Friday, March 16, 2012

Do you struggle with inadequacy?

If you are like me, I am sure you have experienced inadequacy at least once in your life. This is common, no need to hide it. We are all human and cannot fight the lack of self-confidence 100% of the time. After all, don't you think it is a great tool to be used to bring you down? Really think about that. The devil doesn't want us to be happy or successful. He wants to ruin the plans that God is trying to accomplish through us. Ever notice that when you are most on fire for God and know God is doing big things it doesn't take long before  you sink down at some level shortly thereafter?

Well, I want to share with you a recipe that I learned from Norman Vincent Peale, in his book called "The Power of positive thinking". If you decide to read the book he will give you several real life examples of how this recipe works wonders in people's lives. He covers this in chapter 1. Keep in mind that this recipe can only work if you apply it 100%. Keep in mind this is not some kind of crazy voodoo. This recipe only works because it teaches you how to kick out the devils whispers of negativity and the lies that are pushing you away from self-confidence. It opens you up to God so that He can work inside of your heart and mind and it allows Him to steer the wheel.

1) Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop this picture. Never think of yourself as failing; never doubt the reality of the mental image. That is most dangerous, for the mind always tries to complete what it pictures. So always picture "success" no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment.

2) Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal powers comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.

3) Do not build up obstacles in your imagination. Depreciate every so-called obstacle. Minimize them. Difficulties must be studied and efficiently dealt with to be eliminated, but they must be seen for only what they are. They must not be inflated by fear thoughts.

4) Do not awestruck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently as YOU can. Remember also that most people, despite their confident appearance and demeanor, are often as scared as you are and as doubtful of themselves.

5) Ten times a day repeat these dynamic words, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) (Stop reading and repeat them NOW slowly and confidently.)

6) Get a competent counselor to help you understand why you do what you do. Learn the origin of your inferiority and self-doubt feelings which often begin in childhood. Self-knowledge leads to a cure.

7) Ten times each day practice the following affirmation, repeating it out loud if possible. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (PHil 4:13) Repeat those words NOW. That magic statement is the most powerful antidote on earth to inferiority thoughts.

8) Make a ture estimate of your own ability, then raise it 10 percent. Do not become egotistical, but develop a wholesome self-respect. Believe in your own God-released powers.

9) Put yourself in God's hands. To do that simply state, "I am in God's hands." Then believe you are NOW receiving all the power you need. "Feel" it flowing into you. Affirm that "the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21) in the form of adequate power to meet life's demands.

10) Remind yourself that God is with you and nothing can defeat you. Believe that you now RECEIVE power from him.

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