Daily Devotional for Saturday November 17, 2001

Living with Confidence

(Psalms 3)

Having been a sports fanatic my whole life, I often wonder what separates those who win and those who lose. Talent, of course, has much to do with the outcome, but when the talent is even, it boils down to confidence. At the professional level, there is very little difference between players physically. They are a rare breed, a small percentage of the population with the God-given physical and athletic ability to compete at the highest level. Having lived for many years in Chicago, I saw first hand the Bulls basketball dynasty. Of course, they had one of basketball's greatest players in Michael Jordan, but that team had an intangible called confidence. Every time they stepped onto the court, they had that air of confidence that no matter what happened during the game, they would find a way to win. I use this analogy today, because it is the exact same kind of confidence that those who know Christ as Savior should have every day of their life.

When you know Christ as your Savior, you have determined the most important thing you can in this life, where you will spend eternity. That alone should give you such confidence to live this life in victory, because we know our time here is only for a few short years, but that we will spend eternity with our Lord. In addition, we should have confidence each day from all of the Lord's promises to us. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. He promised to protect us. He promised to provide for us. He promised to fight for us. He has told us to cast our burdens on Him. He said that when we were weak, He is strong. He said we can do all things because He strengthens us. And those are just a few. Armed with the knowledge of our eternal home, all of the Lord's precious promises, why shouldn't we live each day with tremendous confidence?

I am praying today that you will take a fresh look at your life today. In the business world, people are paid millions to teach people to have a positive mental attitude. There is no reason a Christian should have anything but a positive mental attitude. We need to start dealing with our life, including the tragedies we all have to face in this existence, with a positive mental attitude...not because of who we are, but because of who Jesus is! I realize many of you are going thru incredible trials. Many are facing circumstances that are almost unbearable. All I can do today is encourage you to stay positive because Jesus is on your side. Start dealing with every aspect of your life in confidence. Confidence, because the Lord is with you, will give you what you need each day and will walk with you every step of the way. If you lack confidence, it is because you are trying to do it in your strength and wisdom. Start living in HIS strength and wisdom, and you will have a totally different outlook!!!

I love you and care about you deeply. I pray that you will start living with more confidence because of who you are in Christ Jesus. One of your best witnessing tools is how you live your life and how you deal with your problems. nonbeliever is going to wonder how you can be so confident in dealing with day- o-day life and will give you opportunities to share with them that it is not possible unless we have the Lord in our life. I pray that the Lord will open our mind and heart to receive these words, and that you will start living in the confidence which will enable you to overcome life's problems and be a fruit-producing servant for the Lord. He loves you and has given you all you need to be a champion in the greatest game of all...the game of life.