Secret #1: Self-confidence - (4)

“The way you dress determines how you are addressed” (not sure who this phrase or something similar is attributed to but it came up during our Family time using “Open Heavens”*). This is so true…and it relates to your outward appearance/countenance, inward comportment and of course your resume/CV if you’re looking for a job or your Business plan if you're looking to start a profit-oriented or not-for-profit organisation.

I’ve had several opportunities of being on both sides of the interview table - as interviewee and interviewer. One thing that has come through over and over again - first impressions last and you have only one opportunity to make a first impression. For a lot of prospective candidates, the first impression comes from their resume/CV or Business plan. For others, the first impression is made when you walk into the face-to-face meeting. Whichever one applies to you, you need to always have your best foot forward - this also applies to those of us who are still trusting God for a husband.

Taking a cue from Esther - she scaled through the initial screening process because she was a virgin and when Hegai saw her “she found favour in his sight” (see Esther 2:2, 8 & 9) - now was that a first impression or what? Esther found such amazing favour that she was given preferential treatment in the harem - now this is not to in any way infer that you will be given preferential treatment; however, one of my favourite verses of scripture is Psalms 5:12 which says “For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.” (New King James Version). The Amplified Bible amplifies it so nicely: “For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor). In addition to your self-confidence, you must have confidence that for as long as you are aligned with God, He will surround you with favour wherever you go or are.

Back to Esther…
So when it was time to be presented to the king, she wisely wore only what Hegai gave her to wear. In putting her best foot forward (backed by wise counsel), she not only found favour before all those who saw her (Esther 2:15) she ultimately found favour in the sight of the king (Esther 2:17). God surrounded her with His favour (& He will surround you with His favour for as long you remain righteous - AMEN!)

The story is the same for all women, in fact for all people, we need wise counsel (BTW**: we’ll be talking about “connections” later). Due to the fact that Esther could rely on the “soundness” of Hegai’s counsel, her self-confidence was boosted - imagine a slave girl becoming queen!

*Look up www.rccgna.org <http://www.rccgna.org/> for daily inspiration;
** BTW - by the way