Three words.

Every year, for the past 5 years I have chosen a word for the year. This year, I was praying and asking God for direction but I couldn't  settle on a word. Four days in the fresh year while driving into work 3 words dropped in my spirit- Confidence, Trust and Faith! So, not one word but three?! Not only do I hear 3 words, I also feel that these 3 specific words are just for January. Only January? I'm not sure what all this entails but I'm listening. Funny enough,  I am now studying my Febraury word. I'll share that later.

Back to my January words. My first thought was how similar these words are.  I studied the words every night and I noticed pretty quickly that I was lacking in each word. I feel like I have trust. I feel like I have confidence. I feel like I have faith.  However, over the past few seasons, I think I have been trying to convince myself that I have a good grip on these things.

"Have confidence when approaching God with your request. He hears you!"- 1 John 5:14

All my life, I approached God with confidence. I knew He heard me. I prayed about my family. I prayed for very specific things that I wanted in my future husband. I prayed detailed prayers over  the children that weren't even born, yet. I knew God would save me from generational curses. I knew he would provide me a home with Peace. I knew. I knew. I knew. Everything I asked God for, He supplied.
Lately, I would pray but I stopped going to the throne- confidently! I think because we've had so many weird things happen in the last few years my confidence was weaning. All this stuff is unfolding around me and it made me start doubting the "He hears You" that we just read in 1 John 5:14. Even though I was praying I allowed that little bit of doubt to sneak in.

Confidence: feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something.-Firm Trust.

So...if I'm doubting even in the slightest then, I'm not really confident and having a firm trust.

Trust, my second word.

Trust: firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.

There's that word again- Firm! Firm is unyielding, solid, resistant. Again, there is no room for doubt when you have a firm trust in God. An unyielding trust that God is going before you, he's standing beside you and He's walking behind you. He is aware of your future, He's covered your past and He's protecting your now. Truly, how can I struggle with trust when God has rescued me time and time again.

Psalm 143:8 "I feel weaker and weaker as I wait for you to save me. But I put my trust in your word."

It's ok to feel weak in valley times, desperate moments but we have to believe God's word never returns void. It will always accomplish what it needs to for your purpose....


Now, faith... How funny that faith means: Complete TRUST or CONFIDENCE in someone or something. I mean seriously!! The 3 words go together. You can't have Faith if you don't have complete trust or confidence. I started lacking on the "complete" part of both. I allowed some bad experiences to build a small wedge between me and God. When really life experiences should give us confidence and build our faith because He has certainly carried us through every experience we've had before! Why wouldn't he now?

James 1:7 " If you don't pray in faith(complete trust or confidence) don't expect your prayers to be answered."

I need to let all the experiences build my God confidence. I read some where that David received his confidence keeping the lions from the sheep. Then,  that victory gave him the confidence to kill Goliath. Those two experiences gave him the confidence to run a country.

Experience gives us even more confidence in God.

There's so much I learned this month. Or I should say re-learned. I wanted to share a small part of my January journey in case someone else needed to read it. We can't allow the enemy to let our experiences build a wedge between God and us. It was a nice and slow transition what was happening with me. I still prayed. I still had hope. I talked to God everyday. However, I was slowly letting some doubt sneak in. Not only with God but with myself. I'm approaching God with confidence again. My prayers are bold. And I know He has big plans for me and for my family. I refuse to stay stuck.

2 Chronicles 29:10-11 "Don't drag your feet in this! God has chosen you to take your place before him to serve....this is your life work; make sure you do it and do it well"



Heb13:6 "The lord is my helper I will not fear....

2016  it is settled. I'm confident in that!