Confidence

When you ask for something, do you truly believe you will get it?

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." - Matthew 7:28-8:4

The man suffering from leprosy believed that Jesus could cure him.  Do you think he believed Jesus would choose to do what he asked?

I have found that optimism and faith go hand in hand.

The more faith I have, the more optimistic I become, and I am pretty optimistic to start with.

What tends to happen for me is that I become more confident in my asks.

Recently, I was presented with a grant opportunity.  The funding would be for a three year project that I priced out at over three times the maximum the grant offered.  

Now, I knew the project was something that would benefit the community and all involved, so I submitted my proposal for the whole amount.  I was confident I would get something.

I just received word that we have been awarded more than 2.5 times the previously stated maximum.

Now, I am not confident because I am cocky.  I am confident because I can feel the Holy Spirit working through me, walking this journey with me.

I cannot explain the feeling I get when these opportunities just appear, like Jesus descending from the mountain.

And like the man sho was cured, there is work to do now that the wish was granted.  He has to go and show himself to the priest to be reinstated.  I have to mobilize my team to collect the food and feed the hungry.

It feels good to be filled with the confidence that God is with us.

The only thing I need to do is submit the request.

More to come...