Confidence - the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.


Where's your confidence today?  Mine is set on Christ.  I know that if I put my trust, and most importantly, my confidence in my creator, that everything else will fall into place.


2 Timothy - 1:7 - "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."


If we tend to rely on ourselves, we will never be completely confident.  God gives us gifts and talents, but more than this, He gives us the strength to complete our tasks each day.


Feeling confident is a wonderful feeling.  Feeling confident in Christ is what gets me through each day's trials.


Where's your confidence today, and who are you relying on to guide you?

2 Timothy 3:12 - "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"


It used to scare me when things were going really good in my life, because I knew that it wouldn't last long.  Now, even though I know we're not living in a perfect world, it doesn't scare me to think that I will have heartaches and struggles in this life.  I know that this will only last for a season, and God is molding me into something new.  


I say now "I'm a work in progress."  Meaning, I can always use a little correction and guidance along this journey of life.


Expect to be persecuted as Christ was persecuted.  He did it for us; it's time we did it for Him!!

Most of us look for God in troubling times.  Others have God on their mind daily.  I'll admit, I was like the first scenario for a long time.  Wandering in my own desert, I only thought about God when I needed Him.  But, He wants us to yearn for Him daily.  And, that's what I do now.  I put my focus on God the first thing every morning, and I continue to talk to Him all day long.  Thanking Him for the blessings I take for granted; thanking Him for always being there and for His daily dose of mercy, that I don't deserve.


Psalm 116:2 - "Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."


Look for God in everything you do today, even the smallest of things.  Thank Him for giving you another day.  


Never neglect to praise Him for His goodness and mercy!

Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."


We all go through seasons of life, where times are good, little suffering, etc.  But we will also face seasons filled with defeat, loss, affliction, and silence.  In those troubling times, just know that God is transforming us and changing us into the image of Jesus.


God will not leave us 'unfinished.'  We have already been assured of the outcome of life.  Therefore, we must trust the process.  We can be assured that He that started a good work in us, will fulfill it to completion.  


This 'unshakeable promise' is what we have to take ahold of each day.  This security in Christ should give us great comfort in this demanding, cruel world.


Trust the process!

Integrity has been defined as 'doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.'


Proverbs 10:9 - "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out."


As Christians, we are all called to be like Jesus.  We are new creations in Christ and can be considered without blemish before God.  Called to obey God, we are to be people of uncompromised morality and integrity.   We should be people that can't be bought; people who can't be compromised because we are serving God, not man.


We should be following the example of Christ.  Jesus gives us the power through His Holy Spirit to fend off evil and to not compromise our character.


Stay pure.  Do the right thing, even when no one will be watching!

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."


If we truly trust in God, then we cannot also depend upon our own ability to understand everything God is doing.  Our minds are too finite to understand or make sense of what God's doing; to try and understand it is setting ourselves up for spiritual trouble.


We often don't understand how God is 'causing all things to work together for good' (Romans 8:28).  But, when we trust Him with all of our heart, then we know that He is working for our good. He will never fail us.


Trust Him today.  What's your alternative?

Psalm 27:1 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”


We are never nearer to God than when we are troubled.  He wants us to turn to Him.  He wants us to have the faith to say "my God can handle this."  


In times of comfort we forget Him.  In the worst of times, we suddenly remember God.  Although God does always answer us, it may not be the answer we were looking or hoping for.


We are more valuable to God than the whole flock of sparrows.  God loves us.  If he can close the mouths of lions for Daniel, what can't He do for us?


Turn to God, nothing else matters.

Isaiah 64:4 - "From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you,  who acts for those who wait for him." 


God doesn't want us to focus on what we can't do, but what He can do through us.  


For those of us who have kids, we've heard it over and over again.  "I can't."  We always encourage our kids not to use "I can't," but "I can."  God wants the same thing from us.


Quote from Rick Warren: "It's the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you."


This Christ-like character is formed in the choices we make.  We should be trusting that God's spirit in His power will overwhelm us when we choose to do the right thing in situations.  


Say "I can, do all things through Christ that strengthens me!"