I'm relatively new to the program (in the middle of my 3rd week), but I'm very hopeful that this program will help me to finally make some real progress in conquering my negative attitudes, perfectionism and generalized anxiety. Every now and then however, I encounter resistance in myself towards certain aspects of the program, especially parts which promote self-confidence and a stronger belief in one's own capabilities. I'd love to have more confidence, but due to my religious nature, I sometimes have trouble seeing self-confidence as a positive thing - I tend to equate self-confidence with self-sufficiency or arrogance, and think that I should only have confidence in God. I'm beginning to see now that self-confidence isn't necessarily opposed to confidence in God (I'm pretty sure God has confidence in me, so shouldn't I as well?), but it's still a struggle sometimes to maintain this perspective. Have any of you ever had similar struggles?
I initially tried posting this in the "Participant Questions and Support Forum", but I no one has replied there so far. If anyone has any thoughts or reflections on this topic, I really would love to hear from you. Thanks.
Self confidence vs. confidence in God?
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Guest
Luc,I have had the same thoughts about building self confidence. I decided to put the whole program in God's hands. Confidence is a gift from God and when it is used to help you get over a disability so you can help others,it becomes a blessing. There are lots of Bible verses you can go to. One I like is "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" Another is "If God be fore me,who can be against me." I know this isn't a obviously Christ based program,but you can make it one. I have a hunch Lucinda and staff are believers in Jesus. Good health to you and God bless you. Dave L.
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grandizzle
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:00 am
Hi Luc,
I am glad to hear about your resistance to the things that you mentioned. I would recommend that you stick with your convictions and proceed with caution.
I have not been doing the program, but having listened to the first CD, I recall it used the word self-esteem a few times. The self-esteem movement from the secular humanist world of psychology has been around for quite a while and had sadly started to prevade the Christian church since around 1970. People can put new spins on words, but the bottom line for me is, how can we be dead to self and claim things like self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency? There is a sense in which we can recognize our value in the sight of God. He counted every one of us as more precious than His own life. But that objective recognition is entirely distinct from the basic self-centeredness of the fallen human race. The fact that Christ died for us should not be focused on us, but on Gods amazing Love. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."--Rom 5:8. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."--Rom 5:10. I'd like to share a couple of books on the subject: "The Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, & Self-Image" by Jay E. Adams and "Christ Esteem: Where the Search For Self-Esteem Ends." by Don Matzat.
There's nothing wrong with confidence, but it must be confidence in God and what He can do and not confidence in the flesh. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,"--Phil. 3:3
I had attended a college class called "Christian Counseling" and dropped it half way through. It was the usual secular humanistic approach to counseling and the Bible was never once cracked open. This is simply because the two do not go together. People today slap a Christian label on all kinds of things in an attempt to serve two masters. "No man can derve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."--Matt 6:24.
God Bless!
I am glad to hear about your resistance to the things that you mentioned. I would recommend that you stick with your convictions and proceed with caution.
I have not been doing the program, but having listened to the first CD, I recall it used the word self-esteem a few times. The self-esteem movement from the secular humanist world of psychology has been around for quite a while and had sadly started to prevade the Christian church since around 1970. People can put new spins on words, but the bottom line for me is, how can we be dead to self and claim things like self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency? There is a sense in which we can recognize our value in the sight of God. He counted every one of us as more precious than His own life. But that objective recognition is entirely distinct from the basic self-centeredness of the fallen human race. The fact that Christ died for us should not be focused on us, but on Gods amazing Love. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."--Rom 5:8. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."--Rom 5:10. I'd like to share a couple of books on the subject: "The Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, & Self-Image" by Jay E. Adams and "Christ Esteem: Where the Search For Self-Esteem Ends." by Don Matzat.
There's nothing wrong with confidence, but it must be confidence in God and what He can do and not confidence in the flesh. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,"--Phil. 3:3
I had attended a college class called "Christian Counseling" and dropped it half way through. It was the usual secular humanistic approach to counseling and the Bible was never once cracked open. This is simply because the two do not go together. People today slap a Christian label on all kinds of things in an attempt to serve two masters. "No man can derve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."--Matt 6:24.
God Bless!
Last edited by GIL on Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
We're not alone, we're together.
Alecia G.
Virginia, USA
Alecia G.
Virginia, USA
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Guest
Originally posted by Dave L.:
Luc,I have had the same thoughts about building self confidence. I decided to put the whole program in God's hands. Confidence is a gift from God and when it is used to help you get over a disability so you can help others,it becomes a blessing. There are lots of Bible verses you can go to. One I like is "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" Another is "If God be fore me,who can be against me." I know this isn't a obviously Christ based program,but you can make it one. I have a hunch Lucinda and staff are believers in Jesus. Good health to you and God bless you. Dave L.