Self-efficacy: Do you believe in YOU?

“If I have a belief that I can do it, I shall

surely acquire the capacity to do it even

if I may not have it at the beginning.”

~Mahatma Gandhi

Scripture:

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.  And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and conquer it; and rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

~Genesis 1:27-28

Perspective:

Psychologist Albert Bandura defined self-efficacy as “one’s belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task.”  I refer to self-efficacy as an “I can do it” attitude!

“Persons who have a strong sense of efficacy deploy

their attention and effort to the demands of the situation

and are spurred by obstacles to greater effort.”

~Albert Bandura

Our beliefs, or the thoughts we let roam freely in our mind, even take over our mind at times, play a major role in how we live our life and even IF we set or accomplish our goals.  What we think, is vital to living the life we desire, or not.  Self-esteem is defined as confidence in one’s own abilities and worth.  However, as Christians, we have an advantage, we do not need to rely solely on our self, we can have confidence in who God says we are and in God being with us every step of the way!  We can have confidence that He will equip us for the work He has set before each of us to accomplish. 

We do not need to be 100% confident in and reliant on our own abilities, but rather in the fact that God is with us wherever we go.  His strength goes far beyond our own strength or understanding.

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not be terrified or intimidated, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:9)

You do not have to be the best, just do your best and trust God for the rest!  If you pray for His guidance and follow His will for your life, He will ensure your goals are met as He, the All-knowing and All-mighty sees fit.

Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord.  (Jeremiah 17:7)

God’s word gives you assurance that you are not a mistake, you were made on purpose and for a purpose by your Heavenly Father.  He has been with you since you were in your mother’s womb, He created you.

For you formed my innermost parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I will give thanks and praise to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. 

(Psalm 139:13-14)

We do not know what tomorrow, or even the next minute, will bring and worrying will not help us or prevent anything from happening, but you can be confident that the Lord is by your side every step of the way!  We must persevere and endure as Jesus did, as we wait for God’s plan in His perfect timing.

But those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength and renew their power; they lift up their wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.  (Proverbs 3:25-26)

When life feels hard, do not let fear rule you, God is still in charge!  Struggle is part of the process, to help you grow through the tough times and prompt you to lean on God. 

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with my righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10)

This is a special and comforting scripture to me and my family.  It is one my youngest son said aloud, “Isaiah 41:10,” when he was about 6 years old, and we were in line at a water park. My husband and I were quietly talking about some trials we were experiencing, while our 3 kids were playing.  None of us knew exactly what it was when he said it, including him, until we got back to our car and looked it up on our phones.  It was exactly what we needed to hear, sent from God through our child!  

You were created with a purpose and while you still walk this earth, God is not done with you yet!  If He is not going to quit, why should you?  Lean on Him for comfort, strength, and guidance.  Recommit to doing so every day or it is easy to get derailed by your own thoughts and worries.

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 1:6)

God wants us to work hard, as if working for Him, in all we do, but to rely on Him for our strength and constant support!  We are limited by numerous factors in this life, however the One who lives in us has infinite strength and power and we are able to access that through our faith.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens and empowers me.  (Philippians 4:13)

Faith is the key to our connection with God.  The more we step out in faith, the more we will see God move in our life.

In whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.  So I ask you not to lose heart at my sufferings on your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.  (Ephesians 3:12)

We are weak but God is strong, and He will not only let us use His strength, but He wants us to do so, He wants us to lean on Him!  His power is made perfect in our weakness.

But He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is being perfected in weakness.”  Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Persevere and endure, good things often take time to achieve!  God must prepare us for what is next in our life through a sanctification process.  Focus on the process rather than just the goal or destination, for it is in the process where we grow.

Do not, therefore, fling away your confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward.  For you have need of patient endurance, so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.  (Hebrews 10:35-36)

The Lord is our Helper, we must surrender to and trust in Him.  Do not be afraid, instead trust Him knowing He is with us no matter what trials we encounter along the way.  He uses our mistakes, and satan’s evil, for our good!

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What will man do to me?”  (Hebrews 13:6)

The spirit of God lives within each of us.  Focus on what He can do rather than what you can’t do!  With Him all things are possible.  Pray for His will for your life and His guidance to lead you there.  Take the time and intentionally listen for His voice in all things throughout the day. 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but of power and of love and of sound judgement and personal discipline.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

Regardless how you feel in the moment, stand firm in the truth of the One who created you and promised to be with you every step of the way, allowing you to use His supernatural strength rather than your own finite strength!

“Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy; it reproduces itself by crippling our willingness to act.

~Howard Zinn

Life Applications:

> What do your thoughts, or self-talk, tell you every day?  Monitor your thoughts throughout each day, maybe set alarms if that helps you to do so throughout the day.  Are your thoughts in any given moment helping you to or hindering you from living your best life, from reaching your goals?

>>Use the link below to fill out a quick self-efficacy scale and see how you rank…

>>>For today, make an intentional effort to talk and listen to God.  Then tomorrow, recommit.  If you seek Him, you will find Him.  Although some people reject Him, He rejects no one!