God>Me

He must become greater; I must become less.

John 3:30 NIV

Suggested Reading: John 3:22-36, James 4:1-10, Psalm 40

Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, knew his position and his purpose. John's followers informed John that the one he identified as the Messiah was also baptizing and people were prefering Him over John, John celebrated that information. He didn't become insecure by comparing numbers. He didn't try to pump up his own ego to show himself as more important. He didn't talk ugly of Jesus so that he looked better. He didn't try to draw more attention to himself or make excuses as to why he's not having more of the crowd coming to him. No, he knew his position and his purpose and was content and filled with joy that Jesus was being exalted more than he. "You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success." (John 3;28-29 NIV)

Insecurity can do a lot of damage to us if we let it. It can rob us of our joy, our peace, and our place in God's kingdom. Insecurity messes with our identity, and because it does that, it messes with our purpose. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy your security and identity because he wants your soul far from God and for you to be powerless for God's purposes in this world. John the Baptist knew how to solve this problem and prevent Satan from having any success at stealing his security and his purpose: "He must become greater; I must become less."

The crazy part of this equation is that the greater God becomes in our lives, the less insecure we become. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." (James 4:10NLT) God honors those who position themselves less and Him more. This doesn't equate to thinking of yourself less (that would be insecurity). No, what this means is prioritizing God's thoughts above your own, making His will your will, seeking out what His desire is for your current situation and interactions with people instead of your own desires, and keeping His commands a priority over your own ways of living. "He must become greater; I must become less."

Insecurity will always be something we wrestle with because the roots of it run deep, but if we remain standing on the Rock, we have a fighting chance of seeing His greatness and grace in our lives to make us more secure. Therefore, if you feel out of place, lonely, defeated, discouraged, overlooked, weak, unloved, unnoticed, undervalued, sad, ashamed, hurt, and/or broken, go back to (position yourself before) the Creator of security, refuge, and rest. Exalt Him, and He, the Lord God Almighty, will reposition you: "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." (Psalm 40:2 ESV)

Let God become greater than your insecurities, your difficulties, your relationships, your financial status, your career, your family, your circumstances, your worries, your mistakes, your successes, your friends and their approval, or anything else. By positioning yourself less and God more, people will see Him because of you, which fulfills the ultimate purpose to which you've been called. Then, you'll see when He receives the glory, you actually become more content, more joy-filled, more humbled, more secure, more energized, and more complete. "He must become greater; I must become less." To Him be the glory, honor, and praise forever. Amen.