I cannot imagine how miserable I would be if I did not have the salvation of Christ.
According to the lecture and notes in Lesson 1, salvation is not merely a possession that we display on a bookshelf like a trophy. It is an active work of God that we are called to live out. God has given us the freedom and authority to live out our faith without shame. Yet, in reality, we may struggle with imposter syndrome, worrying about how other people might judge us or whether we are truly good enough.
You are not alone.
The devil tries to accuse believers in Christ and make us feel like imposters or fakes. He wants us to doubt our identity in Jesus Christ. But when we become confident in who we are in Christ, we can stand firm in prayer in Jesus’ name.
So I have been practicing three steps to fight back against the devil’s bullying.
The first step is to stand firm and block the punch.
When I hear an accusation such as, “You are selfish,” I pause as I stand firm in my position as God’s beloved daughter and saint, instead of immediately agreeing with that voice. I turn to Jesus and ask, “Lord, is this voice/thought from You?”
If I am not sure, I simply pray:
“Father God, if I have sinned against You by being selfish, please forgive me. Thank You for cleansing me from this sin. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.”
Then I allow God to bring peace to my mind.
The second step is to punch back.
If the accusing thought continues to harass me, I confidently say:
“In Jesus Christ’s name, I reject this accusation. I claim God’s love so that I have the love of Jesus Christ for myself and for others.”
I can also speak a Scripture verse that the Holy Spirit brings to my mind.
The third step is to replace the lie with God’s truth.
Sometimes we may think that we are not good enough to share the gospel in a powerful way, like Paul. But this can become another sinful habit—the habit of comparing ourselves with others and judging ourselves.
I have been working on building a truthful habit of thinking in the spirit to replace the sinful habits of the flesh. I have been a believer for more than 30 years, and I am still practicing my spiritual martial art in this way.
Hiding our sharing, talents, or gifts is not necessarily humility; sometimes it is self-hindrance.
Comparing ourselves with others is not the same as trying to improve ourselves. It can become self-judgment, as though we were putting ourselves in God’s place as the judge.
Agreeing with the accusing thoughts is not guarding our hearts, but it gives the devil a foothold.
May God’s Word of truth continue to strengthen our faith, just as muscle cells grow bigger when they receive the nourishment they need. May the “muscle” of our faith continue to grow stronger as we receive His truth about who He is and who we are in Jesus Christ.
And we have conquered the devil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11)
In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.