Introduction
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
– Hebrews 10: 35 (NIV)
What is your confidence in? Is your confidence in money, security, the economy or even politicians? These are all fair-weather friends. False security that can change at the drop of a hat. We gain confidence from what we trust in. If our trust is in something shaky, then our confidence will be equally unstable.
If we can have an unshakable trust, we will have the confidence to do anything God is sending us to do. The harvest is plentiful, you just need to step into God’s plan with confidence.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
The Source of Confidence
What can we trust in? The world, other people and our own abilities seems like a great source of confidence. The stock market is looking really good are always the headlines before a crash. Maybe you trust in your salary and your job or education. Tomorrow may be hiding unemployment or a shift in the market away from your skill set. What happens then? If this is the only trust you had, the whole framework that held up your life could come tumbling down.
We don’t have to live this way. Our trust for our family, future and life can be placed in something far greater than ourselves.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 4: 19 (NIV)
God created you personally, and God left the flock to come and find you when you strayed away from Him. When you turned away, Jesus took on your sin so you could return into the Glory of His Father. You no longer have to trust in flimsy assurances, when you can trust in the One who is fighting for your future on your behalf.
When your trust is in God your future is certain. You can square your shoulders and walk with your head held high. Willingly entering into any challenges life has to offer. And life is very challenging. But, you can choose to be beaten down by life, or to stand, with God’s assurance, and start making your life better. Hell is a bottomless pit. No matter how bad things get, we could always make it worse. You could always walk further away from the light. Or, we could trust and start making it better.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
– Philippians 3: 12 (NIV)
When your drive comes from God, there is nothing you can’t face and nothing is unattainable. So stand firm, and walk with confidence.
What Steals Your Confidence?
We live our lives filled with thoughts, doubts and assurances. Some of these gives us strength, increasing our confidence. Others, makes us doubt, makes us smaller and shrinks our confidence. These can be people speaking into our lives, the thoughts we entertain or even our own actions. Life is too short to have yourself paralyzed between doubt and confidence. God wants better for you.
Imagine your life is a house that is burning down. You don’t have a lot of time before it disappears in a churning smoke cloud. What will you save from the fire? What habits or thoughts? Do an inventory, find out exactly what makes you shrink away from the light and what makes you grow in confidence. Save that which makes you better and let everything else burn away and leave it behind.
You can be better, walk with your head held high through life. Grow in your relationship with God and with others. Unfortunately, most of you will have to burn away so that the best of you could emerge from the flames. Like the burning bush Moses approaches in Exodus. On fire yes, but not burning away, burning so that a new hope for God’s people can grow from the ashes.
This is the way the enemy tries to destroy us. He can’t defeat us, so he tries to distract us instead. Distract us with fear, inaction and meaningless pleasure. We spend our lives chasing a shadow called happiness, yet we are never satisfied. Human desire is infinite. We were created to face the unknown with confidence and become stronger on the other side. When you can stand up straighter, when you become more, happiness will start chasing you.
You have a spark of God in you. Allow that spark to burn up everything that makes you weaker. And you will be amazed at how much you grow.
“26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
– Hebrews 12: 26-29 (NIV)
Go on a fast. Offer up everything outside of God’s will over to the consuming fire. If social media tempts you to sinful thoughts. Fast from it for a month and cut it out, and see if God brings you to greater horizons and potential. If the news increases your fear or anger, cut it out. If someone sows doubt into your heart, take a step back from them. Cut off that which steals away your confidence, and see what is left.
Conclusion
Put your trust in God. Focus on today’s purpose. Stop doing the things that make you weaker. Stop focusing on the world’s temptations. Then you will start following God into the light. You will start to get bigger, more confident and stronger as God prunes away your branches that don’t bear fruit. Walk with your head held high into God’s future purpose.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
– Hebrews 10: 35 (NIV)
John
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Great way to think about the future!! Only focus on TODAY!!