Confidence Brings Hope... In reading Renee Swope’s book, “A Confident Heart,” one thing that stuck in my mind from the first chapter; “doubt and hope cannot live in our hearts at the same time.” Wow! Think about it. If we are hopeful something will happen, we can’t have doubt it may happen. We have to be CONFIDENT it can/will/could happen. Self-doubt is what keeps us from being CONFIDENT. In order to discover what is keeping us from being CONFIDENT, it is imperative to figure out what is causing our self-doubt. Sure society and media does it’s fair share of weighing us down and making us feel a little less than good enough, small enough, smart enough, etc., but much of the self-doubt we feel comes from our own fears. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of rejection. Our fears are real. I would have written this blog when it first crossed my mind because I felt like people wouldn’t read it, much less like it, follow it and send comments. I was so afraid. I had no confidence because I was filled with self-doubt. When we sit around, hopeless, fearful, and full of doubt, lots of uncertainties cross our mind. In my situation, I felt like Renee describes in her book, “My uncertainty had created a huge shadow of doubt, …my doubt was distorting my thoughts and overpowering my emotions with confusion and questions.” Can anyone relate? I was so lost in emptiness and worthlessness, I wanted to run away. The only thing that ever felt comfortable was a cup of coffee on my best friend’s back porch while tears filled my mug as coffee emptied it. “Voices of insecurity cast shadows of doubt over my perspective and kept me from becoming the woman I wanted to be – the woman God created me to be. Self doubt blocks the promise of God’s power and truth to change us from the inside out so that we can live lives with a CONFIDENT heart.” (Swope, A Confident Heart). Good stuff!! And I’m only sharing Chapter One in this post, LOL. As I mentioned in my first post, God gave me this word, CONFIDENT. He laid it on my heart. I never realized how empty and low I felt about myself; most women don’t. I thought it was amazing how He wanted me to feel CONFIDENT. Little me, in His big world. He must have big plans for me, I thought. Not only did he want me to focus on myself and changing within, but also focusing on Him. He knew I had trust issues. He wants me to trust in Him; being CONFIDENT in what He promises. Isaiah 49:23 says, “Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” How can we have hope in Him if we have doubt in our hearts and minds? We can’t. And what a sweet promise from Him, if we have hope. “Lasting confidence is living daily in the security of His promises.” (Swope, A Confident Heart). There is no way this can happen if we are filled with doubt! No way!! And listen to this from Renee, “He has led me beyond believing in Him to believing Him.” Believing Him and what He says!! This only comes with CONFIDENT thoughts!!! This blog has blessed me so much already. Honestly, the Holy Spirit is filling my heart and mind with so much to share, I’m using a journal on paper to find some order to what He is so richly giving me. Please bear with me if some of my posts are wordy because I have so much in my thoughts!! I am overwhelmed with the love so many of you are showing. I received two LONG Facebook messages today from former students who were so touched, they wanted advice, encouragement, and one of them already chose her “word” to start praying over each day. The other, through discussion, helped me to understand her journey and how she feels about something so different from me. And I had tears today as a longtime friend told me she just bought “A Confident Heart” online. Her life will change, no doubt! My point is Jesus loves us all. He loves me no more than you. He is using me to send a message of hope to you. I am excited to share what He is laying on my heart. I leave you with this verse from Hebrews 10:35-36, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Follow His will. Rid yourself of self-doubt. Find confidence to believe…in yourself…and Him…and you will also find hope!
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:20:10 +0000
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