Confidence in Everything

In the aftermath of horrendous weather and damaged property and death, it may not seem God is for us or on our side. To some, it may feel the exact opposite. How could He allow this to happen? If God is for me, why am I suffering like this? I've lost my home, all my belongings, all just before the holiday season. How is God for me in the midst of this? I can hear the questions, the concerns, as I watch The Weather Channel reporting the devastation left after Sandy's jaunt through the eastern seaboard.

I love the Scriptures Mary DeMuth points out in the chapter of Everything entitled, "Set Aside Worry." These are taken from the NASB:

If a river rages, he is not alarmed; he is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth. Job 40:23

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident. Psalm 27:3

I know I don't live in the path of the storm that has raged its way across New Jersey and Connecticut and New York City and all the areas it has hit. That doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to weather a storm or can't relate to death and destruction. I've faced many storms in my own life, both self-inflicted and naturally occurring. And I've had to choose where my confidence would lie.

It will always be in Jesus, my Everything. God is in control. Even when it seems the circumstances of life are overwhelming and He's gone missing, I know God is always there. His Word says that He will never leave nor forsake us. It also reminds us that He is not in the storms. He is not in the fire, the wind, or the earthquake. It's His still small voice that answers in the midst of the chaos of life. That is where we shall find our confidence, our faith, our trust. In the still small voice of God. Reminding us that He does care.

Everything is a book that has changed many lives already. There are near one hundred of us on Mary's launch team. If you've kept up with my posts or have followed my Pinterest board, you've heard us repeatedly endorse this book. I have yet to hear one person say it didn't impact their life in one way or another. So, grab a highlighter, a pen, a cup of coffee or tea or whatever else you enjoy drinking, and pick up a copy of Mary's book today. Find out exactly what you give and what you gain when you make Jesus your Everything.

This post is part of a Blog Tour for Everything. Feel free to click here to read more posts from the launch team.

Want a shot at winning a KitchenAid mixer in Everything blue? You've got today and tomorrow to try! Click here for contest rules and instructions on how to enter.

Finding Peace in the Middle

I had two days off from subbing last week. On Tuesday, I found myself grateful for the break. I met up with a friend at Atlanta Bread Company and enjoyed fellowship with a fellow writer. I finished the bracelet I'd been working on the night before, relishing the opportunity to create something beautiful. I cleaned the bathrooms, inhaling the scent of Lysol as it replaced the stench three boys leave behind. And as I did several other things, I listened to our local Christian radio station. A few songs in, I realized that in the stillness of my home, God was ministering to my heart through songs of praise.

Everything may not be perfect right now, but there is a perfect peace that comes from knowing God is on my side. He has my back. And my front.  

And even if I don't know where I'm going next, He does. And it's the perfect plan, because it's His.

Then, I received Mary DeMuth's newsletter. I had to scroll to the bottom of the page to find it, but she posted an amazing scripture. Every once in awhile one will jump off the page at me and find it's way deep into my spirit, lifting me up when I'm feeling down. As I read this one, it reminded me that despite my current circumstances, my heart will still praise the Lord, because I am grateful for all He is to me and all He has done in my life - regardless of whether or not the sun shines tomorrow...

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls -

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

~ Habakkuk 3:17-19

Confident or Cocky?

Photo Copyright Alycia W. Morales 2009

 My children love to tear into their gifts when Christmas and their birthdays come around. They kneel before the tree or the table, awaiting the moment they can find out what's inside the brightly colored packages. Anticipation darts along as their eyes go from one gift to the next.


Jesus received gifts from the wise men at His birth. Valuable gifts. Gifts that represented who He was and what He was all about. 

God also gave us gifts at our birth. He instilled within us the tools He could use for building His kingdom here on earth. Sometimes we recognize them as ours. Other times, we don't.

Like my children unwrapping presents to find out what's inside, I've had to discover what is wrapped up inside of me. What did God place within that I can use for His kingdom purposes? What can I do to bring glory to Him?

Through years of discovery, trial and error, and a few successes, I've figured out what God has put inside of me. He has blessed me with creativity, an ability to write well, a love for His Word, a passion for seeing other women's lives changed, a passion for seeing marriages and families thrive, and a desire to know His truth and apply it to my life and share it with others. I am good at administrative work. I tend to prophecy on occasion as I pray. I understand how to serve and have become fairly good at it. 

Does this make me cocky? Admitting I'm good at something? That I have knowledge on certain subjects? That God has blessed me with a gift? Am I wiggling my fingers at you from the side of my head, singing "na-na-na-na-na" while scrunching up my face in an I'm-better-than-you taunt? No. Far from it. 

It displays my confidence in God. It displays my confidence that I know who I am in Christ and to what purpose He has called me. And that's a good thing. 

Self-confidence is not cockiness. It only becomes cockiness when you use it as a defense mechanism against someone else. Kids in high school are cocky. They think they know everything there is to know and need no help or advice from someone else. Adults who feel as if they need to be the one at the top of the ladder and step on others on their way up are cocky. People who can't see beyond themselves are cocky.

People who can admit they don't know everything (how could we?) and can learn from another person are confident. People who move out of the way so you can zip past them, applauding you as you go are confident. People who serve others and provide words of encouragement to boost others' self-esteem are confident. People who are willing to teach others what they know so someone else can live a better life are confident.

I've learned throughout my relationship with Jesus that it's okay to be confident.

It's okay to understand you have been given gifts from the Father of all creation. It's okay to desire a better career, a better home life, or a better ministry in order that you may bring even more glory to God. It's okay to want to do something to change the world around you. As long as Jesus is at the heart of it, and you aren't stepping on others to get there.

What gifts did God wrap inside of you? Do you have enough confidence in God and yourself to use them?

One of my favorite parables is the parable of the talents. Read it here. A master calls out his servants and gives them each talents. One receives five, one two, and another one. The key to this particular verse is that they were given to each according to his own ability. God knows exactly what we are capable of handling. The servants then go out to trade with their talents, two of them gaining more as a result of their hard work. But one servant is afraid of what would happen if he was unsuccessful, so he never tries. Instead, he buries it until his master returns.

If I can encourage you in anything today, don't bury your talent. Try using it for God. Whether you're good at sewing, shopping, handling finances, writing, singing, or anything else, God has put those things you're passionate about inside of you for a reason. Step out in faith, trust in Him to see you through, and watch as He brings your wildest dreams to pass.

Have confidence in God and in yourself. Only good will come of it! Remember, you're a daughter of the King of Kings!

Who Is Your Confidence?

Step-mothering is one of the most difficult roles I've had to live out in my life. At times, things would be great. Everyone involved in the situation would  be in agreement, walk in unity, and enjoy the journey. Other days I had to rely on God, as the enemy came at me full force. My every decision, word, or action would be scrutinized, criticized, and held under a magnifying glass. During these times, I went to battle in prayer, and I knew that God had given me directives and a plan. The battles were never easy to fight but I had to stand my ground. In the years to come, I would be able to give God the glory for the victories won.


Every one of us face similar battles in life. I'm not talking about overcoming spiritual giants that have resulted from our personal sin. I'm talking about the unjust accusations from others. I'm talking about the times when we know that we are lined up with God's will and are following His directives. Yet, the enemy is advancing. Names are being called. Mud covers our faces. We face shame and defeat. The question is, will we set our faces like flint and know for certain that God will help us through?


Isaiah 50:5-9 tell a scene of Jesus facing His accusers. I am truly amazed at how He gave of Himself and trusted God, His Father, to help Him. When He was on the cross, He cried out to God, asking Him why He'd forsaken Him. Doesn't that sound like our hearts' cries when we face the adversary? God, why have You forsaken me? Why do I feel so alone right now, with all of these people accusing me of things I have not done, things I have not said? Why do I feel as if I'm wide open for the world to throw rotten and vile things at?


"The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away." (v. 5)
We could respond to their pressure and accusations by rebelling against God and turning from His truths. We could stop listening to Him and His wisdom. We could become one of the accusers and leave the cross behind. But Jesus didn't...

"I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting." (v. 6)
We could fight back, as Peter drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane. Or, we could respond as Jesus did, turning the other cheek, forgiving those who came against Him, for they knew not what they did. It may feel shameful to be spit upon, but it's not about us. It's about Jesus and what He did for us. Vengeance is the Lord's, not ours.

"For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed." (v. 7)
Jesus had His confidence in the Lord before He ever went to the cross. He knew God would be glorified and would come to His aid. His esteem did not come from those who accused Him. His purpose came from God. 

"He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me." (v. 8)
God justifies us, just as He justified Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Messiah. When our lives truly belong to God and we are following in His footsteps, we have nothing else to fear. God is love, and perfect Love (Jesus) casts out all fear. Our adversaries cannot touch us in the end if we truly believe that God is who He says He is. He is the One who justifies us. If God is for us, none can be against us. Jesus overcame the enemy. God raised Him from the dead and placed Him at His right hand in heaven. He was glorified, and the enemy was overcome.

When we strive to be like Jesus, to be obedient to God, even in the midst of our adversaries, He will always be near, ready to help in times of need. Our confidence needs to be in Him, not ourselves, not other people, not material things. Jesus saves.