Hardened Confidence or Holy Confidence?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 7:48AM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. In the month of March I will give away a gift card and a couple of copies of my new book, "Growing Grateful Kids." So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend (or maybe you'll win a copy of my new book)!
A Quick Note:
I am thrilled to announce the release of my next book: Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places." Let me tell you, I am excited about the message in this book. If you have children at home (or grandchildren you want to influence spiritually), order a copy today. I do believe this book will equip you to parent from a spiritual perspective (but it's loaded with lots of practical application). You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be inspired and encouraged (that was my goal, anyway). :)
Now on to my topic...
Today I am battling a bug and feeling pretty miserable. But last weekend I had the privilege of serving and ministering to thousands of women at the Nat'l Hearts at Home Conference. I always love meeting new sisters in Christ. We had a great time together! I spoke on two topics: Growing Grateful Kids and Becoming an Uncommon Woman (based on a couple of my books).
One of the key points in my Uncommon message is this: true identity is always linked with humility (and visa versa). For the Christ-follower, identity and humility must be inseparable in our lives. Holy Confidence and Humble Dependence are defining factors for us as Believers.
When we go through painful relational conflict, we may be tempted to look down and to become self-aware, but even in that place, we must remember who we are. We must hang on to our identity in Christ. And thanks to Him, it's a settled issue.
When we get to step up into places that seem way out of our reach, high places that only God could orchestrate, we must hang on to humility, knowing that it's only by the grace of God that we get to do such things.
When we go through those raw and painful seasons that make us feel vulnerable and exposed, we remember who are - even there. We hang on to identity.
When we are wronged by someone who is as wrong as the day is long, we hang on to our identity and we thoroughly embrace humility.
Here's where it's tempting to go off track. When someone wrongs us, the devil tries to bait us with self-righteousness which quickly leads us down a path of spiritual blindness and a hardness of heart.
I've known people who have an air of confidence about them, but truly, their boldness comes from a hardness of heart that declares, "I don't care what people think!"
Maybe they've been hurt enough in the past that they decided to build a wall around their heart and their emotions. Nothing is going in, nothing is going out. In their hardness of heart, they stay separated from people, inoculated from the jabs and sneers of unkind people, but also, unaffected by the pain and suffering around them.
As Christians, this cannot be an option for us.
Holy Confidence goes much deeper than this self-serving survival mode. Holy Confidence connects us to the very heart of the Father. He defines us, He fills us, He saves us, and He restores us when life bruises and beats us. He understands.
Holy Confidence is defined by tenderness, openness, caring for others while entrusting yourself to God. Holy Confidence declares, "I can care deeply for you without worrying what you think of me. I can take risks with you, be vulnerable with you, and give sacrificially you, because you can never define me. Jesus already has."
We can never truly love people the way Christ has loved them until their opinions of us matter less to us than God's opinion of us. And He is perfectly in love with us. Isn't that great news?
May we get free from the bondage of others' opinions so that we can get on to the business of loving others the way Christ loves them! A noble pursuit indeed. :)
Until next week~
Reader Comments (44)
This kind of confidence you teach us about here radiates with the Love that God Himself is made of!
Susie, I know you are busy but I would love a daily devotional blog...(if I was zippy and knowledgeable I'd put in the animated winking smiley face...)
Thank you for the insight. I really enjoyed meeting you at the HAH conference. Your passion is incredible, only from God as you seek HIM! I am looking forward to reading "The Uncommon Women" because that is my desire. My goal is to focus on who I am IN Christ. God bless you in your ministry and for loving and encouraging women. Hoping our paths cross again!
Tricia in KY
SO glad this post blessed you today. May you walk out your faith with all of the Holy Confidence offered you by the Lord Himself! You are His beautiful treasure and He has appointed you to walk this earth for such a time as this! Blessings to you!
I loved your quote, "this kind of confidence...radiates with the Love that God Himself is made of!"
His love spills over onto a waiting and watching world. May we have the presence of mind to open our eyes, our ears, our hands and our mouths that He might fill them!
A side note: maybe someday I'll write a daily post (shorter ones). I'll have to think more about that one. Please keep your comments coming!
I'm so thankful to know that God used the sessions to bless and encourage you! It was a great weekend, indeed! May you continue to walk out your God-given call to change the world! Blessings to you~
So glad this post was a timely one for you. It's really true, our right sense of identity can so easily slip away from us if we're not holding tightly to the truth. We just have to loosen our grip, look away for a second, and before we know it, the enemy has slipped a counterfeit message into our hands. May we cling tightly to the Vine and keep our eyes fixed on the Truth, because what He says about us is perfectly beautiful and totally wonderful. We are forgiven, set free, and sent out, to communicate His message of love to a desperate world. What a powerful mandate! Bless you!
So glad our paths crossed! And I'm thankful you picked up a copy of 'The Uncommon Woman"! I do love that book. I hope you do as well! I know it's God's highest desire for us that we live and move and breathe in the truth of our identity and our calling. May your heart be inspired and strengthened as you read! Bless you, sister!
I loved our time together as well. I'm still laughing about our conversation at lunch time. What a delight it was to get to know your beautiful mom that day! You are such a solid, Kingdom woman. I'm thankful to call you my friend. :) Bless you.
Thanks for stopping by! I checked out your blog and it looks fantastic! Please stop by and share your insights here any time. We are honored to have you!
Blessings to you~
Thanks for stopping by! I so don't want you to feel like you have much to work on! We all do in that regard, but you can rest in the knowledge that He'll take you on this journey one step at a time and teach you along the way. As long as we are open to His correction and willing to trust His love, we'll be right where He wants us to be. It's true that the self-sins kill the sprouts of life that God has planted within us, but He's even big enough to help us uproot those things. Be encouraged, my friend and think about His love and provision every day. He is intimately engaged with you on this journey. You probably already know that, but I just wanted to remind you in case you forgot. :)
Peace to you!
Thanks so much for your honest post (because you speak for all of us!). How easy it is to get caught up in the snare of others' opinions! We all need those occasional heart checks. I'm so thankful God used that session to nourish and strengthen you. God bless you, my sister!
I'm glad our paths crossed! Thanks for stopping by and for your encouraging words! God bless you, my sister!
I feel so blessed to have had the chance to see you at HAH 2 years ago and again this year. You truly are an inspiration and its clear God is speaking through you my sister. I can relate to your life in so many ways - abusive childhood, bedrest, health issues, children on oxygen and hospitalized, etc. (it seems God knew I needed the encouragement from someone who has "been there"). You're a beautiful person and I thank you for putting yourself out there to help others.
You said in your Uncommon Woman seminar to repeat, "Jesus you love me" and "I am your treasure" those are very powerful and sweet sweet words. I think of Jimmy Needhams song, "Child you're forgiven and Loved"...those were the words I was repeating often that helped me understand that I cannot hold on to the feeling of conviction or guilt. So I hold on tight to the Jesus line and move toward feeling peace and joy regardless of our circumstances.
I've started reading the Uncommon Woman and I love it! I just wanted to thank you for your good work!Bless you Susie!
I hope you're feeling better. You're in my prayers.