HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER A LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE

HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER A LACK OF

SELF-CONFIDENCE

INTRODUCTION: This lesson is not a study of the psychology of positive thinking.  We are also not talking about the Law of Attraction.  It is a lesson for Christians on how to sustain and improve their spiritual and natural lives through self-confidence. The true roots of self-confidence. Christian discipleship is not theoretical, but practical and vital.

The lack of self-confidence has destroyed more good than the world will ever know. It has held back geniuses from creating, artists from painting, and preachers from preaching. Lack of self-confidence has wasted man’s creative potential. It has caused unhappiness. It has contributed to human failure.

No human is born with confidence, but as parents we can instill this in our children, and the next generation. Confidence is trust and a human must develop it. You can develop self-confidence and maintain it.

Lack of confidence is personality defeat. It crushes the spirit of the person and causes maladjustment, sometimes with devastating results.

Websters Dictionary: Confidence

The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.

Opening Text:

Romans 8:37 

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

1. WHAT IS A LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE?

A. First, one must know what confidence is. It comes to us from a Latin word meaning:

Websters Dictionary: Self-Confidence

A feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgement.

1) To trust

2) To put faith in

3) To have reliance

4) To feel secure

5) The opposite of overconfidence

1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

or presumption

Romans 12:3 NKJV

³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

B. Lack of self-confidence is revealed in:

1) Diffidence or timidity- lack of courage or confidence

2) Distrust- the feeling that something or someone cannot be relied upon.

3) Discouragement- A loss of confidence

4) Despair- The complete loss of hope

5) Discontent- lack of contentment; dissatisfaction, with one’s circumstances.   

6) Disappointment- sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.   

7) Depression-  a state of feeling sad : low spirits

 

2. WHAT CAN CAUSE A LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE?

A. Loss of personal self-respect through sin

B. Being given too much responsibility too early in life

C. Coming under heavy criticism while young

D. A natural lack of ability in a specific area of life or experience.  

E. Being unprepared for a given task

 

3. SYMPTOMS OF A LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE

A. Fear

B. Feeling unsure. If an athlete feels certain he can clear the hurdle, then he can jump it; if he feel unsure, he will probably hit the bar.

If a singer is confident, he can reach a high note, he most likely will; if he is afraid, he will miss it.

 

4. HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

Spiritual ways that increase self-confidence:

A. The new birth, or salvation, brings tremendous self-confidence.

               Galatians 6:15 NKJV

¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

 

B. Being led by the Holy Spirit will bring confidence.

Romans 8:14

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

 

Peter faced the rulers and proclaimed that it is better to obey God rather than man.

Acts 5:29

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Stephen faced the religious rulers of the synagogue.

Acts 6:8 & 15

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

v. 15 “And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

Practical ways to increase self-confidence

C. Looking right and dressing right creates self-confidence. Make your appearance attractive and appropriate. You will not worry about how you look when you are well-groomed. Your looks often determine your acceptance or rejection with new acquaintances.

D. Try hard. The art of trying creates confidence.

E. Self-confidence grows out of competence. Competence comes from hard work.

F. Be prepared in advance.

“By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail” Benjamin Franklin

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.- unknown

Proverbs 21:5

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

 

G. To possess self-confidence you must understand yourself. You must understand your attitude.

                              2 Corinthians 13:5

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you ^[a]are disqualified.

 

H. Your feelings or emotions must be founded in Christ.

5. MEN WHO LACKED SELF-CONFIDENCE BUT CHANGED

It is amazing how a defeated person can be miraculously transformed into a victorious challenger!

A.     Moses told God that he could not speak.

Exodus 4:10  “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”

B.     Jeremiah said, “I am a child.”

Jeremiah 1:6 “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.”

C.    Famous speakers with speech impediments:

 

a.      James Earl Jones

b.     Winston Churchhill

c.      Thomas Jefferson

d.     Sir Isaac Newton

e.      Barbara Walters

f.        Marilyn Manroe

g.      Elvis

h.     Ed Sheeran

i.         Julia Roberts

j.         Nicole Kidman to name a few….

 

6. BELIEVE THE BIBLE’S PROMISES

A. Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

B. I John 4:4

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

C.    Luke 10:19

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

D.    Acts 1:8

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

E.     Psalm 91:7

“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

F.      Psalm 18:29

“For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”

7. GOD WANTS YOU TO BE SELF-CONFIDENT

A. It is not bigotry or self-pride to be confident.

B. Confidence is knowing that through Christ all things are possible.

8. SELF-CONFIDENCE IS NOT A COSMETIC TO COVER THE FACE

Self-confidence is not an outside cover but comes from deep inside and is the outflowing of internal strength.

 

Websters Dictionary: Self-Confidence

A feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgement.

 

The Holy Spirit helps us in our abilities:

            Being filled and lead by the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8  NKJV

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit helps us in our quality:

            The New Covenant

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 NKJV

¹⁶ Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

The Holy Spirit helps us in our judgement:

Peters trance in Acts 10

1 Corinthians 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 

What Does the Holy Spirit use to guide our self-confidence which is our ability, quality, and judgements:

 

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.