Struggling with low self-esteem and insecurities? Use these prayers for confidence to overcome fear and lies and grow in your identity in Christ.
Insecurity can easily creep into our lives. I bet there isn’t a person on earth who doesn’t struggle with some sort of insecurity. There are many things that people are insecure about.
What matters most is how we look. Most of us are used to making fun of ourselves in the mirror or trying to hide the part of us that we don’t like.
This insecurity, which can often translate into low self-esteem, is what often makes many of us feel less confident. But what does real trust actually look like? The definition of global confidence is being confident and feeling capable and strong in your abilities.
One of the other ways the world promotes confidence is how we are or how we carry ourselves. Sometimes there’s even a “starter kit” for that look. It could be wearing skimpy or revealing clothes, having a “desirable” figure, or earning a lot of money.
As we quickly scroll through social media, it’s no wonder so many people, even Christians, feel a lack of confidence or dissatisfaction with themselves.
There are so many pictures to compare ourselves to, but we often forget that what we see is a curated picture and we try to compare our reality to the online life we only see glimpses of.
It is important for us to realize that our value and credibility were never determined by external sources. When this is the case, we will always strive for a goal position that is constantly moving, and when it changes, it is as if all our self-worth and confidence crumbles with it.
When we become new creatures in Christ, our old self that sought value, confidence, or self-esteem dies with us. We no longer need to care for our flesh because we have a new identity in Christ.
It no longer becomes confidence in self, it becomes confidence in Christ. It’s no longer about how we look, or whether it conforms to the world’s standards, it’s about God’s truth about us.
His truth says that we are made in His image. He created us in an awesome and wonderful way and knit us together in our mother’s womb with special care and attention.
If you struggle with low self-esteem, the world will tell you to look deeper within yourself, but God’s word tells us to take our eyes off ourselves and look to Christ. In Him we find our true worth and confidence.
You can bring these concerns to God in prayer, ask Him to help you fix your eyes on Him, and begin to see yourself as He sees you.
4 Prayer for confidence and low self-esteem
1. A prayer to grow in your identity in Christ
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
Heavenly Father,
I am so thankful that I can look to You for my identity. I admit that there are many times when I lose You and forget where my true worth lies. Sometimes the standards of the world seem overwhelming and it’s hard to take my eyes off of it.
But I know I was never meant to live up to those expectations, and they are fundamentally temporary and unfulfilling. Please forgive me for trying to find my identity in the world when it can only be found in You. Whenever I feel inadequate or unsure, remind me to turn to Your word and meditate on what You have already said about me.
Your word says I am part of the chosen people, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. I am your special possession and there is nothing the world has to offer that will ever compare to that truth. Please help me grow in the knowledge of Christ and as a result grow in my identity in Christ. In the name of Jesus, amen.
2. Prayer to be transformed by God’s Word and not conform to the world
“Therefore, I exhort you, brothers and sisters, for the sake of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship. Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and confirm what God’s will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” – Romans 12:1-2
lord
Thank you for giving us Your word by which we can know You and be taught, convicted, armed, challenged, encouraged and changed. The day I gave my life to Christ is the day my old self was crucified and I was resurrected to a new self that is alive to Christ and dead to sin.
Even though I am no longer a slave to sin, my flesh still struggles within me. One of those struggles I face is low self-esteem and comparing myself to the world and the people around me. But Your Word reminds me that my body is not meant to be a living sacrifice to the world and its standards. It is meant to be a living sacrifice to God, and You gave it to me to serve You.
Please change my mind and the way I think about myself. Help me not to conform to the world, but to be renewed in my mind. Give me eyes to see myself as you are, and be Christ-centered, not self-centered. In the name of Jesus, amen.
3. Prayer to overcome fear
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom I fear. The Lord is the fortress of my life, whom shall I fear?’ – Psalm 27:1
father,
I constantly feel that I am driven by fear, what I want to do, I do not do because of fear and lack of confidence. I know that in Christ there is nothing to fear. But I know it’s not an easy thing, it’s something that requires faith and daily practice.
Your word says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. I confess, there are times when I seem to fear people more than You. While I may not say it outright, my actions sometimes show it to be true. I know this is no way to live and that it will only cripple me.
Please help me to grow in my reverence and awe of You, and to have an attitude of love toward others, not fear.
Remind me that I don’t have to fear anything or anyone when You are my fortress and my salvation. Please give me the confidence to do what I need to do, or what you call me to do, knowing that you will be with me every step of the way. In the name of Jesus, amen.
4. A prayer for courage and confidence
“Didn’t I order you? Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid; do not despair, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ – Joshua 1:9
Lord in Heaven,
Today I need the courage and confidence that only You can give. Sometimes I feel absolutely horrible and I struggle with feeling confident. But I am reminded today that it is not with confidence in myself that you call me.
It is confidence in you. When I look at myself, I see only my imperfections, but when I look at Christ, I see perfection. I see everything that my heart needs. Please help me to look to Christ who strengthens me and uses even the parts of me that I may consider infallible for his good.
When I remember who You are and what Your character is like, it strengthens my identity in You. I know that You created the world and everything in it, which means that nothing is impossible for You.
Since I am yours and you are always with me, this means that I do not have to be afraid, because there is nothing that you are afraid of.
Please help me to meditate on who You are in times when I feel in doubt and fear and all I want to do is run or hide. Help me to stand firmly on Your shoulders and rise above the things or people I have lived in fear of.
I ask that Your Holy Spirit fill me with courage in the times when I need it most and that You strengthen me. Help me not to let fear take my eyes off You and rob me of the peace, strength, and courage in Christ. In the name of Jesus, amen.