Confident of This | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:4-6

Strength. Beauty. Generosity. The Bible talks about a variety of qualities we possess and grow in as people who trust Jesus. Paul is one of the most respected and influential authors of New Testament books, and in the book of Galatians, he likens these qualities to fruit since they are planted in our hearts, take time to grow, and will eventually bloom to full maturity.

In Philippians, another one of Paul’s writings, we catch a quick glimpse of a Christ-like quality that Paul himself exhibits: confidence (Philippians 1:6). Confidence is being formed in all of us, but it might feel like our personal confidence seeds are duds. It would be nice to make strong statements of faith like Paul does without doubt lingering close behind. It would be great if we could silence our insecurities for once. It would be awesome to not second-guess ourselves all the time. But for most of us, this isn’t the case.

If we want Christ-like confidence to blossom in our lives, we need to ask, where does confidence spring from? What is confidence rooted in? And what does confidence produce? Let’s look at Philippians 1:4-6 to answer these questions.

Confidence springs from prayer. In these verses, Paul is telling his friends about conversations he has with God. When the Christians in Philippi come to Paul’s mind, he thanks God for them, and lifts them up in prayer. This is why Paul can speak with bold certainty about the work God is doing on their behalf, because it all started with his own personal connection with God. It started in prayer.

Confidence is rooted in God’s work, not my work. Paul’s confidence is not in his own competence or ability. His confidence is not in the growth potential of his audience. Paul’s confidence is rooted in the work that God Himself is doing within Paul’s world. Are you plagued by persistent doubt? Are you wrestling with insecurities, fearing that you’re not enough at home… at work… at life? These things can consume us when our eyes are focused on what we’re doing (or not doing) rather than on what God is doing.

Confidence produces a more Christ-like individual. God is at work transforming our lives, molding and shaping us to look more like Jesus with each passing day. The growing process has lots of high and lows and bumpy in-betweens, but God is at work in all of it, using everything— especially the hard things— to bring us to full maturity in Him. Paul is confident that God will be faithful to complete the work He’s started, and we can believe with the same sense of assurance.

If you’re unsure of yourself and wish you could be a more confident person, remember that confidence is something God has already begun forming in you. It’s not a worldly confidence built on positive affirmations and a healthy self-esteem.

Christ-like confidence is different.

It’s a confidence that organically springs from our personal connection with God in prayer. It’s rooted in the work God is doing and the power He possesses to finish that work; and it produces an assurance deep in our hearts that we are being transformed daily to look more like Jesus.

For Your Journal

Find It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:4-6

Fix It:

In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:

Confident of this

I am confident that God will finish what He started.

Feel It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.

Father, I take a moment now to pause and remember that you are God and I am not. Today, help me to focus my thoughts more on what YOU are doing as opposed to what I am doing (or failing to do). Help me to find confidence in you— a bold assurance that you will finish what you started in my life and in the lives of people I love. May I stand a little taller today, knowing that you’re transforming me to be more like Jesus. Amen.