Earlier this year, my friend Louisa wrote a blog post encouraging readers to focus on one word for the year as opposed to an un-kept New Year’s Resolution. Instead of one, three words came to mind, all starting with the letters C - O. Consistent, confidence, and contentment.
I’m still on my journey to become 100% consistent, with perfected confidence and always content.
Maybe you’ve arrived. But for those of us who haven’t, there’s good news! The word of God states, we can “be confident of this that He who began a good work in you (and me) will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
Did you get that? God, who began the good work in us will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. We can be confident in God, trusting that He’s perfecting those things that concern us as we yield to Him. (Psalm 138:8) Because of God’s faithfulness, we can also confidently do whatever He’s assigned us to do as we trust Him. That’s confidence!
Let’s talk about being consistent. Aware of my struggle to remain consistent when my labor appears to be in vain, the Lord blessed me to hear a scripture repeated 4 times within three weeks. “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary”. (Gal. 6:9 NASB)
In order to remain consistent as we wait for the promise to manifest “in due time”, we must first identify the promise. What promise did God make in the Bible concerning your labor for Him?
Use the promise (from the Bible/God), as a weapon of faith to fight weariness, thereby remaining consistent in faith, as you wait to see your work for the Lord grow into something glorious.
And finally, there’s the last c-o, contentment. As babies, we got our first messages across to our caregivers through crying. We cried when we were hungry, wet, and needed to be held. Some of us had tantrums when our desires weren’t fulfilled as children.
However, as an adult, I’m learning to be content. (Philippians 4:11) I find this phenomenal blessing occurs as I trust that my caregiver (The King of Heaven and earth) really is good no matter what I experience and that HE truly causes all things to work together for good to those who love God...(Romans 8:28 NASB) Contentment is gratitude that doesn’t faint. As we rest in the Lord and His promises, we learn to be content.
The summation of the three c-o’s is that our Lord is faithful. As we yield our hearts and every concern to Him in faith, we can be confident, consistent, and content. It’s just what we’ve been taught all along. Jesus is the way (and the truth and the life). (John 14:6) We find all we need in HIM!
Tonie I loved this article for its practicality. The 3 C's really give us focus on what to strive for. Consistency is something we all need to attain because the word also says in James 1.6 that when we ask we should ask in faith and not doubt and be like a wave tossed to and fro. We wont receive anything from the Lord when we waver. We must walk by faith and determination and not allow our feelings to interfere with our mission. Thank you! for reminding me of this very vital component to my walk with the Lord and ministry💕