Confidence

Confidence

MY QUESTION for GOD

How can confidence affect my leadership?

A MOMENT with GOD

Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”

1 Kings 18:36-39

Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

Psalm 112:6-8

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1

Confidence has many different applications. We can be confident in ourselves or our abilities, confident that something will happen, confident about certain facts (including salvation), confident in God’s promises. We can also take someone into our confidence. Confidence can follow one of two courses: It can lead to pride, which results in arrogance and boasting, or it can lead to inner assurance, which produces a healthy self-esteem and a sure conviction of where you are going. The word for confidence is often translated in the Bible as boldness. With Jesus by our side, we can boldly step out in faith to do his work. We can have confidence that we can do anything within his will. Our ultimate confidence comes from trusting that God’s Word is true. Then we can endure any trials we face here on earth and be sure of all the blessings that await us in heaven. A leader’s confidence in God can literally change everything. Elijah’s boldness on Mount Carmel began the liberation of the Israelite people from the wicked influence of idol worship. When you show your confidence that God’s principles for living really work, you will have a firm foundation from which to lead, you will liberate the people you lead from unhealthy practices, ensure the positive consequences that come from godly living, and inspire others to accomplish more than they thought possible.

DIVINE PROMISE

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD AND HAVE MADE THE LORD THEIR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE.   Jeremiah 17:7