Are you a confident person?,I am to some extent,it is easy to loose confidence,and affect one's performance if you are involved in sport.There are people who can speak words that can give us confidence,think of Winston Churchill how he spoke words that encourage a nation to hold on and not give up,when threatened by the might and power of Germany.Often I feel very inadequate and its then I look to God for a word that will encouage me to go on. Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter,the writer is the apostle Paul,a man who faced so many difficulties,yet God give him wonderful words of encouragement for God's children, Let me just highlight some of these words, v31 reads,'If God be for us,who can be against us'.It is John Stott who clarifies the 'if 'to 'since',so that right away should give us confidence that God is for us. That means no matter who or what is against us we have God with us to help us.Consider our foes the 'World', the world is no friend of God, or God's children. expect no favours from this world,be not surprised when they persecute the church,which they are doing in so many countries.Then there is the flesh described by one person as indwelling sin,our sinful tendencies, God who is for us can help us to overcome them,be they sexual,anger,lying ,love of the wrong things.Then there is the devil,he is a strong foe, who will do his best to pull us down,by hook or by crook. Self confidence is not the answer , it is confidence in our God who is for us,and that's all we need to know.
' We rest on Thee our shield and our defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength ,safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee,and in Thy name we go.'
Words Edith G.Cherry.
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