Cast Not Away Your Confidence -- part 4
Today we complete our discussion regarding “confidence” as based on our foundational Scripture of Hebrews 10:35. If you have not read the previous three blog installments on this topic; I would encourage you to do that before moving through this final discussion.
Where does our confidence come from? We find many Scriptures that teach us about confidence and places and situations where we can gain it. In particular, let’s now look at seven sources of confidence as revealed in the Bible.
- Confidence comes from the Lord Himself.
Proverbs 3:26 (NKJV) -- For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.
Ephesians 3:12 (NKJV) -- In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
- Confidence results from a clear, clean conscience.
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.
1 John 3:21 (NLT) -- Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.
- Confidence is a result of the grace of God towards us. By God’s grace we can come boldly to Him in times of need.
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) -- So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
We can be confident that we will recover by God’s grace.
Galatians 5:10 (NKJV)
I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
- Confidence is a product of obedience. Paul was confident that Philemon would do more than he was asked because he demonstrated obedience. Paul knew he would forgive.
Philemon 21 (NKJV) -- Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
- Confidence comes from focusing on God and not on ourselves. David is a notable example of this principle. Psalm 27:1 is a psalm of confidence. David was confident because he knew a secret to abiding in confidence. He dwelt in the house of the Lord and worshipped. He knew the God that he served and he knew God intimately. He often reminded himself that God would and could conceal him in times of trouble.
- Confidence can be built in our lives by observing it in others. It is important to surround ourselves with people who are confident because they are key role models to us. Confident people push us forward and encourage us to stretch. A prophetic word over our life is God expressing His confidence in us.
- Confidence is built upon our own successes. We almost always start small but as our endeavors grow, so does our confidence to do and accomplish more and bigger things. Success begets confidence. Look at this example from the life of David. This could even be called his victory list!
1 Samuel 17:37 (NLT) -- Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
In closing, do you remember the children’s book titled “The Little Engine That Could”? This simple little story is a fitting example of confidence and perseverance. Even faced with challenges and obstacles, the Little Engine did not give up. She didn’t “cast away her confidence” that she could succeed. Her positive declarations of “I think I can, I think I can” led to her goal’s achievement (her great reward) and the words “I knew I could!”
We certainly could use this simple children’s story as a perfect analogy to our “confidence” discussion. God is with us. No one, no obstacle can stand against us and stop us from reaching our goals. Stand strong. Stand confidently. Stand in the full provision of the Lord for our lives.
It is never the time to quit or give up. Don’t pull back or stop trying. Never cast away your confidence because it carries GREAT REWARD! Our confidence comes from God. It comes from us standing together in faith. It stems from knowing that God is always on our side.
Confidently trusting in God and in YOU!
Dr. Sharon Predovich
