Unmasked - Dare to Be the Real Youಮಾದರಿ

DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE 

A sense of inferiority can be really difficult to recognize in ourselves; psychologists call it our ‘blind spot’, and it’s impossible to remedy on our own. Everyone has a sense of inferiority to some degree, and it manifests in our lives when we feel that we can’t measure up to others, to God, or to our own standards and expectations for our lives. For some of us, it may be a fear, deep down, that we don’t "have what it takes" in a given moment or in a particular situation. For others, in our inner world or in our character, there may be a crack we are trying to hide. 

Living with inferiority is not from God; it keeps us living in scarcity and not abundance. When we are faced with situations where we feel inferior, we should remind ourselves that "we are God’s workmanship, created...for good works...prepared in advance for us" (Eph. 2:10). I’ve found that developing an active prayer life, where one confesses and recognizes God’s abundance, is key to moving forward. Apart from the spiritual benefits, this will help you begin to grow and live from a place of blessing and generosity, as opposed to having a worldview that you must react to everything in the world and feel helpless. Inferiority is never what God intended for us; in Him, there is no inferiority. No matter how unqualified you may feel, you can be a vessel used by God!

Let's think over and apply these three things that can help us take off the mask of inferiority: 

1. Discipline

Spend time in God’s Word daily. His Word cannot speak to you if you keep it closed. Choosing to open His Word before opening up an app on your phone allows for the right thing to be influencing and changing your life. 

2. Discover

Our adequacy is found when we discover the love of God and remind ourselves of it regularly. True significance comes from knowing and understanding the full dimensions of God’s love. This knowledge is our anchor when emotions, feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy, or failures from the past overwhelm us.

3. Confidence

Confidence in God releases us from our sense of inferiority. Choose to keep moving forward by:

Developing a sense of belonging - We belong to God the Father. 

Developing a sense of pride - Pride that’s closely related to value. 

Developing a sense of confidence - Confidence related to our ability. (Phil 4:13) 

Advancing with a sense of purpose - God has given each one of us a special purpose. 

TAKEAWAYS

Know that you are loved by God, and ask Him to show evidence of His love. You need the reassurance of a word, and God will give you that word through His Word, the words of others, and the deeds of others.

Know that the word “inferior” is not in God’s vocabulary for you, and He wants to remove that feeling from your heart. 

DECLARATIONS

Heavenly Father, today I take off the mask of inferiority. I thank You that You made me more than enough when You died and rose again for me. I stand firm in my position as a much-loved child of God and walk in the confidence of knowing that in every opportunity - and when I face every obstacle - I am more than enough with You by my side. Amen.

REFLECTIONS 

How can I be strong when I am weak? 

Low esteem should not ever be allowed to cripple our confidence. How do we triumph over low esteem?

How do we live out a life of being "enough"?