Walk-on Wednesday - Clinging to Confidence - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35 NLT

My confidence in people and things hangs in a precarious balance.

Sometimes it is well-placed, but at others, it isn’t. I have a good friend who I can place complete confidence in. I’ve shared many private matters with him, and he has held them in strict confidence. When I asked his wife, “Did ______ tell you about _____?” the answer was always, “No.”

But then there were times when my confidence was crushed. Vehicles that for years had cranked each time I turned the switch suddenly didn’t. The battery died or the starter wore out. Chairs I had sat in for months on end suddenly cracked and crashed. Children I thought would never hurt me did. The job I thought would never end did. The parent I thought would live forever died. And so did my beloved animals. Retirement savings that seemed secure weren’t. Stocks that appeared stable became unstable. I’ve learned to be careful about what I place my confidence in and how tightly I cling to it.

Many early Christians came from a Jewish background. Thousands of years of observing ceremonies, making sacrifices, and obeying cumbersome customary laws. The temptation was to place their confidence in those things to gain God’s acceptance rather than believe in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Banking on anything else only led to disappointment.

Thankfully, there are some things we can cling to with confidence. One is forgiveness. When we confess our sins to Christ and ask for his forgiveness, forgiveness happens—instantly and permanently. Never again will those sins be charged to our account. Condemnation flies out the window and peace takes over.

Another is Christ’s coming. Whether at death or in the skies, he will arrive and usher his people into a glorious eternal existence called heaven. Still, another is strength for life’s journey. Whatever we need to live and accomplish God’s will, he will provide in abundance.

Our confidence in God’s promises will never be misplaced. What are you placing your confidence in?

Prayer: Father, we thank You that Your promises are sure and steadfast. 

Tweetable: What promises are you clinging to? 

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Push On - Martin Wiles

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 NLT

Sometimes, the rules don’t seem to work.

And one particular year, the middle school rules for one class didn’t appear to. The class began the year well. Middle school was new for them. Fear peppered their faces, but it didn’t last long. Soon, they had adapted, and their new natures sprouted.

Some rules vary between classes, but others are constant throughout. Such as no talking without permission, raising hands before speaking, no chewing gum, respecting your neighbor and the teacher. Many in this class didn’t like the rules and bucked them every chance they got.

Disciplinary measures didn’t work. Lunch detentions flowed freely. They continued the behavior. Some received discipline slips. Those didn’t work. A few made it to the assistant principal and even the principal’s office. The bad behavior continued. A few were suspended. Their behavior changed only for a couple of days.

When the year ended, the teachers agreed we hadn’t seen much improvement. We hoped they’d mature and calm down over the summer. Yet, we didn’t give up on them, nor resign our positions. We were there because we cared for the children, wanted them to do their best academically, and desired to see them succeed in life as good citizens and obedient believers. We pushed on.

So did Paul. The trials we teachers faced paled in comparison to those he faced. His list could fill pages and included life-threatening attacks and tragedies. But he kept going, taking the story of God’s love and forgiveness to every place God opened a door. He met his end at the guillotine, but he remained faithful until the blade or ax fell.

God does for us what we teachers do for middle schoolers and what Paul did for God. Our behavior is sometimes bad, and at other times we simply get off track from where God wants us to be. His love won’t allow Him to leave us alone. As we pushed the kids, so God pushes us. To be our best. To adopt love instead of hate. To forgive rather than hate. To move beyond our circumstances and look for a brighter tomorrow. To try again after we’ve failed. To tell one more person about His love.

God wants us to push on. Make up your mind that nothing will keep you from doing God’s will for your life.

Prayer: Father, we ask for the strength to push on, no matter what our circumstances are.

Tweetable: Are you pushing on despite the circumstances? 

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Confident - Martin Wiles

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT

I was born with a healthy dose—in most things.

If first-born children tend to have a healthy dose of self-confidence, I had my share. Although I hated my looks in high school—I was as skinny as a rail and never had the popular girls’ attention—I didn’t feel that way before or after. Perhaps because my parents were Type A personalities … go-getters … confident that they could tackle anything in front of them.

I don’t remember my parents ever saying, “You can do anything you set your mind to do,” but they instilled the message in me with their encouragement and through their example. I don’t know that I’ve accomplished anything spectacular in my life, but I do have confidence that I can do whatever God brings into my life.

Some researchers believe confidence is genetic. Even if confidence isn’t in the genes, some children appear to have a more predisposed mindset that leads them easily to self-confidence.

Albert Bandura, psychology professor emeritus at Stanford University, believes four components build self-confidence: mastery experiences, social modeling, positive reinforcement, and positive attitude. Parents—and other significant others in a child’s life—give and reinforce these elements. When present, the child is likely to grow up with self-efficacy.

But a word of caution: too much confidence, or confidence gained through faulty means, has adverse effects. Even believers can have overconfidence in themselves, much like the religious leaders Jesus encountered. This leads to pride … and our downfall.

Paul seemed to have a healthy dose of self-confidence, but he didn’t base it on his genes or in a haughty, stuck-up attitude. He recognized his confidence originated from Christ in him.

If self-confidence originates from the right sources and expresses itself in the proper form, it is healthy, but the reverse of what Paul said also holds true: without Christ, I can’t do anything. Sure, I may accomplish things along life’s way—even great things—but without Christ in the picture they are vain … chasing after the wind.

Our confidence should come from knowing Christ has forgiven our sins, released us from condemnation, and empowered us with His Spirit—the source of everything we’re able to accomplish.

Let your confidence in everything be in Christ. He is the source and should get the credit for everything you accomplish along life’s way.

Prayer: Father, for all we accomplish, we give You the glory.

Tweetable: In what does your confidence lie?

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Throwback Tuesday - Where is Your Confidence? - Martin Wiles

Where is Your Confidence?

Confidence misplaced can quickly be shattered.

From the moment I entered the ministry, I—along with my denomination and the churches I pastored, placed a certain monetary amount into a retirement account. The sum grew, and the interest earned was tolerable. Periodically, I received statements showing my balance and also what the amount of my monthly check would be if I continued similar investments until I retired. Surely this amount—along with Social Security, would be enough to live comfortably. But circumstances beyond my control triggered an early withdrawal to tackle emergency situations—losing a significant portion of it in the process due to penalties. What I placed a great deal of confidence in suddenly evaporated in a matter of days. Read more...

Tweetable: In what does your confidence lie? 

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