Stand
During a Q & A recently, I was asked: “How does a woman be confident in a time in culture when confidence can be misconstrued?”
We need to always look to God’s word first for the answer we need.
The word confidence means: full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing. (Dictionary.com)
If our full trust, belief in the powers, trustworthiness or reliability is in ourselves … that’s not good. In fact, it is dangerous because it is a confidence that can crumble; one we can lose or have taken from us.
Instead, I hear here in 1 Corinthians 15:58 the truth of confidence that allows nothing to move us: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (NIV)
Our confidence is anchored in God and Him alone.
So in Him we stand…confidently.
Let nothing move you.
When we do, we are in good company with other women in God’s word who stood.
The daughters of Zelophehad stood. (Numbers 27)
The women of Exodus stood. (Exodus 1 – 2)
Deborah stood. (Judges 4)
Mary the mother of Jesus, her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene stood together at the cross. (John 19)
Let’s also stand and stand together, giving ourselves together, to the work of the Lord. Do His work that is meaningful, purposeful and eternal…together.
Who can you partner with today, to stand and do God’s work together?
Lynn, this one word stand is so good, strong and biblical. I’ve also learned, and still am at 53, that just knowing and believing these things aren’t always enough. Many people will never know that I struggled with confidence, depression, self-worth, purpose, etc because of my outgoing personality. But oh how I’m so good at covering up or winging it or faking it at times too. And that’s the side of myself i have to continually give over to Jesus almost every day(when I remember?). I’ve been working hard for 10 years to renew my confidence in Christ as He’s had to help go back and unravel all the reasons why my confidence suffered so. Besides living in a fallen broken world where suffering is many times used by God to draw us near if we let Him, we’re all broken too. This leads to an identity crisis and we got to go and do something about it; not live there or it’ll consume us gradually?♀️. Action and working towards renewing or gaining my confidence was a must for me. A few things I’ve done over the years to help and to let the Lord truly help me too:
*choose a word for the year you want to work on. Mine is ‘emptied’..I want to purge all the unhealthy sin, lies, etc and let the Lord refill me with His thoughts about me; leaving a huge place for the Holy Spirit to stay
*stay connected to the truth of His word and let Him love you
*surround yourself with others on this path, yep even if you’re scared or it’s out of your comfort zone
*ask for the Lords strength to help you change your ‘self’ talk and practice as He coaches you/retrain your thoughts…”I can bc He is the I Am”
*rediscover the unique qualities/gifts/talents/ He gave you before you realized you suffered with a lack of confidence..make a list
*go serve, reach out, practice being second and don’t ever sit too long in your lack of confidence season
*Love and learn to love others deeper, and don’t forget to love yourself like Jesus does
*take care of yourself, take walks, get sleep and rest after much work; if sleeping is difficult, seek help or foods that help you sleep
*practice and train yourself as if you were running a race bc we truly are. We’ll see the prize one day.
*be able to see that your weaknesses is why we all need Jesus
*and know you are His workmanship(Eph. 2:10) and He doesn’t let any struggles go to waste.
“Suffering Is Never For Nothing”…Elisabeth Elliot
These are a few of my favorite things to help me stand.
Such a powerful and practical list, Amy! Imagine the women of God we can become if and when we practice these disciplines through the power of the Holy Spirit.
My word last year was difference maker. (Two really 🙂
My word this year is presence. Being present with others and practicing the presense of God in my own life. I need to be doing better than I am this year. Lord, help me!
I can recall as a child of many instances of being in a state of tests and trials when it came to being unmoveable. However, let me move forward to my adult and married years, between 2004 and currently I have been in some very intense spots where my faith and gender was tried and yet I knew with Jesus all things were possible. Many cases it was said to me, “How can a woman of your caliber be so strong?” or “A black woman suppose to know her place”. Yet through it all, I give Jesus all the honor and praise for every situation he brought me through and it made me stronger and wiser and moreso, UNSTOPPABLE and UNMOVEABLE. And to my sisters whose reading this post, don’t ever lose your identity nor let NOTHING or NOBODY move you out of your character.
Grow in His Glorious Grace
Amen and amen, Phyllis. All power, strength and integrity we have come from the Holy Spirit living His life out of ours.