As we put our full trust and belief in the power, trustworthiness and reliability of the Lord Jesus Christ, we gain confidence for the journey. Not only are we are confident because He who hath begun a good work in us shall continue to perform until the day of Jesus Christ ( Phil 1:6),  we can also have confidence when we pray: And this is the confidence that we have in Him,that if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And we if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him (I John 5:14-15). We can pray with confidence because the Lord hears us, the Holy Spirit helps us, our High Priest intercedes for us, and our hearts our kept by His peace.  Today let's begin praying with confidence knowing that the Lord hears us.. 

Have there been times when you prayed wondering if God is even listening? Ever been tempted to stop praying because you don't feel any better, or because nothing seems to change?  It is easy to doubt and to become discouraged, but don't ever stop praying, keep talking to Him because He hears us. Every time we cry out to God we can cry out with confidence and assurance because He sees our affliction and hears our cries. In my distress (when seemingly closed in) I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His (very) ears - Ps 18:6 AMP. I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry - Ps 40:1 AMP.  I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live - Ps 116:1-2. When we cry out to God He inclines (bends) His ear toward us. Picture God the Father in heaven pulling His ear forward so that He can give our cries His undivided attention. I am sure that is why David wrote: I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out out of all his troubles - Ps 34:4,6. We pray with confidence because the Lord hears us. Our cries go into His ears, so we must keep praying. 

praying with confidence,
Diane

p.s. this week when you pray envision the Lord leaning forward and bending His ear as your cries go into His ears.

 My emphasis word for 2018 is Confidence. Confidence means the full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing. As we continue our journey this year let us fully put our trust in and believe in the power and trustworthiness of the Lord. So this year, I am encouraged and excited because my confidence is in the Lord.

We should have confidence in 2018 because being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - Phil1:6. Maybe you started this year looking back with regret because another year has come and gone and you are still not where you thought you would be at this point in your life. Or perhaps after a month into the new year, a year that started with such promise, you find yourself falling into the same habits you promised to change. Well, ...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, let us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus - Phil 3:13b-14.  This is our year of confidence. 

So when we get down on ourselves. Or we look around and feel stuck, discouraged or frustrated at our lack of progress, let's ask ourselves: why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God - Ps42:5. Remember that we are God's masterpiece still being created by our Divine Creator.  The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me... Ps 138:8. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them - Eph 2:10. 

We are instructed to put no confidence in the flesh - Phil 3:3. Instead of confidence in self, our confidence is the Lord. He has a begun a good work in us and He will continue to do that work in us. When we can't He will. Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts will be established -Pro 16:3.

putting my confidence in the Lord,
Diane