ABC Scripture Challenge {Word #3}, Confidence

I really struggled with our word for this week. I spent several hours studying two different words before this, and they just weren’t right. Was I relying on ‘self’? Maybe. Probably. And yes, I failed. Then God brought this word to my mind—

Challenge Word #3: Confidence

So as I began to study this word, I heard George Winston playing in the background. It was coming from the upstairs TV. I went up to see my daughter watching the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. I asked my daughter to rewind because I really felt I needed to watch this skater. God knew I would be drawn to George Winston. He knew how to get my attention! Anyway, as she came out onto the ice, the commentator says “Her problem has always been confidence.” I then started cheering “Yeah God. Thank you for confirming the word for this week.” I was SO excited. Then I see the skater close her eyes as she skates to the center of the ice. I thought “Oooh, she is praying? Maybe she is a Christian. How awesome.” Then the commentator comes in to say “Maybe that’s part of her new found confidence. Did you see her close her eyes and gather her thoughts?” Then I got frustrated. Maybe she wasn’t gathering her thoughts. Maybe she was praying. Why did he assume she was gathering her own self-confidence as she closed her eyes? What was she doing? I will never know for sure what she was actually doing but I do know when we rely on self-confidence instead of God-confidence, we will eventually fail just as I did with my first two attempts at writing today’s study.

So, what is the definition of confidence? Dictionary.com says it is the “belief in oneself or one’s powers or abilities; trustworthiness or reliability of a person or thing.” So, knowing the definition, in whom or in what do you place your confidence? Do you rely on ‘self’ or do you rely on God? Do you think you can go through each day on your own without ever needing to rely on God? Our natural talents, gifts, and abilities are God-given but they can only take us so far when we leave Him out of the picture.

As I prepared this study, God also encouraged me to make a God-confident list. As He brought things to mind, I thought “Lord, this list could go on forever.” And yes, because it is about Him, it certainly could. How encouraging it is to look at His confidence and not my own. This is the list I should be making not my own ‘achievement’ list. Here is the short list I started, and I encourage you to add to it. Back it up with scripture. Keep the list in your Bible. When you begin to think you can do it yourself, remember, our confidence needs to be placed in Him and not ourselves. Here is the beginning of my list:

I can be confident in God that:
• Salvation is only found in Him. (Acts 4:12)
• My salvation is certain. (John 10:27-30, Philippians 1:6)
• I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19)
• He hears and answers my prayers in His way and His time. (1 John 5:14-15)
• His love for me is endless. (Psalm 32:10)
• He keeps His promises. (Hebrews 6:13-14)
• God does not lie. (Number 23:19)
• His Word is truth. (Psalm 33:4)
• God continues to transform me daily into the image of His Son. (Romans 12:1-2)

So, are you self-confident so that you can boast? Or are you God-confident so that you can give Him all of the glory? Ask God to help you recognize those times when you are self-confident and ask Him to replace it with His confidence instead. Then watch and be in awe as you see what He does!

For my page this week, I used scraps from a layout I did earlier this week. I also used the Our Daily Bread Designs For the Graduate stamp set. I used the image for the background behind my two scriptures, and the Proverbs 3:6 scripture is from the same set.
Papers: Basic Grey Origins, Paper Trey Ink cs
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs For the Graduate (scripture & background)
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink pumice stone, Memento tuxedo black
Embellishments: Doodlebug silk flower, Zva Creative flowers, Creative Café button, Sizzix little leaves, Paper Trey Ink just the ticket border die, Tim Holtz tiny attacher, Basic Grey chip letter, Dymo labeler, hand-dyed seam binding, sewing machine
Sketch Used: Sketchabilities #23

The scriptures I chose were:
Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”
Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Some of you have asked what the tab is that I am putting on the top of my pages. I used tabs on my ATC holder in 2008 also. I love being able to find a word quickly on the revolving carousel, and these tabs make that possible. :)

Enjoy your study and creative time! :) Please be sure to use Keyword ABCSCRC11 when posting in any galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! I hope y'all are enjoying each others work and leaving some love. It sure is fun to see what scriptures everyone chooses! To see all of our previous lessons, please visit this post here.

Have a blessed week ahead, and remember to draw on His-confidence in all you do this week!