"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36
In chapter one, Renee uses the analogy of a 9 foot shadow on her floor in comparison to her five foot 2 inch frame. The shadow was so much larger than the reality and it existed distorting her shape, but she could only stand in the shadow when she turned away from the light. Much like that shadow, doubt becomes bigger than who we really are. We become paralyzed by insecurity and whispers of doubt: "I can't do this." "Things will never change." "My life isn't going to get better." "You might as well quit." Some of us are very good at hiding these doubts, but they still have a paralyzing power on our lives. THIS IS NOT WHAT GOD WANTS. He doesn't want us stuck in a cycle of defeat or living in shadows of doubt. Hope and doubt cannot live in our hearts at the same time. Change is possible. We need to begin by not just believing IN God, but by believing God; that His word is true. We need to let His Word change the way we think, which will change the way we feel and the way we live.
Praying God's Promises (copied from book; pg. 26)
Lord, I pray that You would give me a confident heart in Christ. Take me beyond believing in You to truly believing You. Help me rely on the power of Your promises and live like they are true. You say blessed is the one who trusts in You and whose hope and confidence are found in You. Those who hope in You will not be disappointed, because You work all things together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.
When self-doubt tells me I can’t overcome my insecurities, I will believe You promise that all things are possible to whoever believes. I will not throw away my confidence, because You say it will be richly rewarded. I will persevere so that when I have done the will of God, I will receive what You have promised. My confidence is in Christ and I am no longer one who shrinks back and is destroyed, but one who believes and is saved! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scriptures to lean on:
Isaiah 49:23 "Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed."
Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a new thing!"
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."
Mark 9:23 NASB "All things are possible to him who believes."
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good pleasing and perfect will."
1 John 5:14 NASB "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."
Romans 10:17 "faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of Christ"
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