Day Twelve: Give Confidence

Give … Confidence

Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 1Co 10:12

I have, in fact, the greatest confidence in you. If only you knew how proud I am of you! 2Co 7:4

Giving or instilling confidence in someone can be a daunting task. On the natural level, our confidence comes from a positive sense of self-worth. If we feel we can do something well, we have confidence. But if we have had limited success in life, our confidence level can be quite low. Have you ever had someone tell you that you did a great job and found you just couldn’t believe them? It always seems to be easier to believe the negative over the positive every time. But why is this?

Quite often it is because the basis for our confidence is our perception and experience. Because what makes up human confidence can be so unstable and inconsistent, Paul tells us not to focus on it at all. Our confidence and assurance about ourselves and others is to be rooted in God – we are to be confident because we trust in a trustworthy God. He is the foundation of our confidence – we can do all things –why? Because it is Christ who strengthens us (Php 4:13). So what is the practical application when trying to give someone a sense of confidence?

Remember where your own confidence comes from: you are able because Christ in you makes you able; you are valuable because God loved you so much that he died for you to provide a way to be with you forever; you are strong because God in you gives you strength; you have purpose because no one can do the work that God has prepared for you to do.

Father-God, you are the sure foundation of my confidence. Help me not to build up a personal Tower of Babel in myself and others; instead, help me to yield up a humble heart that finds its worth in you.