You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.
- Exodus 19:4-5
Have you ever felt like you weren’t enough or didn’t have enough? I sometimes suffer from what I’ve learned is called Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is when you doubt your skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.
When I am at my lowest, this doubt causes anxiety that makes it hard for me to act on anything. I get stuck, and I fall down a hole that is hard to get out of.
I have learned a few tools that have helped me get out of the pit. One tool is to write down 3-5 things that I MUST get done today. Then, I find the easiest 1 or 2 things on my list and knock them out. The momentum I get from doing this usually helps me move forward.
Another tool that I use is thinking about my past successes. I am good enough, I am enough, and I have enough; sometimes I just need to remind myself. Remembering past times when I have proven myself helps pull me out of the pit.
Third, I phone a friend. I have good people around me who can help me take the next, right steps. I have learned how to communicate where I am stuck and ask a friend for advice on what my next steps should be.
This last tool should really be first: I read the Bible and listen to devotional podcasts. Nothing that has happened to me in my life can’t be found in the Bible. There is a story for everything, every thought, and every situation that happens to us all. I just have to trust that God will speak to me if I go to him.
Last week, I wrote a devotional about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. God parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites, freeing them from years of slavery, and for that, you would think the Israelites would be happy, grateful, and thankful. But the journey to the Promised Land was not an easy journey for them, and they got off to a rough start.
For three days after leaving Egypt, they had to walk through the Desert of Shur where they had to search for water. When they finally found water, it was too bitter to drink, and God showed a stick to Moses. Moses threw the stick into the water, and it was then good to drink (Exodus 15:25). God then led them to a place where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
In those first few days, God showed the Israelites that He would provide for them.
The Israelites spent three months traveling through the deserts, and they became angrier and angrier. In Exodus 16: 2-3, they grumbled against Moses and said that they would have rather died in Egyptian slavery than walk and starve through the desert, so God said that he would rain bread down from heaven for them each day.
God told Moses every night He would leave meat for them all, and every morning He would leave bread. His only rule was that they only take enough for that day. God was testing them to see if they would listen and trust that He would provide for them every day.
The Israelites continued to travel from place to place as the Lord commanded (Exodus 17:1), and God continued to provide for them when they asked and even when they complained. On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai and camped there in front of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1).
God then said to Moses, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites (Exodus 19:3-6).”
God then gave Moses and the Israelites the 10 commandments:
1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shall not bear false witness.
10. You shall not covet.
The story of Exodus reminds me that God will always provide what we need when we need it most. Life is not easy. In this world, we will have tests, trials, and tribulations. The most important tests are the tests that we make up in our minds. But as God said, if we obey Him fully and keep His covenant, then we will be His treasured possession.
Remember that empty space is a place, and the devil is always looking for something empty to fill up; especially our thoughts and minds. Stay busy filling your mind with positive things so that there isn’t time and space for negative things. When you fill your mind with positive things, you remind yourself over and over that you truly are enough, you have enough, and what you need but don’t have, God will provide when the time is right!
THIS WEEK
1 - When your mind starts to wander, what is a verse or thought, or affirmation that you can fill it with? One of my favorite verses to remind myself is, “All things work together for the good of those who believe (Romans 8:28). I also like Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
2 - Everyone can't be a great player, but everyone can choose to be a great teammate. We're on lots of teams - family, work, school, and community. Everyone can choose to be a better teammate, and the world NEEDS more great teammates. What can you do to show that you are a great teammate this week? Whose job or life can you make a little easier or better, and what can you do?
For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: The 10 Commandments
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