One Word for 2013.

One Word for 2013: Confidence

If you haven’t read my previous post…please read that first. You can find it here or scroll down...it's under this one. :)

I didn’t want to pick this word. I thought…what’s everyone going to think? That one question summed up the very reason why this is my word for 2013.

I want to live and lead a life of confidence. Confidence in who I am as a person. Confident in the fact that God didn’t make a mistake with me. Confident in the fact that I am who I am. Confident that I am where God would have me be and that he will equip me with the knowledge, wisdom and ability to do what He needs done.

I desire freedom from the constant thoughts of what does everyone else think and is all I do and who I am pleasing to everyone? I long to replace my constant anxiety with trust that the Creator of the Universe holds my life in His hands.

I desire…

Confidence in Christ. God does not desire for me to have a spirit of fear and anxiety, but of power, love and self-discipline. My confidence should come from him. I believe in him and trust in his power for my life as well in the lives of my family, friends and community, but what would that look like if I truly approached each day confidently trusting in that power?

Confidence in myself.  This one is hard. I haven’t always had the highest self-esteem or been the most self-assured. I think I have grown immensely in this area over the last couple years (another reason I choose this word…to keep the ball rolling). I’ve gone from thinking no one really cared who I was and thinking I didn’t have much to offer to knowing that I do have a lot to offer and fully understanding and accepting that my identify comes from being a child of God. It’s not from what people think of me, what I’m good at or how many friends I have.

Confidence in others. I don’t always trust people. Sometimes it’s because something has hurt me in the past and other times I’ve come to realize it’s because I project my anxieties and expectations on others. I like feeling secure in relationships and that’s not always realistic I don’t think, but I can choose to do what I can on my end in a relationship. I can always choose to love deeply, invest in relationships and to put myself out there. It may not be what I expect, some relationships may be short lived others may become forever friendships, but whatever the case I want to trust in others. I want to take the steps to really get to know people and continue to intentionally invest in others.  I want to give people the chance to know me and to make room for true community to develop. (Disclaimer: This point may seem scattered and not make sense…I’m having a hard time putting it into words)

I researched the word confidence and looked at different pictures and quotes and such and I found this verse. I think it says it well. 

So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (The Message)