Confidence in God

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Hope in God. Cease from your own striving and place your confidence in God rather than your own, or someone else's, strength and wisdom and experience. Look at what God has done and be humble before Him.

Psalm 131
v.1 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
v.2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul...
v.3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

Recall what He has done in your life and give Him deep heartfelt thanks. Examine the Scriptures and realize what He has done before you were ever around and let your faith grow in the understanding that God remains the same, unchanged, never diminished, always strong and stable. All that you do to further your goals or to prepare for the future is wasted; everything that you do in quiet unpretentious obedience to God will be multiplied over and over.

Those who think they stand on their own and have no need of God's help, but rather have much to offer God, are seeing only with the eyes of self and the world. Their ears are closed to God's truth and their heart hardened to not heed His Spirit's warnings.

Proverbs 13:10 Arrogance causes nothing but trouble. It is wiser to ask for advice.

Revelation 3
v.17 You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
v.19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Those who cry out because of sin, because of weakness, because of sorrow, because of failure, because of a personal awareness of unworthiness, shortcomings, and inabilities, saddened because of how little they can do, are honored by God and given the strength and stability to do His work.

Revelation 3
v.8 ...I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
v.10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come up on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Romans 13:14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.

In the midst of the turmoil we see affecting the nations of the world, our own nation included, we can be encouraged that God's comforting Spirit and empowering Word is active in our hearts if we approach Him in humility and love. For those who do not know to or chose not to turn to Him, the turmoil and confusion and stress becomes ever greater.

Amos 8
v.4 Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land,
v.5 ...skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales
v.6 ...selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
v.8 ...The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt.

Luke 3:16 John answered them all, "I baptise you with water but one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

The fire that cleanses our hearts and purifies our minds by burning up the wood, hay, and stubble which cannot last through eternity shakes the lives of all who are treasuring the very elements that are being burned up and destroyed.

Let us go out and move among those in the marketplace and in the social gatherings and, with love and concern, keep His Word, confess His Name, and endure patiently as lighthouses and beacons to direct those who are fighting through the storm to regain shore safely. Let His gifts work through you to touch the hearts and minds of those who, in quiet desperation, are reaching for a lifeline fastened to a solid foundation. As you hope in God, give others a reason and the means to hope in Him as well.

Unchanging and loving Father, we stand solid in Your love and obedience to Your word. As You place this truth in our hearts, Lord, we proclaim it loudly as if blowing a trumpet. Let Your spirit carry it over the blast of the wind and crash of the storm to the ears of those who have lost all they have depended on and don't know which way to turn. We recognize in humility and gratitude that we are simply the visible manifestation of the Invisible God Who expresses His love to those blinded and deafened by His enemy. We can carry Your Truth to those who can only see and hear us. We recognize the treasure You entrust to us, and understand we are simply earthen vessels, having no glory of our own but lifting You up as worthy of honor and all praise. Thank You for Who You are!

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