10.18.21

Hi Friends, 

One day, I was talking to a trusted friend about some ideas I had for a ministry to business leaders in our community that were getting beat up. After sharing my thoughts, he asked me several follow-up questions and then he asked, “What’s holding you back?” He could see that I was hesitant to move forward. He was right. I was hesitant, but why? 

Several years ago, I began to realize that I had some false beliefs that were holding me back. 

Last week, I shared three important truths about the false belief of Insecurity: 

Insecurity is a powerful enemy… but IT CAN BE DEFEATED. How? By changing the way we think. Here are two areas that often feed our insecurity and must be dealt with intentionally: 

Last week, I said to defeat insecurity… We need to change the way we think about our PAST. 

Many of us have allowed negative experiences from our past to determine the value we place on ourselves today. I addressed this issue last week in the blog called “No Longer a Hostage.”

Nick Vujicic says, “Don’t put your life on hold so that you can dwell on the unfairness of past hurts.” Nick should know. He is a man born with no arms or legs who now speaks to audiences all over the world. Nick has defeated insecurity and is fulfilling God’s purpose for his life. 

Which leads to the second thing we must do to defeat insecurity… We need to change the way we think about OURSELVES. 

You may be facing challenges. Others may not believe in you. You may have a tough past. But that doesn’t take away what you can DO or who you can BECOME. 

Here’s the problem… 

I know a lot of people who believe in Jesus, but they don’t believe in who Jesus says they are! 

Let me throw down a little theology on this. When you placed your faith in Christ, two things happened. First, God gave you a new NAME. Then He gave you a new PURPOSE. 

This is well illustrated in the account of Simon the fisherman. Most of us know him as Peter. I love his story because I can relate to his inconsistencies, blunders, and well-intentioned failures. Most people would have described him as unstable, unpredictable, and impulsive, and it would all be true! But when Jesus looked at him, He saw something more. Jesus saw Simon’s God-given ability and potential. 

One day Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It was in this moment that Jesus gave him a new name, “Peter, the Rock.” Please don’t miss this. When Simon recognized Jesus’ true identity and purpose, he began the journey of discovering his own true identity and purpose. He is no longer Simon the fisherman, but Peter the fisher of men. 

If you know anything about Peter, you know he didn’t always live up to his new name and purpose. In fact, he fell short many times, just like us. But God helped him grow into it… and grow into it he did! Simon became the Apostle Peter, and along with another guy who got a new name and purpose (the Apostle Paul), they went on to turn their world upside down! 

Insecurity is a trap that will hold you back from being the person God created you to be. But it doesn’t have to be! 

If you say you believe in Jesus, maybe it’s time to start believing in WHO He says you are. 

The bottom line is this: 

Thanks for the great feedback last week! You can contact me at tim@peopleprosper.org. 

Please join me next time as I unpack the false belief of Powerlessness. 

Until Next Time,