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Do you ever feel like a complete and total failure? Do you ever feel like a mild loser?
Either way, this podcast will help. We’ll go through the self-condemnation questions and insecurity Bible verses from I Deserve a Donut with our own failures in mind.
To listen on iTunes: click here
Here are the questions we’ll be discussing (these are in the book and the android app, but they’re not in the iPhone app as I wrote them after publishing the app):
Insecurity: Self-Condemnation Questions
- Why do you think you’re a failure (terrible person, bad Christian, etc.)?
- Does that really make you a failure (terrible person/bad Christian, etc.)? Why or why not? *
- Whose standards are you using to determine whether or not you’re acceptable?
- What does God think of those standards?
- How does God feel about you? (See insecurity verses for ideas.)
- God is not a condemning perfectionist parent. He’s a loving Father who says, “Come to me, my beloved, and let me help.” In what areas do you need help?
- Take some time to ask Him to help you with those areas.
- Is there anything you need to accept?
- Is there anything God wants you to do?
- What can you thank God for in this situation?
* If you’re having a hard time answering this question, look through the insecurity verses and think about grace. If you’re going the bad Christian route, think about the life of David and Romans 3:23.
Possible things you’ll need to accept: that you’ll never be as good as you want to be, that others will see your imperfections (just as you see their imperfections), and that you’ll fail at times. Everyone does—it’s part of the human condition, so you might as well get used to it!
Possible things you’ll need to confess: condemning someone God loves (you!), giving yourself permission to give up because you feel like a failure, and making “success” more important than God wants you to make it.
Click on the following link for the insecurity Bible verses: Insecurity Bible Verses
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Floyd says
This is a good reminder for me to not try and take the role of God… Which is exactly what we do when we become the judge and make up the rules to impose on ourselves and those around us.
Barb Raveling says
That’s an interesting way to look at it. I see that with others, hadn’t thought of it with myself, but you’re right, I think it applies. Interesting!
BlessingCounter - Deb Wolf says
Good stuff Barb! I think one of the problems is worrying about what “others” think. We wonder if they think we failed, or think less of us because of a perceived failure. I love the way you consistently point us to take control of our thoughts and replace them with truth! Blessings!
Barb Raveling says
That’s a good point, Deb. It’s easy to see ourselves through the perceived eyes of others. And the funny thing is that they’re usually not as hard on us as we are on ourselves!
Bernard Haynes says
Love the questions. You are doing a great job making us think the way God wants us to think.
Barb Raveling says
Thanks, Bernard!
Samele Thorner says
I’m a new subscriber to your blog. I am currently listening to the podcasts. How do you feel about “renewing your mind” about multiple areas at one time? Is it better to focus on one area at a time? Thank you for all you do.
Barb Raveling says
Hi Samele! I think it’s fine to renew your mind about more than one area at a time. I do. :) Sometimes I just renew my mind about whatever comes up during the day and at other times I have a specific project. If I have a specific project, that gets my priority in terms of time spent renewing my mind, but I still renew my mind about other things that pop up. If you’re going to go for specific projects, I would probably limit it to two unless neither one of them were very time-consuming. Hope that answers your question!