Cast Not Away Your Confidence -- part 3

Today we will continue our discussion of Hebrews 10:35 and the exhortation to never cast away or throw away our confidence in God and His Word. Have you thought about what can happen to us if we DO NOT hold fast and stand firm in our confidence? 

Let’s examine some “confidence destroyers” and determine if any of these have challenged our faith walk. Here are a few that I can think of – because I have personally experienced them!

• Focusing and concentrating on our limitations – This focus is completely opposite of how we should set our minds and actions! Rather, let’s think about what God and His Word has said about us. Focus on potential not inability.
• Comparing ourselves to others and their giftings – Never try to “walk in someone else’s shoes.” They never fit. Their calling is not your calling. Their purpose is not your purpose. God has all the provision and unique supply that each of us need for the destiny to which He has called us. Quit comparing!
• Listening to and meditating on criticism – The negative verbal messages that come our way are sent to destroy our confidence. Meditate on what God says, not the critical opinions of others. We will always experience criticism because it is a tool of the enemy to erode our confidence. What God says is all we need. That settles it!
• Entertaining condemnation – Condemnation does not come from the Lord. Reject guilt and stand confident in His love as we are exhorted in 1 John 3:21 (NLT): Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

When we allow our confidence to be destroyed, we begin to lean on wrong things rather than on God’s Word and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We start putting our confidence in things like:

• Possessions – Yet with just one storm, all our possessions can be gone.
• Information – We start to trust what we hear from the world and secular sources rather than what God is saying to us or the truth of the Word.
• Our flesh – The Bible clearly says to not put any confidence in the flesh. Our flesh could never create a move of God!
• Education – Degrees and awards of the world are “houses of cards.” At some point they collapse and only true confidence in God will last.
• Men / Leaders – Yes, we are to respect and pray for our leaders, but we must only put our full confidence in God. He is the One who raises up and brings down. Psalm 118:8-9 (NKJV) -- It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. ⁹ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

So Mothers of Nations, why do we need confidence? Why does the Bible so clearly remind us to never cast away our confidence in God? Let’s close today’s entry by looking at several reasons why we need to guard and nurture our confidence in the Lord. 

• Confidence gives us stability in our lives. Think about the situation that Daniel faced in the lion’s den. History tells that lions were starved so that they would devour their prey. Yet Daniel stood confident that his God would make a way. His confidence was strong because of his consistent walk with God and his prayer life. His personal relationship with God was his strong confidence in the face of possible destruction.
• Confidence brings us contentment in life. Paul said that he could abound in all things. Philippians 4: 11-13 (NKJV) -- ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• Confidence allows us to be stretched. Confident people believe that “more” is possible and they are willing to be stretched beyond their natural limits. They try new things, step out in faith and act upon challenges. Insecure people lacking confidence become stagnant and simply accept the status quo for their lives.
• Confidence makes us more “visible” and seen or acknowledged by others. People recognize when confidence is present. Our confidence can create an atmosphere in relationships that brings patience, less frustration, and even success. Our confidence has the ability to positively influence others.
• Confidence produces a clear conscience. As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 1:12 (NLT) -- We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
• Confidence leads to achievement. Those that are confident in God ask for souls, increase in wisdom, and walk in revival fire. Confidence produces results in the Kingdom of God.
• Confidence frees us to express ourselves. When we are confident in the things of God we do not worry about what others think or might say. We have freedom to express our opinions, our feelings, our ideas and our love. When we “know that we know” (confidence) we can freely be who God has created us to be!
• Confidence perfects love in us. It is easier to love others when love is BIG in us! We are confident that God is IN us as well as FOR us.
• Confidence leads us to encourage others. We realize that our God is a BIG God and He can do for others what He has done for us. Paul mentions “confidence” over eighteen times in his writings, describing that we all need confidence in three areas: confidence in our relationship with Christ, confidence in ourselves, and confidence in our relationships with other.

Next week we will conclude our discussion by examining where our confidence comes from. Until then, be blessed!

Dr. Sharon Predovich