Building Your Confidence

I have been blessed by spending more time in the Word this past week. Scripture has made it ever the more clear to me that confidence in God's promices is what God expects of us. It is not enough to simply believe what he promices. We have to be certain, without a doubt, that what God says he will do, HE WILL DO.

We have to be sure, steadfast, continually, habitually keeping ourselves fixed on the confidence of what he says to be true; regardless of the oposition that comes against us or the circumstances we find ourselves in on a daily basis.

It is not enough to tell others we believe in God's Word and display that belief when others are around. We have to have that confidence when no one else is around. When more expenses arise than we have money to pay them, when you face difficulties that arise out of the blue, when someone you trust hurts you, when you feel lost or all alone for whatever reason, AND you still trust in God with confidence and faith because he has promiced you he will provide for you, he will guide you and show you the way, he will comfort you and bring you peace, and that he will NEVER leave you or forsake you.

When you stay focused regardless of what is around you, when you don't give up on a ministry when it gets tough or you get criticized, when family puts you down for spending time in the Word, when you are ridiculed for not watching the show on television that everyone else wants to watch and you stand up for why it's not going to be watched in your home, when your child aggitates you and you take the time to explain biblically why they are wrong in a loving, caring manner instead of ranting and raving, when neighbors or extended family can't understand why you have changed so much; AND you still stay focused on God's promices without missing a beat, this is when you show your confidence.

Showing your confidence when you least expect others to be watching, at times can be the times when this confidence is most seen by others. When unexpected circumstances occur, others seem to be watching more than normal. Others know your confidence when it is business as usual. It is when a pipe wrench gets thrown in you can show how much confidence you truly have. This is when you can witness at your best.

What does your confidence meter read during difficult times? If you aren't sure, ask others around you. I'm pretty sure they will be able to tell you.

Confidence in God

Recently we have experienced some trials within our family, mostly financial trials. We are human and show concern about circumstances when they arise. We discuss how we need to change the amount going out based on the amount we have coming in.

Our pastor in recent weeks has been preaching on the confidence we have in God in such times. The focal point that got us searching our own hearts that he brought us is: "How can we not depend on God for our everyday needs but we are willing to depend on him for such a thing as our salvation?"

He pointed it out and drove it home to both of us that God knows our needs even before we know them. This really hit home with us. I guess you could say our pastor stepped on our toes just when we needed him to.

I thank God for the boldness for pastors reminding us of such truths that we often tend to forget. I know at least for us, we need our toes pinched every so often. It is good for us. It is needed for us. We depend on it from our pastor. Such things as this we count as blessings.

Needless to say, once again God has graciously supplied everything we needed eventhough we feel as though we deserved absolutely nothing. Isn't it delightful how God knows when you need reminding of some things before you know you need the reminding?