Confidence is a strength that everyone admires. I think true confidence comes from having faith in yourself. Well, not so much in yourself, but in the knowledge that God will fill you with what you need, when you need it.
Knowing that the Lord supplies, I shouldn’t be afraid. Ever.
God will supply all your needs, in Jesus Christ, as lavishly as only God can.
Philippians 4:19
Fear and weakness, which are the opposites of confidence, find a voice when faith evaporates. Weakness says: “You can’t do it,” and fear despairs, “God won’t help you either.”
Faith is essential if I want to live with confidence. Planted firmly in faith, I can be courageous, no matter what. Faith tells me that God is with me, and he will equip me. Without faith-roots, I’ll wither in the heat of adversity.
A long time ago, I was a young Mom sitting at the table paying bills. I realized that our bank account was very low. I think we had a couple hundred dollars. That was it.
Approaching my husband with tears in my eyes, I reported our sorry financial status. I clearly remember that my husband put his hands on my shoulders, looked me straight in the eye, and said: “We’re going to be fine.”
I had no idea how that was true, but just hearing him say it calmed me. That Christmas, we got a generous check from a family member, and you know…we were fine.
Through that short episode in our tiny kitchen that day, I witnessed the powerful connection between faith and confidence. My husband wasn’t fearless because he had pockets full of money. He had something much better than that. He had pockets full of faith. And that faith made him supremely confident.
He couldn’t see the fix for our financial problem any more than I could. But the difference between my attitude of worry, and his attitude of confidence, was faith.
St. Paul says that we will never be given any challenge without a way to resolve it. It’s right in the bible (1 Cor. 10:13), and Scripture is not just a collection of fun words and catchy phrases. It’s the truth. And that truth sets me free from worry.
Anytime I am faced with difficulty, the Lord will give me the means to overcome it. Whether it’s a financial problem, raising a difficult child or dealing with gossip at work, none of these things should defeat me.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
Rooted in faith, I will rise up in confidence. Yes, then I am able.
With my roots sunk deeply in faith, there is no limit to what I can do in Christ. Because he is supplying the power.
I’ll stand armed with precious Confidence, surrounded by the love, protection, and grace of my Father.
I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13)
That is true. Faith moves mountain.
Thanks for the encouragement today:)
Hi Joy! Faith is the hardest thing to hold on to sometimes, but it’s really the only power we have. It’s where we end and God begins. That’s where the courage comes from!
Thank you for your visit today
Ceil
I am your Sister-in-Christ, and I can say that we have an amazing Savior!
You have a wonderful husband. God bless you both.
Hi Sister! We sure do have an awesome God. I pray that I will trust him more and more every day.
I do have a pretty nice guy for a husband, and thank you for your wishes for blessings. We accept them gratefully. May God greatly bless you and yours today!
Have a good Monday
Ceil
LOVE this! God is so awesome and I’m so glad that I can rely on Him for strength!! I’m writing in a new blog now girlie! Come check it out when you get a change. I’d soo appreciate it
http://likeamorningcupofcoffee.blogspot.com/
Hi Heather Leigh! I guess you have been relying on his help in your new blog site, how exciting! I will come over and visit and congrats
Blessings,
Ceil
First, squeling with delight on your new blog look! LOVE IT!–yes, dear friend..Faith is everything. I so can relate to this post. Thank you..you always manage to make me do a dead stop and re read..and no matter what is going on with me, your posts and other blogs are very uplifting. Thank you..Blessings
Hi Linda! Thank you for noticing the new design. I love it too! I am so inept with computers, so this was really a fun project.
So glad you enjoyed this post. I hope that I can be as confident as God wants me to be. As long as I have faith, I’ll be ok!
Thank you for your always supportive comments. So appreciated
Blessings to you,
Ceil
Ceil, my dear … you are so right on. Fear sucks the life out of us, immobilizing our steps. Confidence flies out the window and faith is left at the door. No wonder it’s a wellworn tactic of the enemy. I love the verse, ‘God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind.’
Let’s hear it for sanity, faith, empowerment!
;-}
Hi Linda! And fear is so tiring, isn’t it? Why not just believe that God will supply? I do love the last line in your comment. Love all of that, and may God richly bless us with sanity, faith and empowerment.
Good to see you here!
Ceil
Morning my friend…
Love visiting with you here. : )
Hi Bille Jo! I love to see you here, so looks like the Lord has made us both happy
Have a great Monday my friend,
Ceil
I felt the faith and confidence within me rise just with the reading of your post this morning, Ceil. Thank you for sharing what God lays on your heart.
Hi Pam! Oh my, I am so glad! That’s what I was hoping for when I wrote this. Thank you!!
You have blessed and encouraged me this morning. May God do the same in you.
Happy Monday,
Ceil
Absolute trust is difficult, but it’s much easier when the object of our trust is absolutely trustworthy. And God is the only one who fits that description. Just as there is no limit to what we can do in Christ, there’s no limit to what He can do in and through us if we’re fully trusting in Him. Your post today is a powerful one and a good reminder to all of us.
Hi Linda! Boy, is that the truth! I will work on trust all my life. The stronger my faith, the easier it will come.
There is no limit to God, just limits in me. I love your comment today, thank you for stopping by and reflecting what is in my heart so well.
Monday blessings!
Ceil
I used to be one of those fearful Christians but I am so eternally grateful that the Lord set me free. As you said, fear does suck the life and strength right out of us. I am thankful we have so many scriptures to comfort us and lead us out of the enemy’s stronghold of fear and into His freedom and peace.
Blessings and Love~
Hi Sandy! Well, I think I am still one of those ‘fearful Christians’ sometimes. I am always working on praying for more faith and trust. One day I’ll get more solid, just like you
Have a wonderful Monday! Thank you for visiting today,
Ceil
Hi Ceil, Love those two verses. So much power in them and in living by faith in our Father. It is a powerful witness to the world. Many blessings to you, friend.
Kim
Hi Kim! There really is a lot of support and wisdom in the Scriptures. I just have to take the time to meditate on them, and get them to rest right in my soul.
So happy to see you here today! Hope you had a good Thanksgiving celebration
Ceil
Love this reminder to dig deep in my spiritual pockets of faith Ceil. I see things are beginning to look like Christmas around your blogging place
Have a great week!
Hi Wanda! Oh, I did have a bit of fun with designing this header. I hope you like it? I am really hopeless at design, but I did have fun anyway. Christmas is such a great time of year..
I am learning about those pockets, and how I always have to remember they are there. It works out much better than freaking out all the time. Much easier on the mind!
Have a wonderful Monday,
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
Praise God that His grace is sufficient and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness! When our church built its new sanctuary, the pastor invited us to write our favorite Bible promises on the concrete floor before they laid the carpet, so that when we sang “Standing on the Promises” we really would be! I wrote Phil. 4:13 & Matt. 19:26.
Thanks for the great post & God bless!
Laurie
Hi Laurie! I LOVE that idea of putting the Scripture on the concrete. You are really walking on faith, and not be sight! I may have to remember this story and share it when I can. Thank you so much for sharing this with me, and any readers today
Blessings to you,
Ceil
What a great post! Just what I needed to read today. Thanks for this wonderful reminder. Have a great day, Lisa :O)
Hi Lisa! So good to see you
I’m glad you liked what you read here, and that it was useful to you. Isn’t it so wonderful how God uses all of us?
I hope you will continue to heal and feel better day by day. I appreciate your visit so much.
Take care,
Ceil
Ceil, lately I’ve needed suitcases of faith – been hit with illness and rather strong attack of anxiety. I am so glad, though, that God offers us power when we feel powerless, hope when we feel hopeless, comfort when we are without comfort, and peace when we are full of fear.
Faith is walking in the confident assurance that everything will be fine – because HE is in charge!
Thank you for this very encouraging post today, my friend. Needed it.
GOD BLESS!
Hi Dear! I’m so sorry that it’s been rough lately. I know I can sure use suitcases full of faith at times too. Who doesn’t? It stinks going through all the tough times. Anxiety really takes it out of you, doesn’t it? I was going through a lot of that before I left my last job. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but that’s what it was. I really empathize with you.
We are fortunate to be able to seek refuge in our faith. So many do not, and I don’t know how they get by. I know if I will trust and pry my death grip off the control button, things will go so much better.
God bless you Sharon. You are such an encourager to me, and to so many. I hope he will send you the peace and joy you desire, and we will all praise him together!!
Peace,
Ceil
Great message Ceil! I have struggled with lack of confidence off and on over the years. But I will not look at the same after reading here!
Where did you get those cute Advent buttons on your sidebar!?
Hi JR! Thank you for your kind comments. I’m so happy you liked the post today!
The Advent Wreath image came from: llizard.etherwork.net There are several styles to choose from. The ‘Christmas Magic’ came from Facebook, I think…not too sure about that. It might have been Pinterest.
If you Google ‘Christmas images’ you will get all kinds of hits. Pinterest is a good place to get images too. I love browsing for good ones, so I appreciate your question. I’m glad you took a look
Thanks for stopping by!
Ceil
Ceil, I love how you talked of your husband and his faith and how it was such a blessing in your marriage!
Hi Jamie Jo! Thank you so much for your sweet comment. I’m sure my husband would say it was nothing, but it wasn’t at the time. I needed to hear hope, and he sure shoveled it my way! I’m a blessed gal.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving!
Ceil
So many wonderful verses to help us on our journey. For some reason I need constant reminders of this. Thanks for sharing today, very timely for me. Have a great day, Ceil.
Hi Kathleen! Oh, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. I do too! And there is just a treasure trove of supporting Scripture for courage and support. It was so much fun to find them all. I’m so glad you liked the post, especially the Word. Not just catchy phrases, right?
I did have a great day. Hope your Tuesday is a blessed one
Ceil
That is a great picture to remember: pockets full of faith!
Hi Karen! Thank you so much for your encouraging comment! Well, that way, you can always reach in and grab all you need
Thank you for your visit today, it was nice to see you!
Ceil
Once again, encouraging words. I frequently have to stop myself from worrying… I have bad family genetics and come from a long lineage of worriers! Any time I start to worry I remind myself of a poster I saw on Pinterest: “Have you prayed about your problem more than you’ve talked about it?” I go back to prayer and with that comes the hands on the shoulders and the whisper from God that everything will be okay.
He is good.
Blessings and love to you.
xoxo
Hi Jennifer! What a beautiful habit to get into…I love that! Pinterest has some really nice things, doesn’t it? And in prayer, God is right there whispering. That’s hard to hear when I am overcome with fear.
Thank you for your visit here tonight! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving
Ceil
Hoping for a day of faith today, and trying to make Advent prayerful.
Thanks for your thoughts Ceil!
Hi Dear! What a fun surprise to see your comment this morning. Thank you so much!!!
I know you will make this day prayerful. I am trying to pray from the Magnificat and my heart each day. Mom was such a Christmas person, she really instilled in us a love for Advent…waiting with all kinds of rituals. I hope to write about some of them for the blog.
Have a great day my sis! You made mine!
Ceil
Oh Ceil, I have needed this! Thanks for sharing and thanks for remind me again
I’m a worry person but stay close to God is the only thing that empowering me and increasing my faith.
Talk to you soon
Been praying for you!
Blessing,
Delvalina
Hi Delvalina! Thank you for your prayers, I really appreciate them. You know you are in mine as well.
I hope that this Advent Season will be a time of gaining strength in grace and faith. Then we’ll both be more confident!
I’ll have your special gift to me up on the blog tomorrow! Yay!
Have a good day, my friend,
Ceil
Ceil, this is a word in due season. Yesterday I was quite down after receiving some less than encouraging news. I went to bed with a headache and woke with potential scenarios swirling in my head. Faith is the key. As I remember the ability of God to help me overcome challenges, and how He’s helped me in the past, my pockets do, indeed, fill with faith. Thanks for this post and the encouragement to believe in spite of circumstances!
Hi Alison! Oh my, I am so sorry about your disturbing news… That is the time we really do need faith. Learning to live in that quiet, trusting place is often very challenging. We don’t know how deep our pockets of faith are until the challenges come.
I still don’t like challenges very much.
So happy you could find some encouragement here, Alison. You are always in my prayers, but now even more prominently. God bless your path, and give you peace.
Hugs,
Ceil
Stuffing my pockets full as I type : ) I love how He assures us, it will be okay.
Hi Mindy! Smart girl! The deeper our pockets, the more we’ll be able to deal with any circumstance.
You are right on it today
Blessings,
Ceil
Ciel, thank you for this timely piece. I’m in a season where my faith and confidence is being tested. As you stated, fear and weakness has tried to creep in. But ultimately, I remind myself of God’s Word and His ability to see me through this season. I know He’s never failed me before and He knows my future. Like your husband’s confidence and faith, God is telling me “it will be okay…I have you in the palm of My hand”.
God bless you Ceil,
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn! I am being tested too, that’s for sure. I think that’s what inspired the post. Fear is a big one for me, I keep dragging myself down which is so silly. God will take care of it for me, I just have to sit tight.
I know he’ll keep talking to you, so all you have to do is keep listening. You are so right, he will never fail you.
Thank you for your visit today!
Ceil
I love the photo too. made me smile. I have learned to ask myself who are my companions today? fear or faith? helps me be aware of who is traveling with me and who I want to stay with. Great words today, Ceil!
Hi Jean! Isn’t that little guy cute? That’s what I think I must look like to the Lord. Funny!
I like your idea of ‘traveling companion’. I need to reflect on that daily. Thank you so much for that comment.
Thank you for your visit today! Have a blessed Wednesday,
Ceil
Love this Ceil! Isn’t it awesome to be married to a man of great faith! It reminds me of what the late Rev. R. W. Shambach always said…”you don’t have any worries, all you need is faith in God”! So true, so true! Blessings my friend!
Hi Michell! Thank you! It was so comforting to have a husband who could put me at ease with his faith. I need that. I like that quote. Faith really does give life roots and freedom to live knowing we are covered by the Lord.
Thank you for your always insightful comments, Michell.
Have a happy Wednesday
Ceil
Dear Ceil
Five years ago my husband and I sent our oldest of to university to study architecture without money. This week he is presenting his Master’s thesis to a board of architects and Friday he is officially finished. I am so proud of him because they started of with 80 students and only 25 finished. I am also so thankful and proud of our Pappa who provided all through these five years. Our second son is now studying at university and Pappa is still providing all the way. I told them I would rather trust our Lord Jesus who causes coins to appear in a fish’s mouth than our cheque account!! Great is His faithfulness Lord unto us!
Blessings XX
Mia
Hi Mia! (Love the new gravitar!) What a wonderful story of faith and success! I am so happy for your oldest, and here comes your second child too. ‘Hope does not disappoint’ sure does ring true with you, right? So many other students dropped out, but your son stayed with it. What a blessing he is!
And you are such a witness to faith Mia. I am sure your children share your strong love of the Lord. I pray the fish keep showing up for you, and that your next child will be blessed too.
Wonderful testimony, thank you so much for sharing that!
Ceil
I love the thought of “pockets full of faith”…so true! I’ve been there..esp. with the lack of funds thing at Christmas time (seems to be the pattern)…and somehow God ALWAYS comes through….even when my faith is lacking…God is never lacking in taking care of us in one way or another! Thank you for this reminder.
Hi Pamela! Thank you so much for reading two blog posts today, and commenting on both of them! You are a real ray of sunshine for me.
I loved that idea too. And the deeper the pockets, the better off we are. God will pull me through, just like you said. I have to work on that trust and faith to see it in all circumstances.
Blessings to you my blog-friend!
Ceil
Pockets full of faith. Yes. This is it. This is all we need. Love those words, Ceil.
Hi Jen! Thank you so much for your kind words. I think we should all check our pockets for that faith every day!
Thank you for your bloghop!
Ceil
In the grand scheme of this temporary life, we account far too many blessings to be that of money. More often than not, money corrupts. Like so many who have commented above me, Ceil, we too had our wake up call almost 4 years ago. Money is now simply that ‘necessary evil’, and we render unto Caesar what is his, but unto Yah the whole is rendered because ALL good things come from above! Faith is so misunderstood. Scripture says that faith without works is dead, but them later says it is faith that Messiah is Who He says He is that is the groundwork of salvation…so confusing! So beyond that initial conversion, what is true faith? WALKING in the WORD! Not just simply ‘believing’ that Scripture is truth from cover to cover, but actually living it…and it is the hardest thing to do. That is why when we are weak HE is strong! I have heard many say that He never gives us more than we can bear, but I believe this is WRONG, Ceil, because if we can do it without Him then we are still relying on SELF. My youngest daughter’s middle name is Faith, and He has taught me so much about this main ingredient that is the ultimate spice of spiritual life. I love the way your posts make me think, think, think! It often takes me a day or two to comment because of this. Big bear cyber hugs, precious lady! Kelly
Hi Kelly! I love your thoughtful comments. It is an interesting point about doing things on our own. How can we do anything good unless God accompanies us? I totally agree with that.
And walking in his word is not an easy thing, I know that first-hand. But remembering that he is with me makes me braver, and makes me want to keep on trying. Like you said, actually living it would mean we are creating heaven on earth, which is what God wants. A great thing to strive for…
I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much, Kelly. And thank you for your constant encouragement too. You have no idea how it lifts me up.
Bless you!!
Ceil
Hello There! It feels like I haven’t been on the computer in forever!! Trying to play catch up can be a bit overwhelming.
I love this post!! We were just talking about this not too long ago and I love your saying ” All I need is my pockets full of Faith”.
Isn’t that so true?! Man, if I didn’t have a strong foundation in my Faith, wow….. I don’t even wanna go there! God is Good ALL
the time!!
I hope you are having a great start to this Christmas Season. I haven’t been home much ( to many Christmas Parties already)
and today and for the next 9 days Colorado is suppose to have frigid temperatures, barely making it into the double digits. Yuck!
So, we are home, keeping the wood stove blazing and staying home for a few days!
I hope you are staying warm and cozy!
Hugs to you,
Amy
Hi Amy! Not gonna lie, I’ve missed you! But this is such a busy time of year for everyone, and it’s important stuff too. Parties included
I did hear about the cold in Colorado, my sister lives there (as well as a lot of cousins). She lives in a town that always seems to have the low temp for the country. Are you close to Alamosa?
I am a little jealous of your wood stove…I have a fake fireplace that looks like it’s blazing, so that will have to do. Keep warm and enjoy! Have a blessed evening my friend,
Ceil
Love the idea of “pockets full of faith” your whole post is so encouraging!! God is so faithful, we were young marrieds newly saved with little ones wondering how we would make it, but the Lord reminded us of His Word in Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” What a faith builder!! God bless you, Ceil!
Hi Natalie! So good to see you here!
You can really relate to this then, how great is that? We both remember when our financial solvency was not all that clear. What a wonderful thing faith is…and that passage from the Psalms is just perfect! David was another guy who was put through the wringer with Saul, his son, and his own problems. And yet he knows that God provides. So inspiring!
Thank you for your encouraging comments, Natalie. I have missed you!
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
Jesus says that in Him we have peace, and my two trials have always been in sickness and finance. I have found and still am finding that, though trials in all things will come, what He has said is so true, .
Hi Brenda! So good to see you, I’ve missed you! I have looked at your Lighthouse blog, but I didn’t see a current post. Are you blogging anywhere else?
Wow, those two trials are pretty big ones. Being at peace through those trials is a real example of God’s power working in you, don’t you think? And yet you have learned that all things will come. I am trying to have that kind of faith, Brenda. With the grace of God, I hope to get to that peace, the peace you have.
Thank you for your visit today. You are a ray of sunshine for me!
Ceil
I loved this post about pockets full of faith. I’ve always had pockets full of faith instead of money, too. Everything always worked out fine.
Ceil, I always appreciate your including scripture to illustrate your points. You picked great ones in this post. Well, of course, all scripture is great but I mean you chose some of my favorites.
Hi Jimbob/Jerralea! Thank you for your kind comment, Jerralea. I’m glad you liked the Scripture quotes, I knew what you meant. I should try to use more when I can, thank you for helping me out with your suggestions.
Seems like I always have more faith than money too, but as you said, it’s all worked out fine. It’s probably made my faith stronger actually.
Thanks for your visit today. I always enjoy seeing you. How funny you used your husband’s account…my husband wouldn’t know how to do it
Blessings,
Ceil
So true. At times when my faith is stronger it is always easier to face challenges.
I pray for increased faith for myself quite often
Have a Happy New Year!
Hi Joyful! Thank you for stopping by! This is my new blog space, and I’m not quite ‘open for business’ yet. Still trying to figure it all out.
Let’s pray together for an increase of faith, especially in this new year.
Peace and blessings to you! See you in a few weeks, after my blog-break,
Ceil
I love your quote…a pocket full of faith…..God is always faithful ♥
Hi Dee! Thank you for coming over today! I am officially on a blogbreak, but I’m trying to develop this page in the meantime. It’s fun to see friends
God is always faithful, and if I remember to check my pockets, I’ll see how he truly will fill me with trust through his grace. A great thing!
See you in a few weeks!
Ceil