January 26, 2009
Unshakable Confidence
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Do you have confidence? Do you have self-confidence? You might be surprised that Paul, one of the greatest leaders in the New Testament, had very little confidence in himself, but he had immeasurable confidence in God who empowered and equipped him.
Paul said that he “put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). In other words, he didn’t think that he was good enough because of any particular talent or ability that he had on his own. But his confidence came from who he was, what he had, and where he was as a child of God. Someone once said, “A man wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package.” But a man, or woman, wrapped up in God is an amazing sight to behold.
I am not advocating confidence in self, but confidence in God - confidence in who you are because of what Jesus has done for you and the Holy Spirit can do through you. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, 6 TNIV). Connected to the vine you can do everything God calls you to do (Philippians 4:13).
Paul knew what he could accomplish on his own…nothing. Oh, he could be busy. We all can do that. But bearing “fruit that will remain” is another story. This is how he viewed his own personal weaknesses:
I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first, I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.’
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now that I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size-abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10 The Message)
Paul had great confidence. The prefix, “con” means “with” and the root “fid” means faith.” Therefore, a confident person is one who walks in faith. We walk in faith that we are holy, chosen, redeemed, dearly loved children of God who are empowered by the Holy Spirit, equipped by our Maker, and enveloped by Jesus Christ. Now that’s an unshakable confidence.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I know that nothing good dwells in me apart from You. I can do nothing in my own strength that will have eternal worth. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, when I am abiding in the Vine (attached and connected to Jesus), I can do mighty works with everlasting fruit that remains. I am confident because of who I am in You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Would you say that you are a confident or insecure person?
Where does your confidence come from?
Now what does God-confidence have to do with what Jesus promised us in John 14:12?
More From The Girlfriends
The enemy tells us that we’re not smart enough. God says we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). The enemy tells us that we are losers. God says that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). The enemy tells us that we are incompetent. God says that our competence is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). Now, let’s start walking in confidence. What to learn more? See Sharon’s new book, I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves and start walking in the truth today!
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Originally published Monday, 26 January 2009.
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