“I couldn’t be more pleased—I’m so confident and proud of you.” ~Apostle Paul

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2 Corinthians 7, Apostle Paul Sayings, Confidence, Jesus, Pleased, Proud

Confidence in others

As we start out on the journey with Jesus, it helps to have leaders who inspire us. Sure, I need discipline, but I also need to know when I am on the right track. The Apostle Paul shows me how to lead:

• Leaders let us know they are pleased with what we are doing.
• Leaders are confident that we are going to make it.
• Leaders are proud of what we do.

Of course, this all starts with God. God is in a good mood and is proud of us.

“And then, when we saw how Titus felt—his exuberance over your response—our joy doubled. It was wonderful to see how revived and refreshed he was by everything you did. If I went out on a limb in telling Titus how great I thought you were, you didn’t cut off that limb. As it turned out, I hadn’t exaggerated one bit. Titus saw for himself that everything I had said about you was true. He can’t quit talking about it, going over again and again the story of your prompt obedience, and the dignity and sensitivity of your hospitality. He was quite overwhelmed by it all! And I couldn’t be more pleased—I’m so confident and proud of you.”

~Apostle Paul

Source: 2 Corinthians 7:13-17

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“God always keeps his word.” ~Author of Hebrews

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Confidence, Hebrews 10, Jesus, Messiah, Promise

Confidence

Jesus has made the perfect sacrifice for us. Jesus has taken care of the “missing God’s goal” (sin) problem completely.

I can be confident I am presentable to God, because of what Jesus has done. I am not confident in myself. I know how frequently I miss the mark.

God has promised us so many things. I need to keep a grip on them and keep moving ahead. I can’t stop. I mustn’t rest.

God always does what he says he will. I can count on him. I can’t count on myself.

My job is to encourage others. God’s goal for me is to love. I must seek ways to help.

Let’s do it. Let’s roll!

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

Source: Hebrews 10:22-25 (The Message Bible)

” Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” ~Apostle Paul

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Apostle Paul Sayings, Confidence, Ephesians 6, Strength

The enemy is constantly trying to find ways to trip me up. God is strong and He wants me to be strong in Him. I  have the most amazing  weapons. He has shown me the way. The victory is His.

This is a challenge in a world where we are encouraged at every turn to be “self confident”. It is considered a strength. In God’s world (Kingdom) it is not a strength. Our confidence should be in God. It is His strengths that are important.

God is God. It is all about him and what he wants. God is the strong one.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Am I too bold in what I ask of God?

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Ask, Bold, Confidence, Jesus Sayings, Knock, Luke 11, Prayer, Seek

Am I too bold in what I ask of God? Or am I not bold enough? He has a heart to give to me. He loves to do it. That is just the way He is. I am, in fact, not bold enough. I want to be bolder. Jesus encourages me trust my heavenly Father.

I love to give gifts to my children.  My heavenly Father is the same way only much better at it than I  am. He loves to give us what we ask for. God is in a good mood.

I need to ask. That is my part. And I can be bold in it. I can ask for things I am reluctant or embarrassed to ask for. He actually wants me to ask.

The story Jesus told about the friend and asking boldly is amazing. The word used is variously translated as “boldness” or “persistence”. The actual Greek word is Anaideiaand is only used once in the New Testament. It is actually perhaps better translated as shamelessness or impudence. It could be “Have you no shame asking for that?”  “That is too much. How can you ask for that?” But when it comes to asking our heavenly Father it is not too much. Nothing is impossible with Him.

May I be bold in what I ask for.

Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? f you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:5-13

"A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence." ~~King Solomon

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Confidence, Integrity, Proverbs 11, Solomon, Wise Sayings

Integrity

Jesus wants us to be people of integrity.

Everyone we know needs to be able to trust us completely. It is important in God’s world that we are capable of maintaining a confidence. Any other way is not the way of wisdom.

God’s goal for us is to be people of integrity who can be trusted by others.

A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence. ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:13)

“Not one detail has failed of all the good things God, your God, promised you.” ~Moses

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Confidence, Joshua 23, Moses, Promises

God’s Promise

Not one single promise has failed.

How powerful those words are to us. His word is filled to the brim with promises and not one has failed. How silly and shallow I am to even attempt to walk in doubt and fear.

I have a promise of hope and a future, a promise of life and life more abundant. The ups and the downs they are part of the promise. He promises He will hold my hand, he will direct my path, he will give wisdom without resentment….not one single promise has failed.

Keeping His promises shows us that God is in a good mood. He is good to us all the time. We can count on it.

 As you can see, I’m about to go the way we all end up going. Know this with all your heart, with everything in you, that not one detail has failed of all the good things God, your God, promised you. It has all happened. Nothing’s left undone—not so much as a word. Joshua 23:14

 

” You have need of endurance.” ~~Apostle Paul

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Apostle Paul Sayings, Confidence, Endurance, Faith, Hebrews 10, Promise

You have need of endurance

Many of our struggles about faith have to do with timing. We believe, at least in theory that God will keep His promises – but when?

God’s goal for us is to endure and be patient. Having faith requires confidence. There is a great reward to being persistent.

All of this is about doing what God wants us to.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:35-36