“I sometimes think that the very essence of the whole Christian position and the secret of a successful spiritual life is just to realize two things…I must have complete, absolute confidence in God and no confidence in myself.”
David Lloyd-Jones
Last week I wrote about misunderstanding the meanings of authority and confidence. I used to think authority was synonymous with control and confidence was the same as pride. And because of that, I wanted nothing to do with them. But God, in His faithfulness began to reveal His truth to me.
Confidence isn’t pride when our confidence is placed in Someone else and what God can do. We place our trust in God and rely on Him; what He’s done for us in our past, He’ll do for us today and in the future.
I remember being full of confidence after I returned from a World Vision mission trip to Syria. I felt different and it was because over and over again, I saw God come through for me! He took each of my fears and gently helped me face them so that when I did, freedom was found. My confidence wasn’t because I said, Oh, look at what I did! No, my confidence was based on Look at what God did! When my confidence isn’t in me, then it’s not pride.
The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3, verse 3b, to “put no confidence in the flesh.” Confidence comes from placing our trust in God and His capabilities. Having a greater revelation of who God is, results in feelings of fearlessness and boldness. Besides knowing God’s nature, when we understand who we are and our position as sons and daughters of God, then we display the courage to be who He created us to be. Our stance with God is affirmed, when we know we are not orphans or slaves in our relationship with our heavenly Father.
To sum it up, confidence comes from trusting who God is and being assured of our relationship with God. As a result, I am free to be me and God’s confident daughter, knowing it has nothing to do with pride.
“Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent, or careless, but on the contrary it awakens us, urges us on, and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this.”
Ulrich Zwingli
Relevant Reflections:
In what ways have you confused confidence with pride?
In whom do you place your confidence in?
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