Joyce Meyer - The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations

For most of the worlds existence, women have not enjoyed proper respect, nor have they enjoyed their rightful place in society. Although much of that injustice has been corrected in recent time, there are still many cultures in the world where women are terribly mistreated. This is tragic.

Women are a precious gift from God to the world. They are creative, sensitive, compassionate, intelligent, talented, and, according to the Bible, equal to men.

Due to years of abuse and a wrong worldview toward women, many of us have lost the confidence God wants us to enjoy. Many of us have been left with vague feelings that we are somehow less than men. Less valuable. Less worthy. The end result is a society filled with insecure people, which causes great difficulty in personal relationships and is one of the reasons divorce is so prevalent today.

During my childhood, I endured many years of sexual abuse, which profoundly affected my confidence and the image I carried inside of myself. Inwardly I was very fearful, but outwardly I presented myself as a tough, bold person who couldnt care less what others thought of her. I created a pretend me so no one could discover the real me. I was filled with shame and condemnation over something a man had done to me, and for many years I held a rather low opinion of men as a result.

Today, however, I believe I am a well-balanced woman. I have a wonderful husband and four grown children. I am the president and founder of a worldwide media ministry that is helping millions of people find salvation through Jesus Christ, as well as freedom and wholeness in their lives. My husband, children, and I all work together in the ministry.

I have learned a lot on my journey about what true confidence is and about overcoming my need to please everyone, and it is my desire that the readings of this devotional will help you become the woman God intends you to be. His desire is that you be bold, courageous, confident, respected, admired, promoted, sought after, and, most of all, loved.

God has a wonderful plan for your life, and I pray that reading these devotions will help you enter it more fully than ever before. You can hold your head up high and be filled with confidence about yourself and your future. You can be bold and step out to do new thingseven things no man or woman has ever done before. You have what it takes!

In the fourth watch [between 3:006:00 a.m.] of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright. But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid!

MATTHEW 14:2527

A s was true of the twelve disciples, you are full of capabilities, gifts, and talent. Gods enablement of His grace and presence is with you. So what are you doing with your life? Are you like the eleven disciples who stayed in the boat, or are you like Peter, who when Jesus was passing by said, Lord, I want to walk on the water with You! Do you have a vision for your life and want to do something greater than what youre doing? Are you going to just sit in the boat and shake and quake and watch the rest of the world go by, or will you be one of those rare individuals who jumps out of the boat and refuses to live afraid?

Its up to you what youre going to do with your life. Fear is always going to come against you. But listen to Jesus words: Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid! Its time to step out and do the thing you desire to do.

Lord, I praise You that You come to me and extend Your presence and Your helping hand. As was true of Peter, I want to be a water walker. Amen.