So long Insecurity

I have been reading a Beth Moore book called "So long insecurity." It has gotten better as i read. I am a fan of Beth Moore, so i decided to read one of her books. I saw this one because the title stuck out to me. As i have read through her heartfelt words, i realized that i was still dealing with insecurities. The book goes into detail about the insecurities that we as women and even men deal with. I have to be honest, i thought i was pretty secure until i picked up this book. I have been able to let certain things actually heal because of things said in this book. Here are some exerpts from the book:

"...By choosing to have a different reaction even prior to having a different emotion, we can affect an immediate sense of heightened security. The reaction leads to a new feeling, and the new feeling leads to more consistent reactions....
one of the most common human claims is that we cannot change the way we feel. that may be true, but we can change the way we think, which will change the way we act. and as we change the way we act, the way we feel also begins to change. in the breaking of every habit, someone wills it first and feels it later. whatever you do, don't shrug your shoulders and decide the prospect is too hard to do and too much to ask. What could be harder than fighting a lifelong battle with insecurity? Thank God we don't have to wait until we feel more secure to start acting more secure. That's the heart of living by faith until we live by sight. By faith you summon what is inside to the outside.
We will always have triggers of insecurity, but we get to decide whether or not we're going to take the bait. I don't recommend having no reaction. we are human beings with God-given emotions and visceral responses that don't always show up politely. one reason God wrapped our souls in limber flesh was to give our emotions a means of expression.

We can be hurt without being insecure.
we can be diappointed without also being insecure.
we can be shocked without also being insecure.
We can be unsure without also being insecure.
we can even be humbled without also being insecure.

Insecurity is more than a complex emotion. it is a lie about our God-sanctioned condition. While something may cause us to feel sad, confused, angry, or threatened, we have the power to choose whether or not it gets to assault our security. The next time someone says or does something to you that has the capacity to dent your security, instantly think one of these thoughts toward that person:
You can hurt my feelings, but you cannot have my security. i won't let you. it's mine to keep. you cannot have it. Who you are doesn't dwarf who i am. my security is mine to keep. You cannot have it."

I have found that not only people but also situations and our culture can make us insecure. in the book there was a story about a woman who was standing in line at a grocery store and she looked at a magazine cover and there of course there were women with huge breasts in swimsuits. This woman, had a double mastectomy because of cancer. So everywhere she went she only saw what she did not have...breasts. While waiting in line, she silently testified to God and said, 'nothing has the power to make me less of a woman. i'm not going to let a pair of breasts tell me who i'm not.' How awesome!

We as women are clothed with dignity and strength. Proverbs 31:25 "She is clothed with dignity and strength..."

I am not done with the book yet, but i already feel so empowered. Not in a feminist way like "all men are dogs" kind of thing. I just am finding out more and more about the woman God created me to be - free from worry, fear, and insecurity....And i want to live my life clothed with dignity and strength!