Confidence: Notes from Prayer call

Confidence

Knowing your REAL TRUE identity is a GAME CHANGER. Stick with me and I’ll tell you why….

I was the last out of 5 children. Lori, who was closest to me in age was 4 years older than I was. As was the case with her and all my siblings they had already “been there, and done that” by the time I got around to doing it. I remember feeling so rushed during our dinner conversations that I would start stuttering when I was telling a story because I was nervous and wanted to hurry up and spit it out before they all started jumping in and talking again. I was so shy I would hide behind my mother’s legs when she would introduce me to new people. Not the greatest beginning. But I’ve learned it’s not about how you start, but how you finish that counts.

I won’t get into all the details, but suffice it to say, I didn’t like myself growing up. I felt I was unimportant, unattractive, too tall, too skinny, not talented, and certainly not smart. I was quiet and shy and did not see my own worth. We lived in the country and it was kind of hard to get around so I didn’t have very many friends and wasn’t very good at making them. Fast forward 10 years to college. Life may not begin at a university, but for me it did. Marcy, my roommate, was a Christian. She respectfully shared her faith with me, and having been brought up in a home where God was respected, I knew of Him and frequently asked her questions. One day I said, “Marcy, I’m ready to accept Christ.” We prayed together and my life has NEVER been the same. I am ever grateful for His love. In telling you this I wanted to paint a picture of who I was before Christ. It wasn’t very pretty, but our God takes our brokenness and makes something so beautiful from it all.  

Nothing is ever wasted. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before you might say, but it really is true! I know that all of the challenges I’ve faced in life, whether it was, the loss of my first born, a son, having a difficult boss, some real tough spots in my marriage, learning to speak up in situations even though it was uncomfortable, being betrayed by a friend, abandoned, all of these things are what lead me to this place right here, right now, writing to you. You see God NEVER wastes ANYTHING, EVER. Remember the girl I just told you about who would hide behind her mom? God used her to speak to over 400 people at a church service, and not just once, but multiple times! He has used me to lead bible studies and home groups, and to be in leadership for a women’s ministry. He has given me a platform to share my faith to women worldwide! He has taken what the world would have thrown out and made something beautiful from it. 

Girl as you are reading this let me tell you God has something special that is tailor made just for YOU and He WILL bring it about. He is a solid rock that can be trusted through it ALL. You see God is the bridge when you need to cross to the other side. He is the salve when you’ve been injured. He is the healer when you need a miracle. He is the friend that loves at all times. HE is the one who rescues. HE is the one who gives purpose and hope, and I know the hope to which I was called (Eph 1:18) HE was the one who filled my voice with strength and conviction. HE has filled it with hope for those who don’t feel beautiful, loved, valued, seen or heard. Exodus 15:26 says He is the God who heals. And I know my God, He is a generous giver, and He WILL do it for you too! The bible says, “God is not a man that he should lie.” Num 23:19  He CAN be trusted. 

You may be saying that’s fine for you, but I don’t know that. Look at

2 Pet. 1:4 with me, it says, “God has given us many great and precious promises.”  It was through His word, His promises, I have become bold and confident. I don’t worry about what others think of me as now I live for an audience of one. I have chosen to believe the one who made me and what He says about me. I don’t live by my feelings, but by his truth. Your feelings can change on a whim, and even lie to you, but God’s word NEVER changes. Below I have listed some of the “I am” statements of declaration from his word. Don’t feel like you measure up? Go ahead, read these out loud every day for 2 weeks and see how things change. Just re-reading these reminds me how crazy in love He is with me. 

I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God  of which I am a partaker of God’s divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4) 

I am forgiven on the account of Jesus’ name. (1 John 2:12) 

I am anointed by God. (1 John 2:27) 

I am a child of God and I will resemble Christ when He returns. (1 John 3:1,2) I am loved. (1 John 4:10) 

I am like Christ. (1 John 4:10) 

I am born of God, and the evil one…the devil…cannot touch me. (1 John 5:`8) 

I have been redeemed. (Revelation 5:9)

I am blameless and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:22) 

Christ Himself is in me. (Colossians 1:27)

I am firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built up in Him. (Col. 2:7) 

I have been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

I died with Christ and I have been raised up with Christ. My life is now hidden With Christ in God. Christ is now my life. (Colossians 1:1-4) 

I am chosen by God, holy and dearly loved. (Col. 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4) 

I am a son of light and not of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:5) 

I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

I have been saved and set apart according to God’s doing. (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5) 

I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier, He is not ashamed to call me brother. (Hebrews 2:11) 

I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling. (Hebrews 3:1) 

I have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to find mercy and grace in a time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) 

I have been born again. (1 Peter 1:23) 

I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a People for God’s own possession. (1 Peter 2:9,10)

I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Pet 1:4) 

I want to let you know that wherever you are in life, and in your walk with God, know this that He IS FOR YOU. He loves you and you never have to walk alone. My prayer for you is found in Eph 1:18 “that the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of your calling to which He has called you, and what are the riches of His glorious inheritance that He has given you in the saints.” Know that I am praying for you. I’ll leave with these words from DL Moody

“When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.”