A Confident Heart: Week 4 - Who I Am

One area of my life that I never feel quite sufficient in is my Bible teaching. I love to write, but when I speak, especially in front of people, my words get tangled up and I try to talk to fast and I feel like I sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about. Often, after teaching or speaking in front of others, I walk away feeling lacking, like I left something important out or that I made my message too complicated. This lacking feeling has been following me for a while, especially since God placed it on my heart to begin to teach.

See, I've always seen myself as a writer, not a speaker. It wasn't until a season of deep dependence on God after my miscarriages did I realize God called me to be more. I wrote about that a couple weeks ago in a post called, "God's Unfailing Love." He gifted me with writing, but now He's asking for more and it makes me afraid. Am I good enough? Will others understand my message? What if they ask me a question I can't answer? What if I forget what to say? What if...? My mind has been full of doubt. However, God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I have been digging once again for scriptures to erase those doubts and to combat the enemy telling me I am not good enough.

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2 Timothy 1:7 -- "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
...God gives me power to combat the enemy, love to cover my flaws and self-discipline to finish what I begin.

Philippians 1:6 -- "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
...God began a work in me to share His light with others, He will carry that mission to completion and I will obey His calling.

1 Corinthians 6:17 -- "But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit."
...I am one with the Lord and His Spirit lives in me.

Philippians 4:13 -- "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
...When I am weak He is strong. Wherever He calls me to I will go and His strength will be with me.

Joshua 1:9 -- "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
...I will be strong. I will be courageous. I will not be afraid because the Lord is with me always.

Romans 8:28 -- "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
...No matter what happens, good or bad, God has a purpose for it and He can use anything to draw others to Him.

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My prayer for every time I speak, teach or write is that God will show His intent for those receiving His message. I pray that whatever words I stumble over or forget to say God will pour out His love to others through my obedience, not my perfection.

Who I am in the Lord is not my doubt or my fear. It is also not my perfection. Who I am in the Lord is a courageous, confident woman who will be obedient to His calling. Who I am in the Lord is a faith that He will use my imperfections to draw others closer to His mercy and grace. Who I am in the Lord is one who can love others because He first loved me.

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This inspiration comes from a 

Bible study I am doing through 

Proverbs 31 Ministries on 

"A Confident Heart" 

by Renee Swope.