September 12, 2006
Encouragement for Today
Principal #1
“Yes You Can”
Wendy Pope, Coordinator of Development, Speaker Team Member
Key Verse:
Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (NIV)
Devotion:
It is amazing to me how, from a very young age, children come to believe whether they will be successful or not. Some children are brimming with confidence, and some need encouragement at every turn. I have one of each. My son never assumes that he will fail. He never lets his size or his age affect his belief in himself. My daughter, on the other hand, got her confidence from her mother’s gene pool. She will quickly give up on something just because it is not going well.
This started during her preschool days. When the puzzle piece would not fit, or when the shape would not go into the sorter, the first words out of her little mouth were, "I can’t do it." Knowing that I had grown up being a slave to this lie, I was determined to set a new pace for my children.
I started this new pace by teaching her to ask for help when she got frustrated. I had her say, "Mom, I am having trouble, will you please help me?" After many months of training, this became second nature. As she would come to us , we would help her, but we would also direct her to God’s Word (and today’s key scripture). After many years of teaching this principle, she is finally beginning to believe she can do all things through Christ.
Has the enemy robbed you of potential success in an area of your life by convincing you that you cannot do it? It grieves my heart to think of the time I wasted giving the enemy victory in the area of self-confidence. I have spent the latter years of my life choosing to overcome the enemy’s lies by defending myself with Scripture and, like my daughter, asking for help. I am now able to live free and enjoy life by daring to try new things.
My Prayer for Today:
Lord, help me to believe your words. Help me to overcome any unbelief. I know my confidence and competence comes from you. Enable me to live like it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Make a list of some things you do well. Thank God for your abilities.
Make a list of things you struggle to achieve with excellence. Ask the Lord for help.
Reflection Points:
Is there an area of my life where I am giving into the enemies' lies?
How do I react when I am having trouble succeeding at a task?
Who do I call first when trouble comes my way?
Power Verses:
2 Corinthians 3:4, "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God." (NIV)
2 Corinthians 3:5, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes form God." (NIV)
Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV)
Additional Resources:
What Happens When Women Walk by Faith, by Lysa TerKeurst
Scriptures for Battling Fear, ETC Corner May 2004
Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed by Lysa TerKeurst