Edification!!

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Hebrews 3:14 - "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the
                beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."

     Confidence in God is Faith in God.  When we are first brought
to our most precious God and come to the realization of His vast and
undying love for us we form such a confidence in God that no one and
nothing can ever cause us to doubt or second guess God.  He is our
knight in shining armor, our valiant warrior, our protective strong
tower, our precious, trustworthy friend.  It doesn't matter the
circumstances or the situation NOTHING CAN CAUSE US TO DOUBT OUR
PROVIDER.

     But as we get more mature in our Christian walk we tend to
allow things to cloud our vision and faith.  We start thinking WE
have things under control, no problems here.  And instead of letting
God be our provider we try to provide for ourselves.  Sometimes we do
this without even realizing it. We also lose our level of confidence
in God when we allow the cares of this world to overtake us.  This is
why God tells us in the Bible "Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest
for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew
11:28-30).  We all know this scripture in our mind but how many of us
have allowed it to seep down into our heart and grab ahold of us.  We
so many times forget this simple and rewarding promise of God.

     There are so many promises in the Word of God that we cheat
ourselves out of because of our lack of confidence in God.  If we
truly kept our confidence (faith) and allowed God to continually
nuture it (Yes, faith is meant and designed to grow.  Praise the
Lord.) we would see every last one of the promises of God come to
fruition in our lives.  Two such promises are as follows: "Now unto
him that is able to do execeeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, (don't stop there!!) according to the power that worketh in
US." (Ephesians 3:20).  It is not done by power from somewhere else it
is specifically done by the power of which God places in us.  That
power is the Holy Ghost (God's spirit dwelling in us).  We are of need
of nothing else!!!  The second promise is, "And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose."  (Romans 8:28).

     These are two of the most awesome promises in the Word of God yet
we live at level of confidence so far below them.  God wants us to
hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast and continually be open
to what He is doing in our lives.  We cannot afford to live any other
life.  It is our privilege and honor!!

     I'll end with this.  "Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience,
that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise."  (Hebrews 10:35-36).   This scripture is talking
specifically about the promise of the the catching away of the saints
but it can be applied to other areas of life too.

God bless you all and may your confidence continue to wax strong.

Jim Millette