Last night I was invited to speak to a local bible study group of 20 women. I was so thrilled to do so and minister to this neat group of young women, mostly young moms. Fun, fun, we had and even though they looked a little nervous upon arrival, they were all loosened up by the end of the night!
After much fun and many personal consultations I got to talk one on one with them at the end of the night. The thing that touched my heart the most, however, was a girl who was a guest. She asked me if I've always had confidence. Hmmmm....I think so, but then I told her (after some thought) that my confidence comes from God....it is what I would call "God-confidence". You see, I may have always "pretended" to be confident but on the inside I wasn't. When I learned how to have a relationship with Jesus, He started filling my heart with "real" confidence. Teaching me little by little that only true confidence comes from Him. One of my favorite scripture verses is 2 Timothy 1:7 which tells us "for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline." I told her about that because I've had to memorize it so I can bring it to mind when I'm feeling less than confident. When I'm feeling scared or not in control. When I am lacking and feel "less than".
Ugly ole satan has a way of making us feel that way...less than. As long as we feel like we don't compare or can't live up to others, then he wins. And I won't let him have his way cause Jesus wins that place.
The other thing I wished I had told her is that she saw me being confident in what God has put me on earth to do. I know, that I know, that I know that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I am energized by it. As tired as I was from this weekend, I was energized after speaking last night. Because I am doing what God wants me to do. I deal with all kinds of shortcomings, oh so many....but confidence in speaking about what He's called me to is not one of them. Oh yea, sometimes I can't believe I get to do this, sometimes I wonder why in the world He picked me, sometimes I am scared to get up for fear of saying the wrong thing, sometimes I disappoint and hurt someone's feelings, sometimes I forget scripture, sometimes I don't think I can do it. But then, He says, that is exactly where He wants me. Depending on Him, allowing Him to work thru me, to say the things He wants me to. And then I go to work. And then I open my mouth and pray the right things come out. Confidence....that God will allow me to continue to reach out, and bless others as they bless me. I pray you will ask God to fill you with a confidence today that can only come from Him. And He will. Beautiful Blessings, Shari
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15 comments:
This is so true! Let's not stop praying for her...God is doing a work in her, I just know it!
P.S. I blogged about our fun night!
wow, thank you for sharing. I think that is a verse I need to write down and memorize this week! Thank you
Thanks for the encouragement Shari.
Blessings,
Pearls
Shari!
Thank you SO much for coming and for loving our ladies the way that you did! It was great to see you and your sweet assistant too! :)
We will have to keep you posted on the girl that spoke with you... we are definitely praying for her!!
The Lord is doing a great work through you! Praise His amazing and matchless Name! :)
Love you!
glad you are back! Its good to "hear" from you again..
This was so good for me today. Thanks for posting it. I've been asked to speak at the annual ladies retreat at my new church. We moved from a church of 150 to a church of 800 so this will be no small retreat. What is so cool is that since SheSpeaks last year I've really backed away from speaking and writing. I just didn't feel I was really ready, my relationship with God wasn't all it needed to be for me to be able to minister to others. So I began to focus on Him and not on myself. Us leaving our church of 9 years was a big part of the relationship growth to God and dying to self. In my old church I really felt as if I were "somebody." I was the go to girl for it all. Stepping in to a new huge church I became timid and just a face in the crowd. I didn't really want to get involved, I needed a break. So God has given me a nice little 6 month break now He says it's time to get busy again. A friend of a friend of a friend mentioned to the senior pastor's wife that I used to do speaking and drama and the like and the next thing I know she's in my face saying, "You must do this for our retreat" WHUUT! My new low self confidence self panicked and freaked out for about a week saying, "what in the world am I going to do?" But as the retreat draws near I am excited because it's not me at all, it is He who lives and works in me!
Paula G. <><
Hi! I had a great time at the conference and loved talking with you. I'll be praying that you get all rested up.
Jen
We enjoyed that night SO much! It was lots of fun. So glad you got to talk one-on-one with her! God totally brought her there and we'll keep praying.
Your fellow Warm,
Jennifer
Shari,
Thank you so much for coming to speak to our group of ladies Monday night. It was SO much fun and you left us with so much valuable information. I hope that I have an opportunity to hear you speak again and until then, I will definitely be following your blog. Thank you for your sweet comments on mine. Please come back and visit my blog anytime.
Emilie
You hit the nail on the head, girl! That is exactly it. If we are doing what God has called us to do, we get excited and boldness just flows from us. I have found that out first hand. It is SOOOO not my nature to just up and speak to someone first. But, if I can speak concerning something I am passionate about, I can't seem to say enough. Oh, If only God would place me in a situation where I can focus on my calling! I am praying for that to come to fruition very soon. He will do it! I have confidence in Him!!
Love and Blessings,
Starr LaPradd
So true. And when you die to self and live for God (a moment-by-moment thing), comparisons with others don't matter anymore.
I'm the white haired woman who got to talk with you early Sunday morning. You are so talented and professional, yet you are so real and approachable. I love your blog, the books I purchased and I never leave home without my swatches. Keep up the wonderful work in your destiny. She shine His glory magnificiently.
Shari, I couldn't believe the title of your blog post because that is the very word God has been speaking to my heart. I can't wait for the day that I'm as confident as you are in speaking. I know God has called me to speaking along with writing because He has certainly gone out of His way to make that known to me. However, I'm finding that it's a learning process and that confidence is developed not just "poofed" on us, though I wish it was! I pray that one day soon I'll feel as confident in the Lord as you do and actually look forward to speaking as a wonderful gift, not something to be feared and dreaded. I'm further than I was, but still have a ways to go. I'd appreciate your prayers.
Has anyone told you lately how cool you are?
This was a great post...
Lysa
I love the idea of "God Confidence". Very well put. I agree with Lysa, you are cool. You Go Girl!!!!
Blessings,
Charlene
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