SELF-CONFIDENCE:"THE ROOTS"
Merriam Webster dictionary defines "Self-Confidence” as, “Belief in oneself and in one’s power and abilities.” This definition is alarming because many people allow social media and the world’s point of view to lay the foundation for how they shape their perception of themselves. What this tells me is by society's standards our self-confidence can be governed by outside sources, praise, and achievements. Ultimately it’s built off of our dealings and experiences with the world. That’s not sustainable! I mean that doesn’t even sound like SELF to me at all. It sounds like having self-confidence equates to self-assuredness in what “THEY” say is valuable. As BELIEVERS we live by a different code and standard from the world. Our perception is shaped by WHO GOD says we are and WHO he created us to be. Romans 12:2 (NLT) says,“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let GOD transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” You can either adopt a WORLD point of view or the KINGDOM point of view, GOD gave us all free will to CHOOSE. It’s up to you!
What if I told you that from a KINGDOM POV your self-confidence has less to do with you and more to do with the “ONE” living inside of you. He created you in his image, so getting to know him is an act of discovering your true IDENTITY! Shifting your perspective to focus on GOD our one and only SOURCE allows you to filter the world through his word and way. Increasing your awareness of the one who CREATED YOU, allows you to experience his unwavering LOVE for you. The more you trust GOD and focus on fulfilling his will the more affirmed you’ll become. You’ll no longer place your confidence in your own abilities, instead it’ll all be placed in GOD’S POWER WORKING THROUGH YOU. GOD is the AUTHOR and the FINISHER and he created you with the END IN MIND! He designed you to carry his light everywhere you go and solve a very SPECIFIC problem. He ASSIGNED you to live IN PURPOSE ON PURPOSE. Building a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD gives you access to GOD’S PLANS, it gives you PROVISION, and it gives you GUIDELINES to move in YOUR PURPOSE. Allowing the HOLY SPIRIT to lead your life gives you the opportunity to walk throughout life knowing that you’re “CALLED” to the spaces you occupy! This empowers you to approach every situation with a KINGDOM MINDSET and it grants you wisdom to persist in the face of adversity. GOD shows up greater in your weakness so whenever you face a deficit you can rest assured knowing that he’s going to show up to help you carry the load and responsibilities of life. You’ll never have to tackle anything alone because GOD will always be right there with you. This is where your true confidence comes from! He placed everything you’d ever need inside of you. He equips you daily for your journey through encounters and experiences.
Choosing to operate with a KINGDOM MINDSET is a declaration that you BELIEVE in him, you TRUST in him, and you know that his GRACE is sufficient! Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT) says, “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit.” Self-Confidence should always come from the inside out, because the one who created you dwells inside of you. Through every encounter and trial your confidence will grow more and more because you’re learning the character of our ALL POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING, and ALL LOVING FATHER GOD! Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.”
GOD sent his one and ONLY son JESUS CHRIST to die for our sins. This act of SELFLESS LOVE created a path for us ALL to build a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD. It’s only through JESUS CHRIST that we have access to the FATHER and the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. GOD planted a seed in the soil for us, watered it, and continuously nurtured it. He provides everything we need to grow into strong MAPLE TREES, but we have to stay connected and become DEEPLY ROOTED in him. This week our plan of action is to examine our roots and develop practices to begin our maturation process.
GUIDING SCRIPTURE: John 15:5-8 (NLT) says, “Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who doesn’t remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my father."
Our life lesson for the month of MARCH is SELF-CONFIDENCE! I want to use the different parts of a TREE to illustrate steps and spiritual disciplines you can implement to begin your transition of shifting from a WORLD POV to a KINGDOM MINDSET. Please remember that you have the ability to adjust your perspective! If you want to shift to a KINGDOM MINDSET, the first step is becoming a part of the FAMILY TREE. This week we’re dealing with THE ROOTS…. Let’s break it down…
THE ROOTS
The roots play a vital role in the LIFE CYCLE of a tree! The roots produce NEW GROWTH! They absorb the oxygen, water, and nutrients from the soil to give the tree what it needs to thrive and bear fruit. The roots grow down into the soil to ANCHOR the tree to keep it straight and stable. The roots nurture and develop the tree. When the tree receives all of the nutrients it needs it grows big and strong. If the tree isn’t able to retain the nutrients it will start to decay. In this analogy I want you to view the SOIL as our GOD ALMIGHTY FATHER and I want you to view the ROOTS as our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST! We represent the BRANCHES, we're an extension of the FAMILY TREE! As long as we’re connected to the tree we’re able to experience new growth, be well nourished, and produce fruit! When we break away from the source we lose access to our life line.
ACTION:
STEP 1: Examine YOUR ROOTS. By roots I mean take a deep look at your origin to uncover things that need to be addressed and extract the value from your experiences. Here are a few questions to help you start the digging process:
Write down your answers to each of these questions. Be very detailed in describing your experiences and take some time to identify how it made you feel and why. Be very specific with your descriptions.
What is your earliest memory of GOD? When did you have your first real encounter with GOD?
Did your family instill the desire in your heart to pursue GOD? Or is this the first time you’ve been introduced to GOD?
Did you grow up in the church? Was it a good experience or did you experience church hurt?
How would you describe yourself? What contributed to this perception of yourself?
At this very moment what would you say are your best attributes? How would you describe your CHARACTER?
Activity: Find scriptures in the bible that match the characteristics you’ve said about yourself. If you can’t find anything that matches, pray to GOD and ask how do you see me?
Lastly, set a standard for yourself. What are your CORE VALUES?
STEP 2: Examine YOUR ATMOSPHERE. By atmosphere I mean take a deep look at the quality of the people, places, and spaces where you spend the most time. You tend to pick up habits from your surroundings so it’s vital that you have boundaries that operate within to help you gauge what’s acceptable and what’s not. Assess your atmosphere and record the impacts of each space you occupy.
What does your circle of close friends look like? What do you have in common with these friends? Are y’all in the same?
What type of places do you go to? How often are you there?
What type of atmosphere allows you to be the most productive?
What type of atmosphere brings you PEACE?
Activity: Bookend your day! Create a routine for when you wake up and when you are dialing it down to go to bed? What does that atmosphere look like?
STEP 3: Examine YOUR CONSUMPTION. By consumption I mean take a deep look at what you intake daily. What has your attention? Matthew 6:21-22 (NLT) says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is the lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”
What are you watching and listening to daily?
Are the things you’re consuming in alignment with the KINGDOM?
How are the things you’re consuming showing up in your life?
Activity: Write down every piece of content you consume daily and then examine them.
Based on your answers do you feel like you’re deeply rooted in the right soil? Do you feel that you’re carving out time for GOD. If your answer is no and you’re feeling like you need to make a change, consider reconnecting with GOD. Ask JESUS to reintroduce himself to you, then make the time and space in your life to spend time with him. If you’re feeling led to gain a deeper connection with GOD, but you haven’t accepted JESUS CHRIST as your LORD AND SAVIOR, I would love to invite you to come join OUR FAMILY TREE. A simple prayer is the first step to joining the KINGDOM! Romans 11:9-10 (NLT) says, “If you openly declare that JESUS is LORD and BELIEVE in your heart that GOD raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with GOD, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
PRAYER: JESUS, I confess that you are my LORD AND SAVIOR. I believe in my heart that GOD raised you from the dead. By faith in your word, I receive salvation now. Thank you for saving me.
I pray that this blog was helpful and inspiring. Be sure to come back next week for part 2 of the Self-Confidence Life Lesson! Next week we will be discussing the TRUNK of the tree. Have a great day and remember until next time, STAY FOCUSED, TRUST GOD, and RESPECT THE PROCESS!
INSPIRATIONAL SONG: MY TRUTH BY: JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS
INSPIRATIONAL SONG: OVERRATED BY: JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS
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