When You Feel You’re Not Enough

“I’m not enough.” You can fill in the blank with smart, confident, talented, gifted, spiritual, outgoing, attractive, or any number of positive attributes. Mine would be confident I still came to put up defensive walls because I’m afraid of what people say about my personality. I still hear my mother saying the things she used to say, and think other people will say them too. But at the source and each one of those blanks is Rooted in “I’m not good enough” Period. It’s one of Satan’s favorite deceptions to hold God’s children hostage to a life that is “less than.” “ i’m not good enough” Is an insidious lie that keeps gods Beth at bay for many of His children. Yes so many fall for this lie me included. Sometimes when you hear something over and over it becomes truth in our mind.

Satan tries to get us to focus on our flaws rather than our faith. When we focus on our faults, we take our focus off God, who equips us, the Holy Spirit, who empowers us, and Jesus who envelops us.

The Bible does not say no one is good enough to earn his or her way into heaven (Romans 3:23). Salvation is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). However, many have taken the truth that they are not good enough to earn their way to heaven and transferred it to “I’m not good enough -Period.” But through the finished work of Christ, and his power working in you and through you, you are good enough to do everything God has called you to do and be.

Giving into the lie of “I’m not good enough” Will paralyze you. It is a coward‘s way out. I might have just hurt your feelings, but listen I’m talking about myself too.

I was asked to speak at a Veterans dinner this weekend. I am really stressed about it. I don’t know how people will react, I don’t know what people will say. And that scares me. I have put up a defensive wall around me for so long. I don’t like to talk because I’m afraid what people say about me. This weekend I know I have to step out of my comfort zone. I know I need to break down this wall if I’m going to continue to grow.

Shrinking back and not moving forward is safer. But it is also boring – and not the life I want to live, I want to live a full life Jesus came to give me. This is a crisis point were many decide not to follow what they sense of God is leading them to do. Then they wonder why they do not experience God’s presence and activity the way other believers do. I sense that God wants me to get out and speak some of this that I am writing. But in my flesh I am too weak. And I don’t want to be with you anymore and I don’t think you do either.

Courage and confidence follow obedience. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in the Roles of places where my heart is telling me you need to speak up, But my head is screaming “I’m not good enough.”

What lies does doesSatan tell you that you need to replace with God’s truth? I know I have a few.

Discouraged And Disillusioned

Have you ever felt so discouraged and disillusioned by your situation that you become numb to any suggestions for a solution. In an act of defiance you to miss the advice and opinions of others?

If so, look at this account of Peter in the Bible. In Luke 5:1-11 it tells a story of Peter. Peter was exhausted after working all night. Most likely discouraged and deflated, the last thing he would have felt like doing was getting back into the boat and selling into deep waters. He had rendered a verdict – There was no catch to be had, no fish to be found.

Many of us are more like Peter and we care to admit. When we feel uncertain or we don’t understand our purpose or God’s instruction, we question His wisdom, and question our willingness to obey. If something has not worked the first time, why on earth should we repeat it? It’s not uncommon for us to throw a pity party for ourselves, or to spiral to a state I’ve learned helplessness.

Peter was convicted that repeating the input from the night before would not hang out put this I’m around. In fact, he almost questioned Jesus: “ Master, we have a fishing all night and have not caught anything.”

Sometimes God asked us to do the impossible. Something that we might have tried in the past and failed at, we might have lost our confidence in the future. It’s in these moments we have a choice, we can choose to trust and obey, or we can dismiss His command and stay.

How our lives may change if we resolve to never give up and to resolve to God with these words: “ if you say so, I will try again.” Where in your life might you decide to step out and see?

One thing I think that has saved my life many times is telling myself “I will not let Satan win. Satan controlled my life for so many years, Many years of hell. I chose to stand up and never give up, no matter how discouraged I am no matter how tired I am, I always get up and never give up.

It was only when Peter had done what God had asked that the fish were caught. The biggest problem before Jesus showed up with the empty net, after He showed the biggest problem was sinking ships. how many sinking ships do we have in our lives, that are holding us back?

Ask yourself today: what might happen, and how might you react if after a long and fruitless existence? If Jesus asks us try again. Would your weariness win? When your own wisdom about the current methods hold more weight than the response? Or will you try again because the Lord said so.

Our response determines whether we experience a boatload for fruit or whether we remain discouraged on the shore washing our empty nets.

How Can I Tell If Satan Is Controlling My Life?

1. Your Emotional Mindset Is Chaotic.

Satan wants to control our emotions. You may be unable to control your emotions. Mood swings, crying on a whim, getting angry over simple things, getting agitated easily. When we are an emotional mess Satan can control us more easily.

2. Your Okay With Things You Once Were Not.

Satan wants you go get comfortable with sun, he wants to change your value system. Can you remember a time when you weren’t comfortable with what your comfortable with now. What has changed? Have you ever been in a situation where someone dared you to say a curse word, just take a sip of something, just take a drag of something, or just tell “a little white lie, ect…? What does it say if you give in? What kind of justifications do they give to rationalize it?

3. The Feeling Of Dread.

A feeling of impending doom. Your always feeling like something terrible is going to happen, even if things are going good.

Nothing will give you peace, alcohol, drugs (smoke), or even healing stones whether crystals or the scared sites in the Middle East. You can only find peace when you accept Christ.

Satan will do anything he can to make sure he is king over your life. He will do anything to kill, steal, and destroy you.

Sometimes the Devil allows people to live a life free from trouble because he doesn’t want them turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it’s all nice and comfy and there doesn’t seem to be any reason to leave. The door is wide open. Until one day, time runs out, and the cell door slams shut, and suddenly it’s too late.

The Great Harvest Of Souls

We are living in a time of tremendous tension. The battle between good and evil is reaching an all-time intensity. A Discerning Christian sees it; Even non-Christians are becoming aware of the pressure in the atmosphere.

Everyone worldwide has been brought to the extreme edge where we know something is about to happen, because the pressure is just too great and simply cannot continue without something breaking.

I believe God is about to act in a manner where there will be no question it is God. Not man. Not Satan. God, and only God. His intervention will produce exponential results for the days, weeks, and months to come.

Those who have rejected God will be utterly shocked to their core. Those who have what God on the fence about God will fall to their knees in submission. All the people of the earth will see God administer His justice consistent with Hebrews 10:50 which states..

“For we know Him who said, It is Mine to avenge; I will repay, and again. The Lord will judge His people.”

These are the days immediately preceding the great harvest of souls – the end time billion seed harvest that was prophesied. The church is not ready for what is about to occur. People from all walks of life will turn from their worldly ways and seek guidance from the church. Do not be ignorant, the church is about to be judged. 1 Peter 4:17 is clear:

“For it is time for judgement to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who do not be obey the gospel of God.”

The church will experience a judgment by fire – a cleansing fire that corrects and reestablishes the church and put Jesus as it’s only focus. Churches that have elevated the pastors, worship leaders and others will bow down and repentance and honor to the One who established the church. Ministers who have promoted a watered down, powerless gospel will be utterly shaken as they experience the power of God in their midst. The intellectual, legalists will be stunned to realize there was a reverent religion. Those who prefer to elevate spiritual experience over study to apply the scripture to their daily lives will grieve. At the same time, the church all who have faith in Christ will rejoice knowing God correction is compassionate and for our good, to unite us all in the same faith.

We are living in great and terrible times. As we realize the imminent intervention of God, let us be sober and seek him to reveal to us anything that prevents us from having pure and holy hands. Let us listen to the Lord to know the specific assignments He has for each one of us to help the tremendous number of people who are about to stream to the church for understanding and guidance. May Lord use promptings for I and others with the same message so we may be ready for the last days.

The Lord has been impressing on me with His insight about preparing the church for the end times.

That Still Small Voice

Through all the noise of the great wind, the rocks being broken apart, the earthquake, and the fire, a still small voice could be heard. Elijah realized that the still small voice was God’s. -Kings 19:11-13

Let’s take a look at this account. In the preceding Scripture. Elijah has rebuked the evil king, Arab, and has had a contest with the evil prophets, wins the contest, and has the evil prophets slain.

Jezebel, the wife of Athabaskan and one of the evilest women in the Bible, was angered by the death of her prophets, since they revealed to her all that she wanted ti hear, forecasting her future might and grandeur. Elijah had been a streaky thorn to Jezebel since he was foreseeing their misery and judgement.

But Elijah began feeling pains of weakness and debilitation soon after these two incredible spiritual triumphs: the loss of the prophets of Ball and the addressed petition for rain.

Regularly debilitation sets in after incredible spiritual encounters, particularly those requiring a lot of emotional energy. But one would wonder. What was Elijah’s state of mind? Why does Elijah feel that way?

Maybe he expected a different reaction from Jezebel and Arab. Elijah expected God to act in a certain way, and that his faith was based on his knowledge of God, not on God Himself. If we read about Elijah’s account we see fear, which is evident in his flight. Fear had gripped his heart, so he fled. Elijah was overworked, over wrought, and over-worried

Elijah became despondent and wanted to die, you he ran away because he was afraid to die. He asks the Lord to take his life. His attitude had become the “I quit; I give up.” How many of us have felt like this and cried out, what’s the use? (Jeremiah 20:14)

Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that it does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave? Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water. What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have not rest, only turmoil.

Job 3:20-26

What’s the significance of God’s still small voice?

We may expect God ti act a certain way. But when He does not move like we think that He should, our faith hit the bottom – oh woe is me. A true believer in Christ is to be fearless, continually cheerful, and constantly in trouble.

We all become illogical when we turn from faith to fear. Self-pity sets in. Self-pity is the result in having fallen from faith to self-trust, and self-trust results in self-pity. (1 Corinthians 10:13).

To lead Elijah out of his depression God let’s Elijah rest and eat. God takes care of the physical as well of the spiritual. Elijah needs rest and resuscitation, then he was strengthened for the next part of his journey,

Then God reminded him of the need to get back to his central goal, to proclaim God’s Word in Israel. Elijah’s fights were not completed; he still had work to do (Exodus 24:18; Deuteronomy 9:9; Matthew 4:3).

God is not finished with us after we have hit rock bottom,we still have a central goal. There is something about fasting and prayer that is important for us to find out central goal in life.

Whenever we feel let down after an incredible battle or spiritual encounter, we should remember that God’s motivation for our life is not yet finished,

Next we see that Elijah comes to a cave. He is sitting in the cave and then God want to know what he is doing there. (God already knows). Elijah proceeds to tell God what the Israelites have and haven’t done. He thought he was the only one left that was serving God. He have forgotten that there were others who had remained true to God during the time Israel was wicked.

There are time we get like that. We question if we are in the place we should be. We know we are supposed to be serving God, but we doubt if it is even making any difference. We question if we are in the way of our duty or is there someone or something hindering us. Are we where we should be and are we doing what we should be doing? (Romans 11:2-3).

Through all of the noise of the great wind, the rocks being broken apart, the earthquakes and the fire, a still small voice could be heard. Elijah realized that the still small voice was God’s. He understood that God does not generally uncover Himself in just the amazing, phenomenal ways.

If we search for God just in something important (rallies, big tent revivals, churches, or influential leaders), we might miss Him since He’s regularly observed to be delicately murmuring in the quietness of a heart that is humbled.

Yes, God shows up in phenomenal ways, but there’s nothing more amazing than when show up with a still small voice,

Does God need to be loud and boisterous? Does God need to scream at us? That would not be such a terrible thing for some believers, hearing God yelling at them would get them to move. Or does God just need to whisper or speak in a soft voice to get our attention.

I would venture to say that for some to be able to hear God, they need to turn down the volume of everything else that’s going on in there lives. Maybe there is so much going on we cannot recognize His voice. Maybe they just don’t want to hear Him because they are trying to avoid Him (that’s called conviction).

Maybe that is what many of us need to learn regarding that still small voice,