Over the years I have gone through a process of becoming confident in who I am as a daughter of the King, a wife, a mom and a friend. It was a process that caused me to move beyond being comfortable with who am to confident in who I am. There is a big difference isn't there? Confidence doesn't always equal cockiness. Although unfortunetely if conficence is not not walked out in grace and humility, confidence can certaily come across as arrogance. In my growth experience of becoming confident, it just means that I've been set free from some horrible mindsets that were displeasing to God and giving pleasure to the enemy.
I'm sure you've heard the phrase "comfortable in your own skin." If you happen to be "comfortable in your own skin" that is wonderful and a huge accomplishment! For me personally, I don't want to stop at being comfortable. Have you noticed how many women struggle with identity, insecurity and self-confidence issues? Maybe you do. I certainly did and each day I make a choice to believe what Gods word says about me.
One of my life scriptures is Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
As a teenager and young adult I struggled with insecurity and rejection issues until I had a life changing revelation about the depth and width of Gods love for me. A breakthrough occured when I realized that I am His workmanship! The Master Craftsman, the Creator of the universe and all that I see and experience, is the God who created me! This is no accident! I am not an accident and neither are you.
To walk in confidence (God-confidence, that is) you must identify the barriars. What holds you back? One of my barriars was fear of man. I was so wrapped up in what others thought of me and spent so much time and energy focused on pleasing people, rather than focusing my attention on pleasing the Lord. I ended up unfulfilled, frustrated, hurt and stifled as a result. I lacked self-confidence because I looked to people, not God. Let's remember ladies - our goal is to please the heart of the Father, not to be a people pleaser!
Take a minute and examine yourself. Do you have fear? Does fear steal your confidence or stifle you in any way? You will not walk about in freedom if you are bound in unbelief or doubt your identity.
Remember when Peter walked on the water? The key to his staying afloat was keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus! It was in Jesus that Peter had confidence to walk on the water. It is when we keep our eyes on Christ Jesus, the Master Craftsman, that we have confidence to walk out and perform the good works that He has prepared for us. Don't leave out the last part of Ephesians 2:10....that we should walk in them!
When I fulled grasped what Ephesians 2:10 is saying it brough so much freedom to my life!
- Because I am HIS workmanship, I am complete! Nothing is wrong with me! I am in Christ and Christ is in me.
- I am created to do good works that He has planned and prepared for me. I don't have to conjur anything up, or try to be like anyone else. God has a special plan and purpose for me!
- When I walk in His will I am fulfilled. When I walk in my will, I am unfulfilled.
Walk Confidently,
Lydia
A word that also comes to my mind is that space of rest.. resting in who my Father is and what He sees in me. Resting in His heart being good, and always good towards me in every way. Resting in His completely capable hands, that He knows the way. He created me, and I don't have to be anything other then who HE has made me to be. It's that space of knowing that I am absolutely, completely 100% accepted and OK with my Abba. There is nothing I can do or can't do that is going to change His love for me....not sin, not religious obligations and duty..not even "doing" good... nothing will change His love for me!
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He is safe... He is ever pursuing my heart.. He is completely able to do nything and everything! Who I am is completely enough for Him.. not what I do, but who I am. HUGE HUGE breakthrough in my "confidence" in Him and what HE is doing in and thru me. Resting in His heart is the safest place to be.
((hugs)) Amy