Stirring – Confidence

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 (NLT)

We tend to be confident in the things that we know, and/or the things we know we do well.  However, many people tend to lack confidence when it comes to the things of God.  Why is this?

I personally think fear and busyness play a big part in this.  The fact is, we don’t know what we don’t know.  This causes us to let fear keep us trapped from stepping out in faith and we let busyness keep us from developing and growing in our relationship with God! But what if it was different … can it be different?

For a person to be confident they have to develop intimacy with God.  The intimacy I am talking about can’t happen if you never spend time alone with God.  Just attending church (which is a great thing to do), just reading the Bible (which I wish more Christians did, myself included),  can’t give you this intimacy. Don’t get me wrong, these things help and are good, but real intimacy happens in a one-on-one setting.

The only way to have this type of intimacy, and ultimately real confidence in the things of God, is found here, in Joshua 1:8-9.  It’s found when you sit still, study scripture, meditate on what you read, and then apply that understanding to your life.  That’s where intimacy with Christ and real confidence is found!

So here is the question, do you have this type of intimacy with God? Do you have confidence when it comes to the things of God?  If not, why?  It can change, but it’s going to take some effort on your part.  Here is what I encourage you to do.  Find your Bible, find a specific time, and find a spot to spend time with God, reading, meditating, praying and listening.  If you don’t know a good place to start reading, start in the Gospel of John, or the book of James.  But begin reading and meditating on what you  read.  How much you read is not as important as how much you apply.  So start small, and enjoy your time with God!

Today, will you make another excuse, will you say I’ll start tomorrow, or will you make your time with God a priority and develop and intimate relationship with Him?  This is where real confidence comes from and this is where you begin to be strong and courageous!