I didn’t get a chance to read Proverbs 27 yesterday, so I read it today.  These scriptures prompted me to write this post:

Proverbs 27:1-2
DO NOT boast of [yourself and] tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth.  Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.   (Amplified Version)

Have you ever been around people who always brag about themselves?

I don’t know about you, but it makes me so uncomfortable.  The entire time the person is talking I hear a voice from my childhood, “Don’t toot your own horn.”  I guess that is the southern version of those scriptures.

My daughter has a friend who likes to “out-do” her no matter what she does or says or does.  If she counts to 100, this friend will say, “Oh, I did that” then add more to the story.   I am constantly telling these girls they are NOT competing.   Seeing a child do this makes it easy to see that insecurity is behind it.  She MUST be the best, the most experienced, on top of the game — at least in her own mind.

Are adults the same way?  Is it a root of insecurity when people have to be the most gifted?  They believe have a much more special relationship — even with God (even though the scriptures state that God is no respecter of people).   I remember meeting a woman years ago who would say, “I’m the apple of my Father’s eye,” but she made it sound like God loved her more than any of us.  If someone didn’t know the scriptures, they would feel second best to the Father.

Insecure people feel like they have to promote themselves constantly as if they have to prove themselves.  They are often oversensitive and if ever corrected, they become defensive and flee.

I don’t think any of us are 100% free of doubt, but if we see insecurity in our lives we need to spend time with our Father.  He is the Healer and He can set us free.

Beth Moore states that insecurity is a cover-up for unbelief.   You will find the following article helpful as she encourages others how to overcome insecurity.  As always, the answer is Jesus and standing on God’s Word.

Who does GOD say you are?

You can find her interview concerning her book  “So Long Insecurity: You’ve been a bad friend to us” on Christianity today.   Just click HERE.

(Photo credit:  Insecure)