We all have a general idea what the word insecurity means, but I love (and fear) how Beth Moore brings into light exactly what an insecurity is and how sometimes a person never even knows they have, because they have perfected it as "me." The problem with a life in insecurity is it creates bondage. As Beth describes, "We all have insecurities. The question is whether or not our insecurities are substantial enough to hurt, limit or even distract us from profound effectiveness or FULFILLMENT of purpose"(15). Wow! Is my little insecurity, that I have perfected for the last thirty years keeping me from my purpose in life and from God's blessings? This is the question I pray we all ask ourselves as we begin our journey through this book, because it is the only way we are going to see our insecurities for what they truly are...a sin, keeping us from experiencing God's love and purpose for our lives.
The definition of insecurity (below) made me realize... "that's what wrong with me, they call it an insecurity!"
"Insecurity refers to a profound sense of self-doubt--a deep feeling of uncertainty about our basic worth and our place in the world. Insecurity is associated with chronic self-consciousness, along with a chronic lack of confidence in ourselves and anxiety about our relationships. The insecure man or woman lives in constant fear of rejection and a deep uncertainty about whether his or her own feelings and desires are legitimate" (moore,17)
Chapter 3 –Eye opener! What is your “Prominent False Positive? Beth Moore says you can pinpoint your prominent false positive by, “Think of a person you believe to be secure and determine what earthly thing he or she has that you don’t feel like you possess, at least in matching measure. That’s liable to be your prominent false positive: the one thing that would make you more secure in all things” (37).
For me my prominent false positives are popularity and prestige. (Wow! that was hard to admit and share with you. Bringing it into the light and naming my insecurities makes me feel insecure and vulnerable, but I'd do it again. I am tired of being in bondage and missing all the opportunities God has for me in His great plan.
It’s interesting that I only label other women with low self-esteem if they are not friendly, have awful personalities, and say things only to hurt a person. Mean people were the only ones I ever identified as having insecurity problems. My prominent false positives were blinding me to see how other woman might be hurting inside from their chronic desire to be something or someone else. As Beth says, “If only I could be _______ then I would be secure/happy.”
What about you, what would be your prominent false positive?
This book is a real eye opener and I'm only on Chapter 3!
For me, my false positives are money and popularity. Very difficult to look at yourself and realize where you have been placing your values or priorities!
I definitely fear loosing friends. Sometimes I amaze myself by sabatoging the very thing I fear loosing! Why do I do that??
Even though I'm reading the other book, I have to respond to the"sabatoging the very thing I fear loosing." I know exactly what you mean. I finally recognized this a few years ago in regards to my marriage. I actually created the situation that hadn't happened yet by MY words and actions to my husband. I was so afraid of what he might do, that I created the situation for him to do it and then said,"see! I knew you would do that!" How unfair! And it all stemmed from my insecurity as a wife. Praise God I learned and am learning that I am God's creation and He will perfect me as HE determines, not me or anyone else. What freedom that is.
To cabincountry - WOW! Sometimes you say something and don't think it will resonate with anyone else. It is so comforting to know that I am not the only one struggling! It is freedom, isn't it, to realize that no matter how we push things it will happen in God's timing and that makes it perfect. How lovely to rest in Him!
Well, chapters 5 & 6 down. I think I will be rereading Chapter 5. I recognize some roots in my life but the exact cause is eluding me. I will be rereading that chapter and slowly going over each root. Perhaps, if I can identify the cause it will be easier to rid it from my life!
I reread those chapters and although the exact cause of my insecurities is eluding me they still steadily sound within me. Especially the part about being worthy of being loved, liked, persued and kept! I feel within myself that I am worthless, sometimes. I battle with those feelings constantly and it is wonderful that God does love me, like me, persue me and wants to keep me with Him! Those are the thoughts I must keep with me.
FINISHED!!! And I must say that I am honored that Beth Moore would write a book entirely about ME!! (Yes, that was me admitting that I am a majorly insecure woman. I was relieved to read that sensitive and insecure are NOT the same thing. I am by nature very sensitve and I can't imagine trying to change that. "We all fear that we aren't who we are pretending to be?" It always amazes me how many people think I am a natural redhead.lol Guess I'm pretty good at pretending to be one. Some people have described me as "looking like I have it all together" (key word here "looking". It's easy to fool others but God knows the truth.
I've enjoyed reading the comments. I'm not reading the books but it sure sounds like I should be! It does take courage to really look at yourself and really "see" what God sees. Let's keep growing!
How many of us live life with the constant expectation that something bad is about to happen? As Beth says, “this is a miserable trap of self-inflicted insecurity!” How many of us don’t like change? How many of us don’t try new things or meet new people because we like our comfort zone to be in a radar in which we set a long time ago? Do not be afraid of the changes God throws your way. “God doesn’t use change to destroy us or to distract us but to coax us to the next level of character, experience, compassion, and destiny.” (80)
“Psychologically dependent upon crisis,” (80)…really? This is extremely heartbreaking…If someone does not have a present crisis, they will learn to create one. My heart goes out to them. Why do we do this to ourselves? If life were not hard enough!
To troutmanx6 - I've realized "feeling worthy" does not happen over night. It takes time to believe it- (God). I grew up feeling I was never good enough for my parents. There are still times I feel unless I have done something worthy for my Dad to brag about, I won't get his attention. Maybe that has contributed to my "type-A" personality- constantly driven to succeed. This spills over to my family and friends' relationships,too. I constantly think I'm not doing enough for them. I'm letting them down. Satan uses these feelings to prevent me from flying free.(my new favorite expression) There's such a fine line between recognizing our true shortcomings and letting God change those and believing Satan's lies about our shortcomings that aren't really there. Don't get discouraged...spiritual maturity comes with time and pain... we ARE being refined aren't we? That means sometimes there will be pain as we grow. But remember this,God has the salve to soothe our hurting souls.
To cabincountry - Although I am not what most people would describe as "type A", I feel that driving need to succeed and constantly doing for others. Sometimes so constantly putting others first that I neglect myself, my relationship with God and my relationship with my family. It is difficult at times to distinguish between true short-comings and satan's lies. I struggle with looking at my past and believing satan when he tells me I am still that same girl. I try to remind myself that although I am far from being perfected in His image, I have been refined through fire through some things and am no longer the same person
In reading chapter 7 and 8, I started to realize something about myself. I have not let God clothe me in strength and dignity. In an attempt to have people like me and trust me, I expose myself. I am willing to tell all to let a person know that I am trustworthy! How insecure and silly is that!?! How is exposing myself showing others that I am trustworthy? I realize now that I can be confident around other people and be there for them without totally exposing myself. I am clothed with strength and dignity!
Chapter 5 in the other book, "Kaleidoscope", talks about Proverbs17:27a-He who has knowledge spares his words. Patsy titled this chapter- "Babbling". You made me think of this chapter with your need to tell all. I thought about myself...there's another view of this verse...People, like me who are great with words, think fast with words, therefore tend to be quicker to hurt with their words.So even though I may not "babble" (although at times I do) I definitely need to put this verse into action. Think before I speak.
Chapter 9 - Oohhh WOW! Praise the Lord for the begining of healing! No I was not instantly changed but I am definitely more at peace with myself. Only through the Lord my Savior!
Who has finished chapter 9: A time and a place to heal? I found some quiet time and read out loud Beth’s prayer for healing. I would love to write all of the prayer out for those following our blog without a book in hand, but the prayer is too long. I have never prayed a prayer in which every word touched my heart and I wanted to cry out for healing. Here is a glimpse into the prayer…
I come now, Lord, to the apex of my petition: please restore to my soul all that insecurity has stolen from me. Overturn every single thing the enemy meant for evil into something good. Perform a miracle on me, Lord. Cover me with Your trustworthy hand. Clothe me with strength and dignity. Transform what drives me. Make me a courageous woman in this harrowing culture…Because of Your mercy, Lord, I am no fool. Only a wise woman shifts her trust to You (173).
Did anyone else have a favorite line(s) in the Beth's prayer that you would like share?
We all have a general idea what the word insecurity means, but I love (and fear) how Beth Moore brings into light exactly what an insecurity is and how sometimes a person never even knows they have, because they have perfected it as "me." The problem with a life in insecurity is it creates bondage. As Beth describes, "We all have insecurities. The question is whether or not our insecurities are substantial enough to hurt, limit or even distract us from profound effectiveness or FULFILLMENT of purpose"(15). Wow! Is my little insecurity, that I have perfected for the last thirty years keeping me from my purpose in life and from God's blessings?
ReplyDeleteThis is the question I pray we all ask ourselves as we begin our journey through this book, because it is the only way we are going to see our insecurities for what they truly are...a sin, keeping us from experiencing God's love and purpose for our lives.
The definition of insecurity (below) made me realize... "that's what wrong with me, they call it an insecurity!"
"Insecurity refers to a profound sense of self-doubt--a deep feeling of uncertainty about our basic worth and our place in the world. Insecurity is associated with chronic self-consciousness, along with a chronic lack of confidence in ourselves and anxiety about our relationships. The insecure man or woman lives in constant fear of rejection and a deep uncertainty about whether his or her own feelings and desires are legitimate" (moore,17)
Chapter 3 –Eye opener! What is your “Prominent False Positive? Beth Moore says you can pinpoint your prominent false positive by, “Think of a person you believe to be secure and determine what earthly thing he or she has that you don’t feel like you possess, at least in matching measure. That’s liable to be your prominent false positive: the one thing that would make you more secure in all things” (37).
ReplyDeleteFor me my prominent false positives are popularity and prestige. (Wow! that was hard to admit and share with you. Bringing it into the light and naming my insecurities makes me feel insecure and vulnerable, but I'd do it again. I am tired of being in bondage and missing all the opportunities God has for me in His great plan.
It’s interesting that I only label other women with low self-esteem if they are not friendly, have awful personalities, and say things only to hurt a person. Mean people were the only ones I ever identified as having insecurity problems. My prominent false positives were blinding me to see how other woman might be hurting inside from their chronic desire to be something or someone else. As Beth says, “If only I could be _______ then I would be secure/happy.”
What about you, what would be your prominent false positive?
"Insecurity lives in constant terror of loss. Insecure people are always afraid that something or somebody is going to be taken from them" (54)
ReplyDeleteWhat are you afraid of loosing at this very moment?
For me:My happiness and friendships
May the LORD answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure - Pslam 20:1
This book is a real eye opener and I'm only on Chapter 3!
ReplyDeleteFor me, my false positives are money and popularity. Very difficult to look at yourself and realize where you have been placing your values or priorities!
I definitely fear loosing friends. Sometimes I amaze myself by sabatoging the very thing I fear loosing! Why do I do that??
Thank you for the opportunity to study this book!
Even though I'm reading the other book, I have to respond to the"sabatoging the very thing I fear loosing." I know exactly what you mean. I finally recognized this a few years ago in regards to my marriage. I actually created the situation that hadn't happened yet by MY words and actions to my husband. I was so afraid of what he might do, that I created the situation for him to do it and then said,"see! I knew you would do that!" How unfair! And it all stemmed from my insecurity as a wife. Praise God I learned and am learning that I am God's creation and He will perfect me as HE determines, not me or anyone else. What freedom that is.
ReplyDeleteTo cabincountry - WOW! Sometimes you say something and don't think it will resonate with anyone else. It is so comforting to know that I am not the only one struggling! It is freedom, isn't it, to realize that no matter how we push things it will happen in God's timing and that makes it perfect. How lovely to rest in Him!
ReplyDeleteWell, chapters 5 & 6 down. I think I will be rereading Chapter 5. I recognize some roots in my life but the exact cause is eluding me. I will be rereading that chapter and slowly going over each root. Perhaps, if I can identify the cause it will be easier to rid it from my life!
ReplyDeleteI reread those chapters and although the exact cause of my insecurities is eluding me they still steadily sound within me. Especially the part about being worthy of being loved, liked, persued and kept! I feel within myself that I am worthless, sometimes. I battle with those feelings constantly and it is wonderful that God does love me, like me, persue me and wants to keep me with Him! Those are the thoughts I must keep with me.
ReplyDeleteFINISHED!!! And I must say that I am honored that Beth Moore would write a book entirely about ME!! (Yes, that was me admitting that I am a majorly insecure woman. I was relieved to read that sensitive and insecure are NOT the same thing. I am by nature very sensitve and I can't imagine trying to change that. "We all fear that we aren't who we are pretending to be?" It always amazes me how many people think I am a natural redhead.lol Guess I'm pretty good at pretending to be one. Some people have described me as "looking like I have it all together" (key word here "looking". It's easy to fool others but God knows the truth.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed reading the comments. I'm not reading the books but it sure sounds like I should be!
ReplyDeleteIt does take courage to really look at yourself and really "see" what God sees. Let's keep growing!
How many of us live life with the constant expectation that something bad is about to happen? As Beth says, “this is a miserable trap of self-inflicted insecurity!” How many of us don’t like change? How many of us don’t try new things or meet new people because we like our comfort zone to be in a radar in which we set a long time ago? Do not be afraid of the changes God throws your way. “God doesn’t use change to destroy us or to distract us but to coax us to the next level of character, experience, compassion, and destiny.” (80)
ReplyDelete“Psychologically dependent upon crisis,” (80)…really? This is extremely heartbreaking…If someone does not have a present crisis, they will learn to create one. My heart goes out to them. Why do we do this to ourselves? If life were not hard enough!
To troutmanx6 - I've realized "feeling worthy" does not happen over night. It takes time to believe it- (God). I grew up feeling I was never good enough for my parents. There are still times I feel unless I have done something worthy for my Dad to brag about, I won't get his attention. Maybe that has contributed to my "type-A" personality- constantly driven to succeed. This spills over to my family and friends' relationships,too. I constantly think I'm not doing enough for them. I'm letting them down. Satan uses these feelings to prevent me from flying free.(my new favorite expression)
ReplyDeleteThere's such a fine line between recognizing our true shortcomings and letting God change those and believing Satan's lies about our shortcomings that aren't really there. Don't get discouraged...spiritual maturity comes with time and pain... we ARE being refined aren't we? That means sometimes there will be pain as we grow. But remember this,God has the salve to soothe our hurting souls.
To cabincountry - Although I am not what most people would describe as "type A", I feel that driving need to succeed and constantly doing for others. Sometimes so constantly putting others first that I neglect myself, my relationship with God and my relationship with my family.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult at times to distinguish between true short-comings and satan's lies. I struggle with looking at my past and believing satan when he tells me I am still that same girl. I try to remind myself that although I am far from being perfected in His image, I have been refined through fire through some things and am no longer the same person
In reading chapter 7 and 8, I started to realize something about myself. I have not let God clothe me in strength and dignity. In an attempt to have people like me and trust me, I expose myself. I am willing to tell all to let a person know that I am trustworthy! How insecure and silly is that!?! How is exposing myself showing others that I am trustworthy? I realize now that I can be confident around other people and be there for them without totally exposing myself. I am clothed with strength and dignity!
Chapter 5 in the other book, "Kaleidoscope", talks about Proverbs17:27a-He who has knowledge spares his words. Patsy titled this chapter- "Babbling". You made me think of this chapter with your need to tell all. I thought about myself...there's another view of this verse...People, like me who are great with words, think fast with words, therefore tend to be quicker to hurt with their words.So even though I may not "babble" (although at times I do) I definitely need to put this verse into action. Think before I speak.
ReplyDeleteChapter 9 - Oohhh WOW! Praise the Lord for the begining of healing! No I was not instantly changed but I am definitely more at peace with myself. Only through the Lord my Savior!
ReplyDeleteHas insecurity ever made a fool of you?
ReplyDeleteChapter 7
Who has finished chapter 9: A time and a place to heal? I found some quiet time and read out loud Beth’s prayer for healing. I would love to write all of the prayer out for those following our blog without a book in hand, but the prayer is too long. I have never prayed a prayer in which every word touched my heart and I wanted to cry out for healing. Here is a glimpse into the prayer…
ReplyDeleteI come now, Lord, to the apex of my petition: please restore to my soul all that insecurity has stolen from me. Overturn every single thing the enemy meant for evil into something good. Perform a miracle on me, Lord. Cover me with Your trustworthy hand. Clothe me with strength and dignity. Transform what drives me. Make me a courageous woman in this harrowing culture…Because of Your mercy, Lord, I am no fool. Only a wise woman shifts her trust to You (173).
Did anyone else have a favorite line(s) in the Beth's prayer that you would like share?