Psalm 16
Confidence in the LORD
1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You."
3 As for the holy people who are in the land,
they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who take another [god]
for themselves multiply;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 LORD, You are my portion
and my cup [of blessing];
You hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD who counsels me --
even at night my conscience instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD in mind always.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad,
and my spirit rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol;
You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.
11 You reveal the path of life to me;
in Your presence is abundant joy;
in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.
The Definition of Confidence
1. full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.
2. belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance: His lack of confidence defeated him.
3. certitude; assurance: He described the situation with such confidence that the audience believed him completely.
I believe that Father leads me to explore the meaning of the word confidence in the Word, because it’s something I am lacking an understanding in. I feel that Father is helping me to more fully understand faith, trust and now confidence in Her, which all seem to fit together perfectly.
As I study the different definitions of confidence one stands out to me due to the example that is given of it being used in a sentence. “His lack of confidence defeated him”. I am now certain, that Father would like for me to reason out the importance of confidence and how it can be used to bring Her glory in my service to Her.
Philippians 3:3-5 For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— 4 although I once had confidence in the flesh too. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
In reading the above scripture, I see that we are told that in serving Father we do not put confidence in the flesh. Perhaps this speaks of a certain boldness, or pride in oneself. Because the flesh is sinful, I think it best to not place confidence in oneself, but instead to place all confidence in Father who is infallible. Confidence in oneself could also lead to leaning on one’s own understanding and being misled into believing that which is not truth. We see this evident then, in those who did not believe that Christ Jesus was the son of God in the same way as we see it today in these End Times. We also see it evident in the many people who believe that once saved is always saved and who have so much confidence in their own salvation that they do not realize that it is something that must be attained via diligence and endurance.
Proverbs 3:25-27 Don't fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.
When Father is our confidence, it is She that keeps our foot from a snare because we are leaning on Her in full faith and trust of her abilities and righteousness. To lean on oneself would be counter productive, as being of the flesh we can be easily misled via our own sinful natures.
Isaiah 29:16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?
Additionally, the clay cannot have confidence in itself in being able to withstand the heat it is fired in, or in its own ability to hold water. It must have confidence in the potter, to know what temperature it should be kilned and how it should be properly molded in order to contain the water poured in it without breaking. The clay must instead have confidence in the potter, who is far more knowledgeable.
2 Corinthians 8:22 We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested, in many circumstances, and found diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
Each day we are each tested. I have been and continue to be tested. I understand that it must occur and that it is one of many ways in which to learn and grow in Father. I know that there is a reason behind all testing that goes on. And while I fear many times that I have done wrong, so wrong that I’ve lost all chances of obtaining salvation, I also feel a voice within my heart that says that rather than being filled with fear, I should instead place my full faith, trust and confidence in Father. Because I am imperfect and still of the sinful flesh I stumble daily. And daily, sometimes several times a day depending on the sort of day I’m having, I ask Father for forgiveness because I feel so deeply how far from the mark I am. Then, the next day I get up, aided by Her Spirit, and continue to move forward the best way I know how. I am not confident in myself at all, but I now more fully understand how important it is to have full confidence in Father.
Psalm 3
Confidence in Troubled Times
1 LORD, how my foes increase!
There are many who attack me.
2 Many say about me,
“There is no help for him in God.”
Selah
3 But You, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the One who lifts up my head.
There are many who attack me. Who want to see me fall away. Who play mind games and attempt to shatter my morale and cause me to lose faith and trust in Father. But it will not work. Rather, I am urged to study and dig deeper within the Word and to write about what I’m feeling and what I discover. Through this medium I am able to see the words that lift me up as I am instructed in knowledge, obtaining a greater understanding and finally wisdom.
My faith, my trust, my confidence is in Father and not in myself and while I may be weak, She is strong. Though I am made confident by Her and through Her. She is my shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. The One who loves me despite my many flaws. The One who forgives my sins because I am confident also in the grace I am under and the sacrifice Her son made for us all. Through him and only him am I forgiven.
Diligently I will move forward, one foot in front of the other, eyes cast towards Her and always seeking Her instruction. I will not be defeated due to lack of confidence in myself, because my confidence is not in myself, the flesh, but instead where it should be, in Father whose Spirit moves me.