Live Free For Jesus
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INVITE THE LORD TO SPEAK TO YOU AS YOU READ.
Janet's Blog
Janet's Blog
Blog
Building Confidence in God
| Posted on 9 February, 2016 at 5:07 |
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How Closely do you Know Him? Confidence
is about a person, it's always about a person – not a theory or a
technique. So build your confidence around the Person of God. Spend
time in His Presence. This is the way we come to know Him. Acquaint
yourself with Scriptures that speak of His Goodness, His Grace and
Kindness. Many
of us need a clear picture of Him – situations and circumstances
may have clouded our Image of Him. Even lots of sermons can do that.
Especially if they don't portray Him well. Don't rely on someone's
impression of Him but rather press in to know Him and you will be GLAD YOU DID! “SEEK
TO KNOW ME, THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE NEED. SEEK MY DIRECTION AND FOLLOW
ME. FOR THERE I WILL LEAD YOU TO PASTURES GREEN WHERE
THE RIVER OF LIFE DOES FREELY FLOW” (a
song He gave me years ago) “Blessed
is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose trust the LORD is. For
he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its
roots by the river, and shall not fear when the heat of the day comes, but its leaves shall be green; and shall not have to be careful in the year of drought,
neither shall it cease from yielding fruit”. What
God is telling us here is that if we depend on ourselves or others,
we will have a disadvantage. But if we have confidence in God, we
will always have an advantage in any circumstance so we can be
fruitful and enjoy the blessings of God. This comes
with simple faith and trust. So,
what does it mean to have confidence in God? It means that you are
not just wishing or hoping God is going to act on your behalf, but
that you expect Him to. You can be certain that He is working and
the promises in his word. And
you don't need anyone's assistance because He is all-sufficient to
meet your needs. Sometimes He may lead you to a person for practical
advice or to a place to acquire certain skills whatever but He will
be the One guiding you to do so – He is very good at that. Scripture
says “not to lean on your own understanding” and to trust Him with
all your heart, your inner being. It is a matter of not relying on
what you think you know and having an attitude of faith that stays
with God’s word whatever the situation at hand. Do
not rely on the visible circumstances or what you think you know –
that's what this verse is saying. Yes, our God is ABLE......He likes
it when we trust Him. So
in order to have confidence in God, you have to decide whose report
or whose message you will believe – those temporary circumstances
or the Living, abiding Word of God? If
you believe the report from your five senses or on the limited amount
of knowledge that you have, what will be the outcome? But if you
believe the Good report in His Word, He can bless you beyond your
expectations. What
is the result when you listen and respond to God’s Spirit and
follow His teaching? It is always better than when you doubt and try
to work things out. You
can understand what God’s will is through his Spirit. You
understand the promises you have as a child of God and see them
manifest in your life by meeting His conditions: Receive
the Testimony in Scripture and respond to it. Rest
in the Promises of God – the Good Report. Don't
let circumstances make you question God. Let
His Word and His Spirit be your counselors. Be
not led by your senses, but let your faith free. So
when you respond well and stay in agreement with God’s will and his
word, you cannot fail. Thus, you can have confidence all the time and
in all circumstances. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power
that works in us,” Ephesians
3:20.
All this is by faith and trust – directing them towards God.
Simple really – a child could grasp it. It's only our reasoning
that gets in the way – that's for communicating with life and people
around us. We communicate with Him on a different level and it has to
do with LOVE “heart to heart”. Your
confidence with Faith in God has to do with your confidence in the
Love of God. For this we need to spend time in His Presence daily,
soaking it in. Also, remember to prayer-read the Scriptures – this
will make your spirit stronger than your doubts. Jesus said Abide in
My Words, then Ask. Not the other way round because then we would be
lazy – unmotivated, so to speak. And it's a matter of acquaintance,
it really is. Who does not want to hear the words of someone they
love? The emphasis has been wrong through the years “get what you
can from God”.....and.....”how do I get it?” He is not a Santa
or a Store Assistant, it goes deeper than that. I would be offended
if my family just asked me for things, would you? Surely we could
spend some time with Him in each 24 hour day. “There is JOY in His
Presence” who said it has to be a religious exercise? How long
since you had a conversation with Him or listened for “His still
small Voice?” it's nice to have some Quiet-Time with Him, it really
is a pleasure! |