Look fearlessly ahead!
1.Johannes 4,17 (ESV)
„ By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.“
If God’s love renews us, we can look to the future with confidence. In other words, this means: If you have discovered Jesus and entrusted your life to him, then confidence, hope and optimism become part of your identity through the renewing power of his love.
But what does that mean in concrete terms? Isn’t there more reason for pessimism when we think about the future, especially at the present time? A global pandemic, uprisings, growing environmental pollution and discordant politics characterise our daily news.
And maybe there are also reasons in your life right now to lose hope and close our heart to confidence.
Where is this confidence supposed to come from?
Conversely, it is quite simple: from the daily renewing love of God, which we can receive in our union with Him!
If we allow ourselves to be filled with this love every day through prayer, the words of the Bible and the request for His Holy Spirit within us, we may understand bit by bit how God thinks, speaks and acts.
We may recognise what his thoughts are about your identity and mine. In his Holy Word he gives us a standard for all matters of life:
„May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had .“ – Romans 15,5
And it is from this understanding, and knowing that he cheers us on and encourages us to be confident, that we can gain perspective like God has.
His promises and commitments are good and true. They still apply today and they do not change. What God once promised to do, He faithfully keeps.
„Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.“ – Deuteronomy 7,9
You do not have to artificially “pull confidence out of your hip” or bend yourself into false optimism. Confidence and hope may come naturally from God’s promises for you and your life. More and more you will be able to understand what God’s perspective looks like and you can walk relaxed in this divine perspective.
Action Step:
Search the internet for “God’s love letter” and read it carefully. Let the words, which are based on biblical passages and thus on His living Word, have an effect on you.
What do you think about yourself? Would you have thought that someone would describe you as so valuable or can you not really understand this? How much have you internalised God’s perspective for yourself alone?
Write down your own thoughts about yourself again and again, even if they are negative, and place them next to the words that God says about you.
Consciously engage in a change of perspective and ask God to show you His perspective in other areas of your life where you find it difficult to be confident.
Hillsong Church Konstanz
