Growing In Confidence

“And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Confidence is a major player when it comes to our walk of Faith. The dictionary describes confidence as, “Firm trust or being Certain of something”. Now think about this for a moment, the Bible describes Faith as “the Assurance, Evidence or Proof of what we hope for”. (Hebrews 11:1). Can you see where confidence and faith meet? Do you see how the two are joined as one?

Having a True Heart
Now watch this, the Bible says in 1 John 3:21 “if our consciences or our hearts do not accuse or condemn us, we have confidence before God that we will receive from Him whatever we ask”. This means if we don’t have a “True heart” before God in prayer our confidence will be shaky! Thus, it is important that we have a “clean conscience” when we go to God in prayer. If not, it is a waste of time praying and claiming the promises of God when we don’t have the confidence that God hears us or that He is even listening to the prayer. What some believers, including myself, tend to do when we find ourselves in this place, is to try to apply our own reasoning to justify what ever God is dealing with in our hearts, at other times we try to beg and make bargains with God to make up for our short falls. Sadly this will won’t cut with God and it won’t help us either.

The GIFT of Forgiveness
Really, what we need to do in such situations is to confront the issue head on by acknowledging what is wrong before God. If we have sin we need to admit to God we are wrong, ask Him to forgive us, repent and receive the GIFT of forgiveness, together with God’s grace to help us to continue to walk in liberty not being enslaved by that sin anymore. God is faithful and just to forgive us when we turn to Him in repentance. (1 John 1:9). However, we have a part to play, which is, we have to receive and hold tight to God’s forgiveness as a gift by not being sin conscious anymore but Christ conscious, so that we can move forward into the good things God has for us. “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” (Philippians 3:13).

Prayer: Lord thank you for your grace and mercy that have watched over me from my mother’s womb. I repent from my sins and renounce them. Father wash me with the Blood of Jesus. Thank you that I am your child not a beggar. I have confidence to enter boldly into your presence by the Blood of Jesus Christ. All your promises in the Scriptures are yes and amen to the glory of Christ. It does not matter what people or my feelings say. I have what you say is mine in your Word. I bind and cast out every accusing tongue, doubt and unbelief in Jesus name. I stand and rest my case on the solid rock of Christ, all other grounds are sinking sand. The peace of Christ rules and reigns in me and over every situation in my life. Christ peace has given me total victory on every side and all things will work together for my good. In Jesus Might Name. Amen.

Reflection: Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (Heb 10:22-23).