Confidence
Confidence.
Confidence is a feeling or belief that a person can rely on someone or something. We are confident that our Heavenly Father is always watching over us as long as we keep our strong relationship with Him. We are blessed to be Christians, the chosen ones among billions of earth’s inhabitants. Christians are believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He decided the son to dwell with humanity and deliver His message about the kingdom. Christians from the root word Christ from the Greek word Christos (Christos) means the chosen, the anointed. Israelites were and are the chosen people of God, and we Christians are claiming the position of the chosen ones in connection with our faith in Jesus Christ; through him, we are reconciled with the Father and have become the sons of God. That is the confidence we have.
Those who are called and responded became part of the chosen people who will not perish and have eternal life, and through the laying of the Son Jesus’ life, our confidence lies with his love and work and Father’s promise of everlasting life as stated in John 3:16-17. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’s redemptive work.
And Jesus added: “For this reason, the Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. — John 10: 11; 17-18.
Jesus commanded his apostles “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I …” Matthew 28: 19-20. The apostles followed the command, and we believed and followed the apostles’ teachings. What more can we add to this but the confidence that we are covered with the gift of salvation?
How can we deny the confidence that we are the chosen ones? When did we get that idea? Where did we have it from? When Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman, John 4:1-42… While the apostles of Jesus baptized more disciples in Judea, he left. On the way to Galilee, passing through Samaria to a little town called Sychar, a Samaritan woman arrived to draw some water from the well; Jesus asked her to give them some water. So the woman gave her, and in return, she received knowledge from Jesus about the living water, the water of salvation.
Hagar and her son Ishmael experienced God’s love and protection while in the desert. Ishmael was on the verge of dying due to the sun’s heat, with only one bottle of water in the desert. To make that journey was next to impossible. Hagar prayed, and an angel showed up by the well of living water and delivered the message from God. Hagar was banished to the desert with God’s promise that many descendants would come from her and Ishmael would establish a great nation of his own.
When we put our trust that our prayer will be heard, we can have the assurance that confidence can give us peace of mind not to worry that good things are forthcoming, combined with greater hope. “There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our intelligence.” (John Calvin). But, on the other hand, we can be our enemies, and it is the worst thing that could ever happen to someone losing confidence in the inner self, which will affect both physical and spiritual well-being.
Spiritual confidence should not weaken our external and internal relationship with God, even when hard times hit us sometimes. No one is unreachable when it comes to seeking God’s face and grace and Jesus’ love, which is the greatest of all commandments. God-confidence doesn’t mean we will sit, relax, and wait until the needs arrive. Too much self-confidence can hurt your hope and end up winding down. Losing hope is losing faith, and you will become inferior when you lose trust and confidence.
Knowledge and understanding will lead to positive thinking. Humans always tend to be negative, but practice and training can be a big turn to a new you. Sharing thoughts can also be helpful and talking to people who understand your situation boosts your confidence. Confidence comes from the mind, and when you listen to your heart and believe in it, it can control your mind. Do not lose focus on the one true God; the Holy Spirit will make you confident that God is around you.
Scripture doesn’t tell us to love ourselves more than our means. Sometimes when we overdo it, we have to do wicked things only to supply the needs of the body until we are drawn to corruption which is addictive. To cherish and love our body will not be complete without the involvement of the souls. God made the soul a living being, so without the body moving, it is like a carved figure without life. Our soul must not be confident in giving the body a luxurious living and may get used to it.
Christian doesn’t mean confidence without struggle. All human beings will experience struggle, and it would be a lie to claim that they do not struggle in life. Most of the time, Christians called it to challenge. It is part of everyone’s well-being, whether wealthy, average, or poor. Humans are breathing one standard air to sustain life, which means we live in the same space and nothing more, space and time provided to us by our Creator. The only difference that some other Christians claim is to accept they are not struggling alone.
The act of God chose the Jews, but the people who believe in Christ in obedience to John 3:16 became the chosen people through the promise, but man’s action is needed. Jews or Gentiles, believers or non-believers, will be saved according to the written word. Many are called but have not responded, and the bottom line is that those who did not respond will remain on call but not be considered the chosen ones.
We must act now and accept Jesus Christ in our hearts and believe that he is the Son of God who saves the world with the Father and that we will be saved through him. That is our confidence being born from above our spiritual birth.
God is the glory.
Actual Christian value is helping to share the goodness of the Father and the Son Jesus. Always acknowledge the Father about His existence in our lives and be rewarded with His blessings. All Christians are ministers of the goodness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Share the work, and you did your part.
Related Topic to Read: Trust- Do we have to believe first or trust before we think?