Hi Friend!

During a recent bible study I was asked to share about being confident. Not in myself, but in Christ. Honestly, my first thought when assigned this was that my brother and sisters in Christ were crazy. Just like the rest of the world, I struggle with self confidence at times and sometimes feel that I am lacking faith. This “assignment” truly opened my eyes and challenged me to grow in my own faith walk. 

Come on, grab your drink and sit down, refill your tank with me for a while. God’s got it. 

The first thing I had to do was understand the assignment! I had to gain a little wisdom about what confidence means. Confidence is defined as the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something: firm trust. Faith in God, certainty and assurance of one’s relationship with God, a sense of boldness that is dependent on a realization of one’s acceptance by God, and a conviction that one’s destiny is secure in God.

Wow! Ok. So confidence in Christ is dependent on the realization of a persons acceptance by God? That means in order to be confident in Christ, there are certain characteristics one must possess. A person confident in Christ…

Does Not Compare Themselves to Others

Comparison robs you of your joy.

Remember who you are, you are secure in your identity in Christ. God is not shaken by doubt in who you are. Those who are confident in God, are also confident in whose they are. Fear of man takes a backseat. Comparing what you do not have to the next person is exactly what God tells us not to do: because it robs you of your peace. It takes your focus off of who God is in your life, and puts your focus on what you are lacking. If you feel the need to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to Jesus. The author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). If you must, seek approval, aim for God’s approval, not mans. Those who are confident in Christ will make risky moves trusting God to be there for them. Remember Noah? He was building an ark for a flood during a period of time when it had never even rained…imagine how crazy he looked to those watching him. It’s a good time to ask your self, “Am I trying to win the approval of man, or of God?” (Galatians 1:10). Friend….exercise your confidence, watch that faith muscle get defined. 

Exercises regularly 

According to Oxford Languages, exercise is an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health or fitness for a specific purpose, especially with a specified area or skill. Remaining intentional with our relationship with Christ builds our faith. When gaining confidence, exerting yourself to the end of your capacity means you hit muscle failure finally allowing God to take over. This action in and of itself is what begins to build your faith. You begin to develop a new understanding of WHO God is. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73.26). Your relationship with Him grows stronger. And you begin to trust Him to follow through on what he says he will. Discipline and hard work build the spiritual strength necessary to live a confident life in Christ. You begin to feel less worn out when challenged. Rather than bogging out and falling behind, unable to maintain the running of the race, you are now able to maintain a steady pace. You are ready to speak life into your situation because you have experienced the goodness of God.

Speaks positively

“Pleasant words are a honey comb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). What do you say to yourself? Are you as grace filled for your own shortcomings as you are to others? Speaking to yourself with biblical declarations and affirmations builds your internal dialogue, building up your own memory for who you are in Christ. You are blessed beyond measure. You carry the peace of God that transcends all understanding. It keeps your heart and mind at rest in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). You are at peace when you go in and when you go out. You are surrounded by peace as you set your faith in Christ. 

Asks for help 

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1). When the person who SPOKE our world into existance, is the one who is asking you to trust him in all things. It stands to reason that He is the first person you should run to when seeking help.  

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your GOD. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” – Isaiah 41:10

Jesus reassures us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that in our weakness, we are made powerful by asking for his strength, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me: don’t give up”. 

Despite what the world says, being uber independent and rigidly refusing to ask for help because it is considered a sign of weakness, is a sign of trauma. Those who had no one to ask for help as a child, in a relationship, etc, learn to do on their own. But, in our relationship with Christ, this mentality, this rigid stance is actually a trap that denies you the freedom to live as God intended you to. You already hold the key to open the cage, just look up, and ask Jesus for help. Turn the key to your own cage and let yourself out. I hear the Lord saying, “I’m right here waiting for you”. 

Helps others 

Now that you are set free, able to ask for help, speaking life into yourself, exercising your faith, looking to Christ for direction and support, you have the joy filled responsibility to help others. Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you…as you walk in confidence, others will reap the benefits of it! Soon you will be overflowing with confidence. Continuously pouring out confidence to others- vessel to vessel it will continue to be. As the wells of old, the fountains that never run dry, as you begin to fill up, your confidence will not be contained. It will continue to bubble, filling up, running over and those around you will be running to you for life giving water. Confidence in Jesus cannot be contained because of the command to go to all the nations and share the good news. You have good news!  Your confidence in Jesus is meant to be shared. If you sharing brings glory to God instead of yourself you have nothing to fear. 

With Confidence Comes Perseverance

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 ESV

I am praying for you as you read this. May the fountains of living water begin to activate in your soul. May your belly grow warm with the fire of the Holy Spirit being ignited deep within you. May your passionately pursue Jesus and the Word of God. May every weapon formed against you fail. May your enemies be confused and unable to find you. I decree and declare that everything the enemy intended for evil in your life will be turned to good. May your days be plentiful and joy filled. May your latter days be greater than your former. 

In Jesus Name, Amen…

Until next time my friend…

Hugs,

Court