I admit that I have been harassed with “less than” thinking; thinking otherwise is somewhat new and risky. There is a lot of security in thinking that I am less than competent, for in thinking so, I don’t have to take risks. Thinking that I am too broken to be used of God means that I don’t have to make any efforts; and to think that I am poorly equipped or ungifted suggests no vision. Considering my insecurities, seeing myself how I think others see me (negatively), thinking that I have sinned too much, and considering my internal voices far too loud to hear the voice of God, precludes me from listening for His voice and responding to what He is saying in the moment.

It is a safe thing to say that God speaks to us through His Word–recognizing that He has fresh, personal words, which He speaks through His Holy Spirit, takes the Word out of the box, out of the structure, and releases Him into our lives. God doesn’t contradict; rather He magnifies – He must increase and I must decrease. When I am focusing on my “less thans”, I am increasing. When I confess that I am more than conqueror through Him, he is increasing.

I keep coming back to the scripture in 1 John 5:4, 5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? The issue is all about who I’m believing – the lies that the enemy, the world, and my old, before Christ nature or what God is saying about me. He says that I am more than conqueror (Romans 8:37), He says that I can do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13), His Word tells me that I have a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11), He tells me that if I trust Him (and to not lean on my own understanding), He will direct my paths (Prov. 3:4, 5).

Less Than thinking is not humility, it is sin! What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:31-34