. Although every born again believer has a measure of the Holy Spirit dwelling within, there is yet another powerful dimension of praying in the Spirit available to all believers! CLICK HERE to learn more.

In the meantime, add to your daily regiment times of prayer, praise, and proclaiming who you are in Christ. You'll see real positive change!

3. Never Give Another Permission to Beat You Down

You might be thinking, "I would never, in a million years, give somebody permission to beat me down!!"

The truth is; it happens all the time - mostly unconsciously. CASE IN POINT: By allowing someone else to verbally tear us down, call us names, or tell us we are nothing without confronting them (or at least confronting the damaging emotional thoughts and feelings such accusations present), we are giving others permission to weaken our confidence.

By comparing ourselves to others, we give them power over us and give them permission to tear us down by never measuring up. Are you getting the picture?

Giving permission is nothing more than mental assent. We allow it to go on and on with out confrontation.

In my own life, many years ago as a boy and teenager, I was very insecure and had low, low self-esteem. Once I received the Lord into my life at eighteen years old, I started learning and apply these very same principles. One day, as I was speaking and singing at a major conference, as a very popular Christian singer was walking off the stage, a thought invaded my mind saying, "Man, he sings circles around you! You might as well pack up and go home! How are you going to beat that?"

Out of pure reflex, from training and renewing my mind for years, I whispered out loud to those thoughts and confronted them. I said something like, "In case you didn't know, this is NOT a competition...this is a ministry event with many different colors and flavors represented. I am not (that singer) and he is not me. I have something very special and unique to deliver to these people and here I go!!!"

I have to tell you, the Holy Spirit showed up in strength and power during my session and I was blown away... I was so thankful for Jesus and how He has created and designed each one of us differently!

Build yourself up in Christ and He will never let you down!

Greg G.
3 John 2