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Step into a life of confidence and purpose | Devoutly

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Fri 9/15

I AFFIRM

I am capable enough to pursue my dreams.
Fri 9/15

I AFFIRM

I am capable enough to pursue my dreams.
Hebrews 10:35–36
“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.”

NIV

Devotion

Living with Confidence and Devotion Day 1

Do Not Throw Away Your Confidence

By: Karen Barber

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Devotion

Do Not Throw Away Your Confidence

By: Karen Barber

Everything I thought about on my morning walk made me worry. The day before, our son Chris had called from school in California in a quandary over a Spanish class that seemed way over his head. Today was the deadline to decide whether to drop the class, and the outcome could alter our summer plans. Then my husband Gordon had come home saying that he wanted to put his name in the hat for a job in another city.

Everything inside of me screamed, No, I don’t want to move again! I don’t have the time or energy for it! “It would disrupt my whole life,” I told him. We had suspended our discussion at an uncomfortable impasse. As I rounded the curve and headed home, I tried to lift my problems to God, but somehow it didn’t seem to do any good. I arrived home feeling just as depressed and powerless as ever.

I collapsed in the living room and opened my Bible to where I had been reading the day before. All at once, a sentence in Hebrews electrified me. I hurried upstairs to copy it down in my journal in capital letters. “DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE.”  

“Is that the only way confidence can be lost—if I throw it away myself?” I wrote. “That’s an amazing thought. 

Usually, I think that overwhelming circumstances or my own lack of ability or the way others have treated me rob me of my confidence. What if confidence is really mine and mine alone either to keep or throw away?” In the past, I’d often mentally substituted the word self-confidence for confidence when reading the Bible.

Self-confidence is not always possible or practical, because there are many things beyond my ability and control. But Hebrews tells me to place my trust and reliance on God, “for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23, NIV).

The next morning, as I rounded the same curve in my morning walk, I smiled. What an amazing turnaround my attitude had taken because of that one sentence I’d read the day before. Every time worry or depression crept in, I would simply remind myself, “Don’t throw away your confidence.” I went about my day with assurance and optimism.

Chris decided to stick with the Spanish class and eventually earned a B in it. I began praying for whatever God thought best concerning Gordon’s future job, even if it meant laying aside my desire for stability. And I prayed with confidence because I was sure that whatever God’s plan, it would be so much better than mine. 

Story

Living with Confidence Story Day 1

Trust

By: Ann Margret
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Opening night. The audience takes their seats. The makeup artist applies a few finishing touches on me before I go out onstage. Think I’m not nervous? A bit fearful? Even after 50 years as a performer I still get the jitters. What if I forget a lyric? What if I miss a cue? What if I trip during a dance number? A million things could go wrong. I take a deep breath. Trust, I remind myself. Trust that everything will be all right, no matter what goes wrong. 

I first learned the meaning of that word as a little girl growing up in Sweden. It was during World War II and Daddy went off to build us a life in America. He would send for us soon. I cried every night at first because I was so afraid without him. I’m sure my mother was too. But her faith got her through. “You can trust God. He will always be here with us, even when Daddy is not,” she told me. And sure enough, five years later, we were reunited with Daddy in New York City.  

Faith and trust? You can’t be in show business, or any business, without them. I was discovered at age 18 by the legendary George Burns. I made my film debut in Pocketful of Miracles and shared a marquee with Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas. I was very honored to receive two Academy Award nominations. But there were plenty of tough periods in my career. Sometimes all I had going for me was trust.  

Especially during my biggest struggle, after a live performance in September 1972. The opening number of my show in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, called for me to be lowered slowly onto the stage by a descending platform. The first six performances went off without a hitch. But as I stepped onto the platform for the seventh show, I felt it begin to wobble. Something’s wrong. Then the platform tipped, throwing me headfirst into space. All I remember was staring two stories down at the stage hurtling up at me.  

I woke up three days later in the hospital. My jaw was shattered. I had five facial fractures, a broken elbow and a gash down my left leg. My jaw was wired shut; my arm was in a sling. Would I ever perform again? Trust, I heard. Trust in God. I vowed that I’d make it back to the stage in time to perform at the Las Vegas Hilton on November 28.  

Nobody thought it was possible, but each day I got a little stronger, trusting I would make a full recovery. I wanted to show that I was back to normal. I realized the only way to do that was if I did my stage show again—soon.  

Then came dress rehearsal. The finale of the Hilton show required me to climb high atop a giant drum and fall backward into the arms of awaiting dancers. A blind fall. The thought of it made me shudder.  

“Why don’t we just eliminate this part?” the director suggested.  

“No way,” I said. I had to face my fears. I emerged from behind the curtain to thunderous applause from my family sitting in the first row. The rehearsal went well. Then came the big finale. I felt fear rising inside me. Still, the dance steps came automatically. Before I knew it, I was standing high above the stage. At my cue, I took a deep breath. Closing my eyes, I fell backward into the air. The memory of my last fall came back in a rush of panic and fear. Trust. It was the only thing I could do. Trust. In that instant, plunging through the air, helpless, a kind of freedom took over, a liberation from fear.   

I was in God’s hands, and it felt beautiful. When trust removes fear, faith flows in.  

Reflect

What statement will help you feel more confident today?

God will always be there to guide me no matter what.

I trust that God has a plan for me.

I will recall the times that God has supported me in my life.

May God’s love encourage and guide your steps today. We’ll see you again soon!

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