Tag Archive | confidence

Your Confidece

Sep25

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. — Hebrews 10:35-36

Life changes. Your routine, well managed life is turned upside down. New events challenge your routine. The hours of your day seem to have gotten shorter, demands on your time come from all directions and your peaceful, close encounter life with Christ seems to be fading in the stress of this overwhelming turn of events.

Do you ever miss Jesus? Is your relationship with Him so close that when you start drifting away you miss Him and yearn for His presence?

No matter what happens in life “do not throw away your confidence”. Our confidence is found through the blood of Jesus allowing us entrance to the holy place*. We need that holy time with Jesus. It has a great reward. We need endurance to fulfill the will of God. That endurance comes from our time in the holy place with Jesus. For by our endurance we will gain our lives^. Jesus is our life and without Him our lives are filled with disappointment, weakness, lack of confidence and stress.

Don’t throw away your confidence to approach the throne of God. For therein lies God’s promises.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

* Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, — Hebrews 10:19
^ By your endurance you will gain your lives. — Luke 21:19

He Is Everywhere

Aug13

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. — Proverbs 15:3
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. — Psalm 139:7-10

God is omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time). There is no hiding, running, escaping His watchful eye. This can be either good or bad depending on your perspective. The Lord’s eyes are in every place watching the evil and the good.

If you have no regard for God or don’t believe in Him I guess this would not bother you. It should since He is real, alive and there is no escape from your Creator. For those of us who believe in Almighty God through Jesus Christ we might find this intimidating. To think He is with us seeing everything we do. Everywhere we go. Hearing everything we say. It would behoove us to remember this as we journey through our day.

A comforting perspective is that God is with us at all times. We can’t possibly be anywhere that He cannot reach us. If you know Jesus and walk with Him you can take confidence in this promise (fact). No matter where we are He will lead us and His strong right hand will hold us. That is something to rejoice about. Take confidence in the One True God. Seek Him to know Him. Therein lies your comfort, peace and confidence.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope in the Living God

Jul19

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. — Psalm 130:5
Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. — Psalm 119:116
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. — Hebrews 6:18

My hope is in the living God. By His Word I am sustained so that I may live in hope. In trusting God and His promises I will not be ashamed of my hope because my God speaks the truth in His Holy Word. It is impossible for Him to lie so I can put my complete trust in Him, find refuge in Him and in Him I have great confidence to hold to the hope of a future. A future designed by God for His purpose. I shall live and not be ashamed of my hope because I know my Lord and I am confident that He has my future in hand. He is my hope, and His Word is my stay. I shall trust in Him. I shall hope in Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Do Not Be Dismayed

Jul16

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

We have no need to tremble or be dismayed. But in life we do experience times of trembling and are discouraged. Why? Could it be that we have not heeded the commandment of God? Could it be we are not clinging to the promise of God? Could it be that we lack confidence in God because we aren’t spending quality time with Him?

The closer our walk with Jesus the more confidence is displayed in our character. The greater the confidence the stronger and more courageous or brave we are. The more confidence in God and His Word brings about the boldness to tell others the Good News. It gives us the courage to face difficult situations, surmounting circumstances in our lives. Why? Because the Lord is with us wherever we go.

What a comfort in the Words of God telling us that He is with us wherever we go. When we walk closely with the Lord we can not only count on this promise but have peace knowing that His promise is true.  Know Him today. Seek Him continually. He is our strength and our courage.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Know

Jun19

“Cease striving and know that I am God; — Psalm 46:10

Know: experience, understand
Cease striving, relax, wait upon the Lord and know. Know that He is our refuge: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.*It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.^ my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior — from violent people you save me.~

*Psalm 46:1
^Psalm 118:8
~2 Samuel 22:3

Know that we find rest in Him when we spend time in prayer with Him. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;* He bids us “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.^

*Psalm 37:7a
^Matthew 11:28

As we seek refuge and rest in Him we know forgiveness as we confess our sins. But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.* And experience His grace: But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.^ Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.~

*Psalm 130:4
^Psalm 86:15
~Hebrews 4:16

Being still and focusing on Jesus we find peace, love and wonderful fellowship. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.* For He Himself is our peace.^ He has given us peace: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.~ For He is the Prince of Peace+

*Philippians 4:6-7
^Ephesians 2:14a
~John 14:27
+Isaiah 9:6

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. And There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.* In this abiding we have fellowship with Him: that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;^

*1 John 4:16,18
^Philippians 3:10

We will know joy with time spent with Jesus in prayer and fellowship: Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.* For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.^

*Job 33:26
^Jeremiah 31:13b

That time you take to be still you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”* Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.^ Sitting with Jesus builds our confidence to follow Him without wavering. For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.~

*John 8:32
^John 14:6
~Proverbs 3:26

So in closing we can see that being still in the presence of God is essential to our lives. Jesus is our Refuge, Rest, and because of His grace and mercy we know forgiveness, His awesome love, and we have fellowship with Him as God planned. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.* Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We need Him everyday. He bids us come.

*1 Corinthians 1:9

“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. — Deuteronomy 32:4    

KNOW HIM!!!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Be Still, Cease Striving

Jun18

“Cease (let go, relax) striving and know that I am God; — Psalm 46:10 NASB
“Be still, and know that I am God! — Psalm 46:10 NLT

As I enter into a new season of life, transitioning from a caretaker of my parents to being back home with my husband after 21 months, I find myself in limbo. I know that God has a plan for me but in the meantime what do I do with myself? I have always worked outside the home so do I go and look for a job? Is that what God wants me to do? Where do I even begin to look for a job? I have things that will keep me busy at home as I return my home back to a feminine touch from the bachelor pad it has become. My heart is ministry and would love to do that full time although I know that I can still work and minister. So many thoughts and ideas going through my head. Then there is the mourning of leaving behind the friendships I made over the past two years, not to mention my Mother who has been left in the hands of my brothers. Often guilt arises and questions as to whether I’ve done the right thing. Questions, confusion, lost, distress. Where do I turn? Where do I go from here?

Be still, my child. Cease striving. Relax. Let go.

Let go of the struggles, the to-do list, feelings of oppression, inadequacies, sin, failures, turmoil, trials, and others allowing God to do His work in you. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.* This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.^

Wait patiently. That is hard to do. It has been my experience that God leads where He wants me to go. I wait on Him and divine appointments happen that open doors to employment, places to live, provisions, etc. It is not the norm for most people. They tend to believe you need to pursue, which is done without the counsel or guidance of God. I seek Him first then by the guidance of the Lord I pursue where He leads. I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.+ Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;< My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.~>

I can relax in the presence of the Lord and be restored. Waiting in His silence I am strengthened by the hope that is found in Him. When I surrender all to Him he blesses me beyond all I can imagine, meeting my every need, directing my every step. He becomes my direction, my strength, my hope, my all. That is where I want to be. I am renewed.

“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; — Luke 2:29

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

*Matthew 11:28-29
^Isaiah 30:15
+Psalm 40:1
~Psalm 62:5

Throne of Grace

May22

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:16

“Draw near with confidence to the throne of grace”. We can approach the throne of grace boldly with confidence, not because of us but because of Jesus Christ Himself, the High Priest who can “sympathize with our weakness, One who has been tempted in all things” just like we have except that He is “without sin”.

Jesus understands every moment of our lives, whatever we are experiencing. He has experienced the human pit falls of life, the challenges, the temptations, the sorrows, the pain. But He also experienced the joy, the friendships, the relationships of family. He is our wonderful Counselor. One who can truly counsel from experience. There is nothing that we could go through that Jesus does not relate to.

In His presence we find grace to carry on in our time of need. He gives all we need to continue on because He is our strength, our grace, our endurance. Without Jesus we face difficulties in life with despair and failure. With Jesus we face difficulties in life with hope and victory.

Jesus is sufficient.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Abide in Him

Apr18

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. — 1 John 2:28

Little children in the New Testament Greek “is a term of affection by a teacher to his disciples under circumstances requiring a tender appeal”* This appeal is to us, disciples of Christ.

Abide in Him. We abide in Him and His love when we keep His commandments, abiding in His teachings. We have the confidence (assurance) that we are abiding because of the Holy Spirit that was given to us. When we have the Holy Spirit abiding in us we will bear much fruit (bring glory and honor to God by our productivity in Him).

Seek and practice His commandments and teachings until Jesus returns so we will not shrink away in shame but stand or humbly bow in His presence.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

*blueletterbible.org Lexicon Strongs G5040
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. — John 15:10
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. — John 15:4
By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. — 1 John 4:13
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. — 2 John 1:9

Hope is the Lord

Apr14

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. — Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)

Here’s another “blessed is” statement. God loves to bless His children. But what does it mean to trust?

Trust: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc. of a person or thing; confidence/Confident expectation of something; hope/A person on whom or thing on which one relies

Confidence: full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing

We are blessed when we put our reliance, confidence, full trust, hope and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our example of real integrity and strength, who is more than able to supply all we would ever need, who is trustworthy and powerful.

Where is our confidence and peace in life? In hope that is based on God. Seek Jesus who is our hope!

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. — Hebrews 11:1

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Blessing in the Battle

Mar20

All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God: — Deuteronomy 28:2           “The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. — Deuteronomy 28:7                       So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will be afraid of you. — Deuteronomy 28:10.            The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, — Deuteronomy 28:13

There are many battles mentioned in the Bible but one is very well known. The battle between David and Goliath. The battle belongs to the Lord and in that battle David showed great trust in the Lord. He ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David had no anxiety. He had confidence in the Lord and knew He was with him.

The Lord God can be trusted when we face battles, no matter the magnitude of the battle, because the battle is not ours but His. We need not fear nor be dismayed because the Lord will help us, gird us with strength, for the Lord is with us, stand and see the salvation on our behalf. What love.

The Lord our God is with us to help and to fight our battles. He will subdue under us those who rose up against us. He answers our cry in the midst of battle because we trust in Him. The battle is won because we obey His commandments, His ways and we trust the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. — 1 Samuel 27:47-48

“For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. — 2 Samuel 22:40; Psalm 18:39

They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. — 1 Chronicles 5:20 

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” — 2 Chronicles 14:11

and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. — 2 Chronicles 20:15

You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” — 2 Chronicles 20:17

With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. — 2 Chronicles 32:8

Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. — Psalm 24:8