Am I Truly Confident in GOD?

GOD is a relationship builder.  He is a promise maker and a promise keeper.  GOD makes Divine covenants.  Abram was a Gentile from a heathen land (Ur in Mesopotamia, now in Iraq).  Abram was not seen as seeking GOD, but GOD sought him.  GOD would start a new nation from him.  There are many levels of confidence.  Some seem born with it.  Some develop it and others seem never to have it.  Let’s look at the early life of Abraham.  It teaches walking with GOD in confidence even when we are fearful, uncertain, or in a time of testing.  Confidence is a gift from GOD.  Like the other gifts, we must claim it. 

Fear can make us do uncharacteristic things.  How many of us have done things in fear that were wrong, physically harmful or less than spiritual in nature?  We are so blessed to have confidence that comes from GOD.  We just need to tap into it.

GOD has a ‘school of faith’.  Life brings three tests: circumstances, people, and things.  You have heard, “The will of GOD will never lead you where the grace of GOD cannot keep you”.

Let’s look at the promises from GOD given to Abram.                                                                       
Gen. 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.

How many of us would have said yes?  Ur to Haran is about 700 miles.  No details were given by GOD.  He was called to leave the corruption around him and his family.

2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. (to all people, through CHRIST)

3 I will bless those who bless you (spiritual and physical blessings.  We receive the spiritual!) and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said (a Christophany), “To your descendants I will give this land.” (This is a reference to the future Promised Land and the Kingdom to come later).

And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.  Abraham was called a man of altars.  He built them many times to worship and to thank GOD.   By now he has confessed his belief in the true GOD and is worshipping Him.

GOD kept Abraham moving.  The verbs are all about going.  He would have more challenges and would grow in his trust for GOD.                                                                                                                                                        
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love.

We are no different than Abraham was.  GOD tests our faith throughout our lives.  Even though Abraham made mistakes, his faith shines brightly.  He was saved by faith, lived by faith, and obedience was evidence of his faith.  His sins show us the way to repentance.

We are not saved by promises made to GOD, but by believing His promises to us.                                                       

GOD is all about bringing us though life’s challenges.                                                                   

Sandy Pace
VP Spiritual life