Hello Friends,

When I told my counselor I had started writing regularly again. She encouraged me to share my blog with some other people. So I did, I felt both thrilled and terrified at the same time.  After all, it’s one thing to share with my sister, Marie, and it’s entirely different to share with church family.  I know Marie is going to approve and encourage me to keep going. She’s known me my whole life and she knows how I think about almost everything.  Others? Ok I know they won’t discourage me, but I can’t help but wonder if anything I share will surprise them or they would view me a little differently.  Maybe they’ll look at it and suddenly gain a better understanding of why I’m so determined to encourage people (or why I’m crazy sometimes).  Either way sharing my writings has always seemed very personal to me.  In high school and college I used to write a lot of poetry.  One day someone asked to read it, but I felt too embarrassed to share.  I even wrote a poem to let this person read if they asked me again which simply explained my poetry was personal, like a roadmap to understanding who I am, and how I think.

That being said, intentionally sharing my writing (as opposed to writing a blog with a pen name and not telling it is me) is WAY out of my comfort zone, which I believe is my counselors point.  She wants me to be more confident in who I am.  Confidence is not something I’ve ever been good at, although I used to do a little better pretending to be confident.  But I’m trying to get better at it.

Confidence is mentioned in several verses in the Bible.  My favorite is:

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭

If we have received God’s grace through faith, by accepting Jesus as our Savior and choose to follow and serve Him, we should approach the throne of grace with confidence.  What does that look like? To me, it’s a reminder of what Paul says in Philippians: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6-‭8

Do you remember the song “oh be careful little eyes what you see?” by focusing on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, has virtue, or is praiseworthy we are protecting our eyes and our ears. We are protecting our minds. Focusing on these things will allow the “Peace of God which surpasses all understanding” to “guard [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Which will allow us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Friends, I encourage you to focus on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, has virtue, or is praiseworthy. Focus on Jesus, and things above.  I encourage you to share your heart for Jesus with others.  Have confidence as you approach the throne of grace.

I am a follower of Christ, I am not perfect, but I love Jesus.

Until Next Time,

Liz Allen