Hello Confidence, I've been looking for you!

I was asked to guest blog for SHINE and thought I'd post on my blog as well.

Ephesians 3:16-21

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Let's look at a few things in this passage:

vs 16 “inner strength”

vs 17 “keep you strong”

vs 19 “be made complete” “fullness of life”

Secure. Confident. Walking Tall.

Ladies, for real, in the past I have struggled with insecurities to the inth degree.

But I knew that was not God's best for me. I knew in my head I was not walking in how my Heavenly Father felt about me, and that I should be confident in His amazing love for me! Walking tall, having an inner strength that no matter what human beings were saying or doing to me, that I KNEW with every fiber of my being, who I was in Christ...confident in HIM. Oh man did I desire to get there.

So I started telling Him how I wanted the insecure-feeding tapes that played in my head, silenced. I started telling Him that I knew He loved me, but I wanted to breathe it, walk it, live it. I told Him what was holding me back. I told Him how I wanted to feel and think, and asked Him to get me there. I cried. I wrote in my journal. I gritted my teeth in expressing my broken heart to Him.

In facing these things head on, I had to do some major forgiving of folks. I had to do the work, to clear my heart. I had to do the work of letting go...forgiveness...so I could be renewed. In my experience it is basically impossible to walk cleanly in Christ love, if I'm holding on to some hurts...it just will not work. SHINE sisters, we have to forgive.

Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

I kind of picture myself walking around in a love-bubble! (sounds cheesy, sorry!) But it's true. Y'all for years I desired this, but for whatever reason, I couldn't see it, face forgiving...I don't know. All I can say, is get there!! Get to a place in your walk with your Savior, of utmost confidence. His love for you is the real deal. It does not change based on what you've done, are doing or will do. It's solid.

Read the above scripture from Ephesians again. He wrote that to YOU. And He means it.

Do you have a lump in your throat or tears in your eyes and you're thinking, “I want 'inner strength', 'fullness of life', 'complete' “...oh sister it is there for the taking.

Believe these Words from the Father. Take a deep breath. Start talking. He's listening. He's smiling at you! For real!