Cheer {FMFParty}

 People tell me that I exude confidence.  The truth is, I am assertive and people often mistake that for confidence.  I don’t take everything people say to heart, but I process it.  I decide if there is any truth to all comments and criticism.  I weigh if there is something I need to let God work on in my life.  I like feedback because sometimes it helps me battle my own voice of self-doubt.  I want to be the best I can be, but doubt often fills my mind.

I often doubt my knowledge and my skills.  I doubt my likeability.   I downplay the talents that God has placed within me.  I question my purpose and direction. I doubt my ability to do the dream God has placed inside of me.  I know my shortcomings and often find myself focusing on those.  It is just a lot of self-doubt, that maybe I am better at masking than others.

And then I run across scriptures like II Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV)

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee

and I find comfort that renews my hope and fills me with cheer.  I realize where I am at, is not by accident.  My past is a training ground for what He designed me to do.  He has established me where I am at and where I am going.  He designed me for a specific purpose and everything I do is preparing me for His purpose.

I am filled with cheer that I am not appointed by the words or opinions of man. He has anointed me for  my calling.  He chose me.  While I may not currently be walking in the fullness of what He has anointed me for, I can be obedient to the things He places before me. I can trust His timing.  If I try to do it on my own, I leave the anointing behind.  If I am slow to respond in obedience, He does wait for me.

God has sealed me.  He confirmed me with His Holy Spirit.  The dreams I have, they were given by Him.  The things I want to see happen for His kingdom, He sealed those in me.  They were given by God for me to fulfill or see fulfilled in my lifetime.  Backing down to the lies from the enemy, those from myself or from others, can’t be an option.  I must rise up and obediently do each thing He places before me.  I should trust in the connections that He places before me.  I should ask and receive help from others because the dreams He has sealed inside of me I cannot accomplish alone.

I need to keep my hope and cheer in the  fact that I am established in Christ, I am anointed by God and I am sealed by the Holy Spirit.  This promise isn’t just for me, it is for you too.  What doubts are you allowing to keep you from the hope and cheer that come from the comfort of knowing you are established, anointed and sealed?

This post is part of the link up for the Five Minute Friday over at Kate Motaung’s Blog , where you write for Five Minutes on a specific word and the goal is to just write & no editing. (It is supposed to be a free write)