Confidence in God
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!” Psalm 108:1 NLT
Do you have confidence in God? Is that confidence greater than your confidence in yourself, or others or things “just working out?” Confidence is related to a “firm trust.”
How is confidence strengthened? Our confidence is strengthened when we look at God’s Word and see His character and His actions on behalf of His people. The psalmist declares, “For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” (Psalm 108:4 NLT) Our confidence is strengthened by His promises. Our confidence is strengthened when we understand the final outcome that the Lord has promised and is working out in behalf of His children. David declared, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13 NIV)
The Lord is willing to prove Himself to us. When the Lord confronts His people through Malachi about their faithfulness in the tithe, He says, “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. “ (Malachi 3:10 NIV)
Using a different imagery we see the invitation, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV) Our faith in God to act on our behalf, is honored by the Lord and His response to our need in turn results in greater confidence in Him.
The bottom line is, confidence in God results in abundant, heart-felt praise. The psalmist ties his praise with all of his “heart” directly to His confidence in God. Praise allows us to give thanks. Praise allow us to honor the Lord for who He is and what He is able to do. Praise allow us to express our faith that God is, “working in [us] you, giving [us] you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13 NIV)
Prayer for today… Lord, there is nothing more important than to place our confidence in You and to allow that to be the motivation and inspiration of our heart-felt praise. Allow our praise to You to be consistent, joyous and filled with faith.