Sunday, January 30, 2011

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 17:7But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”
Proverbs 3:6In 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!

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10 comments:

Teri Lawson said...

What a great lesson and reminder that our confidence should only be in Him!!! Thank you for the great verses also.

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [31 Jan 12:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Lya Lin said...

Thank you Patter for the so inspirational post and wonderful verses. It has been great joining you in this Scripture challenge as I can see how much this is helping me with my own personal everyday "challenges".

Blessings,

Lya Lin

Anonymous said...

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13
Praise God for this beautiful illustration. I love the sunflower at the top, turning its little head toward the sun (Son?). The Italian word for sunflower is 'girasole'; literally "turning toward the sun." Love it!! Also your comments on confidence in God, not self. Amen!
Blessings, Jennifer in Ohio

Stephanie said...

What a great reminder, Patter. Thanks so much. What a blessing you are!!

Anne-Marie said...

Thanks for sharing what the Lord gave you to teach us.
Your page is so nice and fresh looking.

perennial-mommy said...

Ah yes!! God-confidence! That's beautiful! Thank you for this post.

Nancy said...

Oh Patter! I love the pretty greens in your page! Your flowers are beautiful! Spring is coming! Thank you so much for your wonderful words!...Nancy :o)

Susan M said...

Thank you for the lesson on confidence in God.You page is so beautiful,the papers and flowers,scriptures and EVERYTHING!

Traci S. said...

Wow, Patter~

This really spoke to my heart. I never hear answers as clearly as you explained by the confirmation of hearing the word "confidence" on the TV right after asking God about it. Perhaps I don't listen enough? I shut out all outside noise, and get still...and it is then that I listen for Him. I never thought I would hear the answer in other ways than His Word, through prayer or people. This is an eye-opener...thank you.

God-Confidence. God-Confident! What a great idea for a bumper sticker or a button on a blog. I love that saying...for it says so much. Putting my confidence ONLY in Him.

Thank you to you, and the other "commenters" for I learned a lot from all of you!

He IS Able,
Traci S.
http://He-IS-Able.blogspot.com

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