5 Ways to Prevent Mistaken Identity

I’d love to connect with you! Would you be so kind as to follow me on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to get my posts in your email in box? All the icons for doing so are in the top of the sidebar under the word “subscribe”. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today devotion readers. If the rest of you haven’t read my devotion, click here to do so.

Mistaken identity. I do it all the time around here since we share a computer with our teens.

I think I am logged in as me, but I find I am cruising the Internet as someone else.

Spiritually it is also easy to have mistaken identity; to believe we are someone we are not. Satan’s biggest scheme is to make us doubt God and what He says to and about us. It is his oldest trick in the book.

Here are some ways to prevent identity theft by Satan; how to keep your mind centered on what God thinks about you.

Leave a comment and you may win a signed copy of Renee Swope’s book A Confident Heart.

5 Ways to Prevent Mistaken Identity

1. Read God’s Word. Though that sounds simplistic, I know the days I struggle with wrong thoughts about myself are the ones where it has been a few days since I cracked my Bible. Such tools as You Version on your smart phone or a small Bible that will fit in your purse can help you work reading the Bible into your busy schedule.

2. Find and replace.  Just like the feature on your computer, you can find those destructive words you are tempted to believe about yourself and replace them with God’s truth. I use www.biblegateway.com to locate scriptures by searching key words.

If you think you are incapable of living a godly life because you just can’t seem to do it, find 2 Timothy 1:9 that says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time”

If you feel you aren’t wanted or loved, find Colossians 3:12 that states,  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Each time Satan tries to whisper you aren’t good enough, let God shout that you are.

3. Don’t go it alone. Find a friend who will be available for you to call on those days when your thinking about yourself is askew. My friend Mary has talked me off the ledge and back down to reality on many days when I was tempted to take the leap head-first into wrong thinking.

4. Grab a pen.  I find that getting alone and writing my thoughts to God in a journal or notebook helps me to slow down and think more clearly. Be honest. Tell Him your fears, failures and desires for change. Nothing you can say will surprise Him. He knows it all. And He loves you anyway.

5. Grab a book. Besides Renee’s great book listed above, here are a few of my favorite books that help me to remember who and whose I am:

~ Crazy Love  by Francis Chan.

~ Self Talk, Soul Talk  by Jennifer Rothschild.

~ My Utmost for His Highest  by Oswald Chambers.

~ Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free  by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Now, to be entered to win Renee’s book, leave a comment with the lie you are most tempted to believe about yourself. Don’t forget to scroll down to the other two giveaways this week: the beach-themed gift centered on the novel The Guest Book and yesterday’s Christmas in July giveaway. All winners announced tomorrow.

129 Comments

  1. My biggest struggle is ALWAYS feeling LESS THAN. Never good enough. Doesn’t matter what it is, job performance, being mom, taking care of my mom, dealing with my family, MY RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, etc. I am so tired of feeling this way!

  2. It is definitely a daily struggle, but I am hopeful because of Gods word giving me that root that becomes a strong foundation. Without Christ,I don’t know how that is possible!

  3. I struggle with anyone truly loving me and struggle with feeling accepted by God. I’ve been married twice and both husbands left. They both basically said the same thing, ” don’t know how many years I have left but don’t want to spend it with you.” It does something to your self worth and with the choices I’ve made it’s difficult to feel and believe that God loves me. It’s so difficult because it’s not a tangible thing. I’ve told God I never want to marry again but try to fall in love with Him and experience His love.

  4. I would like to win the book Confident Heart because I need spiritually lifted up. I have lost all confidence in myself including being a mother of adult children, aging and not feeling pretty, not having a “career”, etc. I get depressed often and try wholeheartedly to overcome a lot of this. I attend church regularly but I would like something during the times I’m not at church to keep me spiritually “high.” I struggle with beauty and that its a real “big one” for me. I workout all the time and am so tired all the time. I feel it’s not doing much at all. I struggle with this all the time. I don’t go to the beach because I feel like I don’t deserve to do nice things or vacations if I can’t eat better. If I can’t control my weight and body size then I don’t deserve to do anything fun.

  5. Hi Karen,
    I loved your devo and 5 tips! This all ties in with the book I proposed at She Speaks – “Who am I? – Seeking God’s Answer to an Age-Old Question.” It’s a book I need to write only because it’s one I need to read! It was great to say hello as the conference came to a close…thanks for your part in making the weekend wonderful! Still trying to grasp all that took place! Be you, Jill

  6. So, recently retired from a job after 30 years…I was the go to person and knew more than the new people had already forgotten. At my new job, I am very green and know very little and it is very hard for me. The devil has propped himself up on my shoulder and has started whispering in my ear that I will never make it, I am not good enough, they don’t like me, it’s just a matter of time….I try to flick him off with my fingers, but he climbs right back up! Then I got to the ladies room, afterall, he shouldn’t be in there. It is quiet. I sit and i breath deeply and ask my Father to give me a hug and let me know everything will be ok and that I am good enough for this new job and the people do like me and I also ask Him to help me not be so hard on myself. I can be my worst critic. Sometimes I have to make several trips to the “throne” (no pun intended!) but I usually come back to reality and everything really is ok. Praise the Lord for pray and bathrooms!

  7. Were you at my house last night? This post was so timely. My husband and I went yet another round on how “I” can never keep up with things, I start and don’t finish projects – basically made me feel like I’m worthless as a mom and wife. He had valid reasons to be upset – just not the way he should’ve talked to me. I fear that I’ll never stand up the way I should…and that i”m passing that on to my kids…

  8. This sounds so much like myself lately. I am struggling with who I am and what I’m doing. I know it is just a season, but I also realize that it is up to me to make the choice to seek HIM and read HIS word.

  9. I am always comparing myself to others and I never think I am good enough. Whether it be my physical appearance or just not being able to do things as good as others. I have to constantly remind myself how great I really am.

  10. The lie I hear most often is that I’m not good enough and I don’t measure up to what God expects. The truth is, I can never be enough on my own. It’s Christ in me that is more than enough! Praise be to God!

  11. Is what’s wrong with me that i cant seem to remain In a relationship. I keep being cheating on am i not good enough.

  12. I grew up in a different envirnonment. My parents divorced when I was 7. My mother had a difficult time coping with the divorce, so she turned to drugs. She would leave my younger sister and I alone for days at a time without food or money. The utilites were often being shut off because she neglected to pay the bills on time. My father never stepped in to help out. Eventually, my maternal grandparents saw the situation we were living in. They took my sister and I in, but so much emotional damage had already been done by both of my parents. My mom finally turned her life around and began going back to church. My husband and I haad been married 1 1/2 years when my mom was diagnosed with cancer of the stomach and given a 5% chance of survival. A few months later, we learned that I was pregnaant with our first child that I miscarried a month later. As my mom’s cancer progressed, I got pregnant again a year later. I miscarried 6 weeks later and then a month later my mom panassed away. I was a mess, emotionally speaking. I told my husband that I was ok with not having children. The pressure was finally off, (from our viewpoint, we still got questions fromfamily members). Shortly after our 5th anniversary, we were able to annouce our pregnancy. We had a son, born in January of 2008. Then a daughter with special needs in January of 2010 and another daughter in March 2011. We now have a 1, 2 and 4 year old. Without having a strong mother figure in my life, I tell myself that I can’t do this. There is no way I can be a good Christian mother to three beautiful children that God entrusted me with! I grew up on hot dogs and McDonald’s, I watched too much tv and I never went to church. How can a person with that kind of background be a good mother? These are the lies and insecurities that slip into my mind from time to time. It is something that I pray about OFTEN!!! Sometimes, I worry about it so much that I overdo things.

  13. Wow! Loved that encouragement! Lets see, where do I begin on my daily struggles… I would have to say dealing with anger & how I don’t do well in this area when dealing with my 4 children every second of everyday. I found your site while reading about you in the “Made to Crave devotional”. I’m excited to follow you on Facebook! God Bless!
    Amy

  14. Hi,
    The devotion this morning was just what I needed. Was feeling unwanted and that I should be different. Prayed the Lord would show me how to think about the situation that prompted those feelings and your devotion was an answer to prayer. Keep up the great work, I know I need the encouragement you bring.

  15. To read so many of these posts….so many of us feeling the same way: inadequate, failures, fearful, .May I offer another resource that has been a profound blessing to me? Dr. Daniel Amen has written several FANTASTIC books on the health of the brain…and your thoughts and your physical body…… all of which affects your sweet soul. He is also a beloved brother in Christ. And Bill Cosby endorses him. Now there you go!!!! The library has all of his books, but the two that wowed me where” Healing the Hardware of The Soul”, and “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body”. No quackery here, solid research, doable advice, and the sweet blessing of Dr. Amen (LOVE his name!!) being a believer in Jesus Christ….a priceless resource . Come on Ladies….We are NEEDED in this sad world. Love each of you…praying for each of you.

  16. I struggle with believing that I am not good enough…this effects everything from mental to physical to emotional. Also believe the lie of shoulda, woulda, coulda. A great book on the subject is JEnnifer Rothschild’s book Me, Myself and Lies. Opened my eyes to a lot of lies that I didn’t even know I was believing because they had been part of my life for so long.

  17. I have found myself lately believing that I am alone and that is how I am suppose to be. I have been struggling with reading my bible daily, praying and wanting to email the ladies in the church a daily bible verse. I feel inadequate both at home and at work.

  18. I love how your devotion ties in with my reading of Self Talk, Soul Talk. The lie I struggle with most is that I’m not loveable or good enough for others.

  19. I have always been a confident person, in my abilities and physical self. Until I had a baby. I knew it would change things, but i never thought i would find myself feeling insecure about my body being a situational songe mom with a deployed husband, i dont have the time every day to work out and there are days when i struggle with that big time i hear satan telling me I’m too lazy and fat, when in reality i know im perfectly healthy. We just moved to a totally new location with the military, and I sometimes fall into the way of thinking that possibly new friends are judging me by my weight. (also know that I am really not that big). On top of that, I sometimes struggle with the fact that I gave up a nursing career to be a stay at home mom and wife to the military, when I see my friends and brother/his wife going back and furthering their education, there comes Satan again telling me I’m not good enough. Knowing full well this is exactly my calling and where I’m suppose to be. Thank you so much for your post and devotional today. It came at a perfect time (God is amazing like that!) to remind me of who I am in Christ!

  20. is exactly what I needed to hear today. The lie that I most am tempted to believe is that I am not smart enough, not capable enough that I don’t measure up to other people’s expectations, and that love is conditional. I know that God loves me unconditionally. It just would be nice to feel it from the people who I love.

  21. I struggle with the thought that I don’t know enought and I’m not smart enought. I have to get with God to feel good about myself and not compare myself to others. When I do, I’m always the one on the bottom, others are always better than me. You had 5 very good things to do and the book sound wonderful.

  22. For so long I thought God couldn’t use me because of my past. Then after years of counselling, Bible study, Sunday School, attending church regularly,and lots of prayer, I knew God would use me. The problem is that it doesn’t take much for me to hear the old voices and they come when least expected. Your tips are wonderful. I’m going to copy them and put them where I see them everyday. Thank you and blessings.

  23. The lie I believe everyday is “I will never be good enough smart enough pretty enough secure in who i am confident in what im worth ………..I have little to bring any relationship and relationships are not safe anyway; they just bring hurt and betrayal.”

Leave a Reply to Heather V Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *