Choosing Who to Believe

I feel like I’m stuck for another week on the topic of self-esteem.  My women’s Bible study group is studying the story of Gideon from the Old Testament book of Judges, and this week has continued to focus on the importance of believing what God says about us and not what the enemy or others try to convince us is true.  Gideon couldn’t see anything good in his life or himself, but God saw potential in him to be a leader – potential that didn’t match where Gideon was right then or how he felt about himself.  But here’s the lesson from Gideon: No matter how I feel, what Scripture says about me is true!

As Priscilla Shirer says, “. . . trusting God and walking in His pronouncement of (our) potential is the foundation of spiritual victory.”  Gideon had to believe what God saw in him and not what he saw in himself before he could complete the task that God had chosen him to do, and it’s the same for us.  How many times do we settle for a mediocre Christian walk simply because we can’t believe that God would really choose us or would fully equip us for what He’s called us to?  Believing what God says includes trusting that        “. . . he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion . . .” (Philippians 1:6).  Whether or not we feel that we are making progress in our Christian walk or capable of accomplishing anything worthwhile for the Kingdom, we have to believe that God won’t give up on us and promises to complete the work he started in each of us.  And don’t confuse Christian humility and meekness with unworthiness and low self-esteem.  True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless but recognizing God’s work in you and having God’s perspective on who you are.  

Lately, God has been calling me to do some things that are out of my comfort zone.  Can you relate?  I can choose to trust how I feel about myself and those tasks, or I can believe that God’s view of me is different and that he will fully equip me for whatever he is asking me to do.  Which of those perspectives I choose to believe and operate on will make all the difference in what my future walk with God looks like.  Are you ready to join me in allowing God’s thoughts toward us to transform our own thoughts about ourselves and enable us to step out in faith to be used by him?  Gideon had to climb out of his hiding place at the bottom of a winepress and face his enemies (the Midianites) with only 300 soldiers and God’s strength.  What do you and I need to do?