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Confident

Psalms 27:13-14 (AMP) I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

I am currently reading a book by Joyce Meyer called Confidently You. There are many good points in it and I highly recommend it, especially if you lack confidence. The root for the lack of confidence is fear. Fear can be such a stumbling block that it will cause you to be defensive, stagnant and harbor resentment to those who walk in confidence. She wrote something on stagnation that I want to share:

Stagnation is an enemy of confidence, because where stagnation is, lethargy, despair, discouragement, and even depression can follow. Stagnation takes place for many reasons – stress, laziness, becoming too busy, increased responsibilities, or simply losing interest in activities that were once exciting and fun. One of the major causes of stagnation is fear. People often refuse to move forward because they are afraid they will make a mistake, afraid they will fall, afraid others will ridicule or reject them, afraid their friends and families won’t understand and support them. Or they are afraid they will be out of God’s will, or perhaps they are afraid of all the unknowns that lie ahead of them if they take a confident step of faith. They are so afraid of negative possibilities involved in moving forward that they do not even consider the positive potential of stepping out and trying something. Confidence is the opposite of fear, and that’s why confident people do all they can do to avoid stagnation.

Joyce Meyer Confidently You

Here I am standing in awe of how far along I have come these past 11 years. Eleven years ago I took a group of women on a trip to see Joyce in Atlanta. This was the first trip that I had taken the lead on. In the past I had planned events and sat in the background allowing someone else to take the lead. Someone else would do all the speaking…I just made sure the chairs and tables were arranged, the food was prepared, there were drinks, napkins, plates and cutlery. I would be there early to set up and the last to leave for clean up. I never wanted to be the person to speak. I could organize the activities, but speak, that was not me. Eleven years ago as I was sitting in that auditorium I asked God to help me with my fear. I no longer wanted to live a narrow life that only had room for me and my fears. I decided that I wanted to live a confident life. I no longer wanted fear to rule me. I realized that I could not sit around and wait for fear to go away. I may still feel fear, but I have to take action anyways. The Word says to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). Courage is not the absence of fear. It is taking action in the presence of fear. I could no longer be led by my feelings. I needed to stand confident in the Lord. That Sunday, I took the microphone and did my first presentation to the church. My confidence comes from the Lord.

Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Here is what I learned about waiting. If I waited until I no longer felt fear, I would have never moved. If I waited on God to remove the fear to stand in my calling, I would never have moved. The word wait does not mean to not take action. The word wait means to stand firm, however, I cannot stand firm until I do my part. When I stand firm (wait) I am confidently expecting the Lord to be my strength. I do not have the confidence to preach a message that will bring correction and to bring you closer to Jesus without His strength.

What is it that is keeping you from moving? Is it the lack of confidence? Is it because fear has made you stagnant? We all should know who we are in Christ, should grow in the knowledge of His Word, but it is when we start to pour into someone else that true freedom occurs.

Father, I thank you for the person reading this today. I thank you that they are growing more and more each day to reflect your glory. You are such an awesome God. Your Name is above ever other name, including fear. Thank you for bringing boldness to me when fear tries to take over. I thank you for being the voice the propels me to keep my focus on what is pure and lovely. I thank you for your Word. Your character and nature is to comfort us, but it is to stretch us. We know that we can walk boldly into the throne room of grace. I thank you for sending your Son and the Holy Spirit. I choose today to stand firm with the belt of truth, with righteousness on my heart and my feet ready to go because they are clothed in your peace. I stand in faith today that whatever trial may come at me, you are there. I thank you for the people you have placed in my life, even those in authority over me, so that I am made stronger. I choose today the mind of Christ and to test everything against the character and nature that is found in your Word so that I will not stumble when the enemy comes as a voice of light. I have spent time in your Word and will not listen to the voice of a stranger. I thank you for opportunities to show your goodness today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Stepping out of fear into my hiding place

Psalms 34:4-5 AMP I sought the Lord [on the authority of His word], and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces will never blush in shame or confusion.

For the past month I have had the honor and privileged to bring the word on Sunday afternoons (our service is at 1:30) to our church. My husband works a full time job and has been on third shift almost two months now. They are suppose to rotate every four weeks. During third shift, it difficult for him to keep a good sleep pattern on the weekends. Especially when you have a service that takes place during the time you are usually sleeping. I had told him before that I would work on being better prepared to help more in the pulpit part when he is on that shift.

A back story on me…I am an extreme introvert (or well I was). It was so bad that I would not be able to go up to the counter of a fast food restaurant and ask for condiments. My senior project we had to give a presentation to everyone that we invited. I had invited my family. No classmates were present except for the two I needed to help model what I had made. I should have invited no one! I stammered and cried through the whole presentation. There is a recording of it somewhere, thanks to my grandparents! I could not even give a short announcement at church. I cried anytime the microphone was put in my face.

I remember the moment I had asked God to remove that fear from me. I remember sitting in the Gwinnett Center listening to Joyce Meyer minister. I remember telling God that I wanted to be able to talk about His Word and who He is to me. That was the first Sunday that I willingly took the microphone and shared what the ladies in our church had done that weekend.

It has been over ten years since that moment. I was not this phenom that spoke perfectly from that point on. I have had to grow in it. I am in still not one of those polished speakers that you will see on television or at a major conference. I am willing to grow more in it.

I was just in awe this morning of how God put a series inside of me. I have only done one service at a time, with months separating each time I taught. Not to say that anxiety did not try to rise up each and every time. I know that I could not do it on my own. My God was with me every step of the way. I was in His arms (in my hiding place) the entire time I was on the platform. Our crowds do not have to be large. Even if the altar call was just for one person, that is is worth celebrating. I was doing what I was created for.

Psalms 91:1-2 AMP He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!”

I do not know what God has put in your heart to step out and do differently. Let me encourage you that growth happens when you do. Stop chasing after things and people to make you happy. Know that when you are where He wants you to be, that is your most happy!

If you would like to to check out the series “Rebuild or Tear Down?” you can check it out on youtube here: Connect Church YouTube Channel

Be blessed!