There is something very appealing about a confident woman, isn’t there?

Recently, I attended a women’s conference out of town. It was a wonderful experience of interacting with women in ministry I had never met, but would not soon forget.

One in particular stood out to me. It wasn’t her beauty that caught my attention, although she was very attractive. Nor was it her designer dress that impressed me. I was simply captivated by this woman’s obvious sense of confidence. She walked confidently, stood confidently, and interacted confidently. Most impressively, she prayed with amazing confidence — as if she truly believed what she was praying!

Our culture tells us that confidence is the result of commendable performance, physical beauty, and high-ranking titles. What a contrast to what the Word tells us!
-Paul says he puts no confidence in human effort, but instead boasts about what Christ Jesus has done for him.
-Proverbs tells us a woman’s beauty does not last, so beauty will not declare her praise.
-Jesus informed the Jewish leaders that he could do only what he saw his Father doing. He also declared that their approval or disapproval meant nothing to him.

After spending the weekend with my newfound confident friend, I gratefully learned she is the real deal. She doesn’t stand confidently because she is successful. She doesn’t speak confidently because she is gifted. And she doesn’t pray confidently because she is naturally aggressive. She is confident because of her relationship with Christ. She knows Who lives inside her. She knows who she is, whose she is, and what she’s here for.

The same is true for us as well, Friends. For every one of us who truly desires the confidence that cannot be shaken, we must realize it has little to do with whom we are - in and of ourselves - and everything to do with who we are in Him. There is no self-esteem roller coaster ride when our identities are anchored in Christ!
-You and I can pray authoritative prayers because the Intercessor is praying through us.
-We can survive a “defeat” without falling apart because the Champion will forever cheer for us.
-We can stand strong in the midst of life’s most frightening storms because the Master of all seas is standing strong in us.

At the end of the day, Ladies, it’s not about you or me; but about the Christ who lives inside us. Stand confidently. Pray confidently. Speak confidently. Interact confidently. Live confidently!

You and I can make the following declaration without hesitancy or self-doubt. Read it with me. Declare it with me. Believe it with me. Then LIVE it with me!

I AM A WOMAN OF CONFIDENCE

I know who I am because I know whose I am.

I am the daughter of the Most High God. What extravagant love He has lavished on me that I should be called his child. And that is what I am! He is my Abba Father, constantly affirming who I am and holding my hand through every phase of growth. He lifts me to his shoulders so I can see, holds me in his arms so I can rest, and kneels to kiss my wounds so I can heal.

I am the bride of Christ. He woos me by his spirit, calls me by my name, and draws me with irresistible cords of love. He is enthralled with by beauty and is ravished by one glance of my eyes. He adores me, protects me, provides for me, desires me, and abandons himself to me as my Bridegroom. He has made an everlasting covenant of love with me that can never be broken. His vows to me are forever. I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine.

I am a friend of God. He calls me friend! He laughs with me, cries with me, and listens tirelessly to my endless quandaries. He shares his deepest burdens with me and trusts me to bear them in prayer. We celebrate life’s victories and grieve its tragedies. My Friend is for me, never against me. He believes in me, sees the best in me, and enthusiastically cheers me on!

Some things are loved because they are valuable. Others are valuable because they are loved. I am loved by the most lavish Lover the world has ever known. I belong to the Master of life and the Holy Creator of all that has breath. Embracing this truth has made me a woman of confidence. I know who I am, because my God has defined me.