I really struggle with vanity and I am really insecure about the way I look, I can barely get through a movie or even look at a billboard without having thoughts about how much I wish I looked like the leading actress/model. I have a sort of obsession with wanting to look perfect and looking worldly with make up and the revealing clothes. I know its wrong and that God hates vanity but i always feel so inferior and "ugly" without these things. Its damaging my relationship with God because I am always having negative thoughts and putting myself down instead of focusing on Him. I already took a step in the right direction by praying and asking God to get rid of these negative thoughts about myself everytime they cross my mind, it really helps a lot and I am already beginning to feel better and slowly coming to accept and be happy with the way God made me. But I still struggle form time to time, Is their any scripture about this issue that could help me out ?
How can I stop being insecure ?
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happyharold4
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Once you settle the issue in your heart that you are loved by God in such a pure way and begin to grasp that you really are His beloved, you'll find yourself putting your confidence in Him more and more and in yourself less and less---It's a process of growth so hang in there----God's children are all lovely to Him just as we are---Actually it's a very liberating feeling to know you really don't have to put on any facades to please Him---He is no respecter of persons so attractiveness, intelligence, social skills, etc-etc, don't cut it with Him-----Also encourage yourself with the fact that He's going to hang with you, "Being confident of this very thing, that He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it til the day of Jesus Christ"
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Jacob123
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"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
Just remember that God shaped you in his own image and loves you no matter what!
Just remember that God shaped you in his own image and loves you no matter what!
happyharold4
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Brighthouse
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Hi Sister Smile! Do not ever think only women suffer from this problem,men do to!! Please consider this,as I did,I believe this will help you put your more inportant things like Jesus more first then self as I had to! Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 next Ecclesiastes 2:21-23 really both whole chapter so you get the full inpact, and finally!! this really kicked me in the head!!
Romans 8:12-30! Exalted living verses 12-17 and expectant living 18-30 and then exultant living 8:31-39! What I noticed dear sister in Christ, is to turn this all around!! instead of looking to our ourward appearence turn to our inside appearence,for by doing this,you will find something as I did quite amazing!!
Your out ward appearnece become more radient and beems a beautiful light from Jesus in you,to the outside world! You will know when this happenes!! Your confidence goes way up,and you will understand as I did,the all we do in life,and all we see in life, is but a moment in time,what lasts forever is our relationship with a Father who has loved you before you were even born! ( psalm 139:12-18!!)
For a greater inpact on this, please read these scripture outloud , so you can hear,with your own ears, what the Lord is telling us!!( rom 10:17) It is pretty cool!! and by the time you are done!! LOL Why sister you will feel much better in yourself as well!! Blessing always to you,from our Jesus!
Romans 8:12-30! Exalted living verses 12-17 and expectant living 18-30 and then exultant living 8:31-39! What I noticed dear sister in Christ, is to turn this all around!! instead of looking to our ourward appearence turn to our inside appearence,for by doing this,you will find something as I did quite amazing!!
Your out ward appearnece become more radient and beems a beautiful light from Jesus in you,to the outside world! You will know when this happenes!! Your confidence goes way up,and you will understand as I did,the all we do in life,and all we see in life, is but a moment in time,what lasts forever is our relationship with a Father who has loved you before you were even born! ( psalm 139:12-18!!)
For a greater inpact on this, please read these scripture outloud , so you can hear,with your own ears, what the Lord is telling us!!( rom 10:17) It is pretty cool!! and by the time you are done!! LOL Why sister you will feel much better in yourself as well!! Blessing always to you,from our Jesus!
Hekuran
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A few things
Maybe try this: Imagine that somebody else - a friend - has your face, your physical appearance down to the very last detail. And woe! that poor person is struggling with vanity and feeling that she is ugly and insecurity about her appearance and inferiority.
What would you say to her? How would you want to encourage her, and what could you tell her about herself that would help her put things in perspective. You could even get a photo, look at her, and give her your advice.
My suggested reading for you - in line with Brighthouse's suggestion - is 1 John 3 1-3
- Who told you that looking good was wrong? I have never read that in the Bible. Yes, John the Baptist wore camel hair sackcloth but Esther spent a year on her make-up. You don't need to wear revealing clothes to be confident that you look good.
- You will never look as perfect as billboard models 1) they are professionals - their lives are devoted to looking good. 2) they appear under customised lighting after make-up by experts 3) all blemishes and imperfections are dealt with by Photoshop. It's a manufactured image, not reality. Not even the models can live up to their own images.
- Brighthouse is absolutely right to point to confidence and security and receiving God's love. If you can nurture that, I am sure it will make a difference.
Maybe try this: Imagine that somebody else - a friend - has your face, your physical appearance down to the very last detail. And woe! that poor person is struggling with vanity and feeling that she is ugly and insecurity about her appearance and inferiority.
What would you say to her? How would you want to encourage her, and what could you tell her about herself that would help her put things in perspective. You could even get a photo, look at her, and give her your advice.
My suggested reading for you - in line with Brighthouse's suggestion - is 1 John 3 1-3
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Thank you all for your words of encouragement, It has been getting easier and easier every single day to let go of my insecurity. As I continued praying and trusting in God I began caring less and less about what people think. I cannot even explain how liberating it is knowing God doesn't need a facade (as HappyHarold said)
