Last week, I felt imposter syndrome creeping up on me. Imposter syndrome is a common issue academics face. The feelings of angst and inadequacy are real, and I have experienced it in some form for years, particularly when I know my worth, yet the people around me refuse to acknowledge it.
Some days when I am going through situations, I pause to pray. (Most recently, I have started to use a free transcription service to record my voice as I write thoughts.) I decided to pray out loud so I have a written copy of my prayer and can revisit it when imposter syndrome tries to overtake me.
Here is the prayer. Whether you are a Christian or not, I hope you will find comfort in these words.
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Lord, I come against imposter syndrome right now. I thank you that I am more than enough and that I possess the knowledge, skills, and talent to do everything that you have called me to do on this earth. I bind up a spirit of inferiority, inability, ignorance, low self-esteem, and any other spirit that would attack who I am in You. I loose a spirit of freedom and confidence in who I am meant to be.
I declare that words that have been spoken against me and who I am have no power. I declare and decree that anything that does not build me up and who I am supposed to be in You is cast down. I thank You that I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that I was created in your likeness, and that I am destined to be everything that you have called me to be.
I declare that my purpose is assured and that everything that is for me comes to me. Nothing that tries to hinder me will succeed. Lord, I bind up anxiety, nervousness, instability, mental angst, and anything that does not represent peace, joy, happiness, temperance, and steadfastness in You.
I declare and decree that if no one else has anything positive to say about me, I say something positive about myself. Bring back to my remembrance everything that You purposed for me, even when I was in my mother's womb.
Thank You that no matter what a circumstance or situation looks like, I can rest assured that I am an overcomer and that I am more than a conqueror in each and every environment in which I go.
Lord, if I enter an environment where people do not lift me up, I will not take that personally. I pray for them, and I declare that they will become equipped with tools that help them to build people up.
Lord, I do not internalize the words that are spoken about me negatively and the words that are meant to attack my credibility and my ability to be successful. I thank you that even when I make mistakes, they are not permanent failures. I can overcome them. I can learn new information. I can go to sources of knowledge that will help me to learn everything that I need to be better.
I declare that I am not an imposter. I am genuine. I am real. I am more than enough. I am who you have called me to be when you have caused me to be it. I am victorious. I am a winner. I overcome every obstacle that is placed before me.
Every day is a day of success. Because I am getting better, I am becoming more like you. I am operating in the fullness of Christ and in the fullness of the potential that you put in me before the foundation of the earth. I will fulfill my purpose, and I will fulfill that purpose with confidence.
People are drawn to me because of my confidence. They are drawn to me because I have the answers they need to be successful. Success is upon me. I wear victory and success like a cloak, a garment, a robe, and a crown. I thank you that I am royalty and that everything that I touch prospers. I thank you that you are placing witty inventions and ideas in my mind so that I have no need to fear that I do not know enough.
I'm going to do exceedingly abundantly above what I can ask or think in my lifetime. I will do everything that you have declared me to do. You have the final say. You are the author and the finisher. You are the first and the last. God, you are the one who is crafting the narrative of my life. You are writing the chapters. You are putting your supernatural anointing on my life so I can move forward and prosper in every area that you have destined for me. I declare and decree that I am all that you have called me to be today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Your prayer is needed as affirmation and motivation to press even through the challenges and opposition faced in our careers. Thank you for being obedient and sharing your prayer.