23 FOR if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 BUT he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, THIS ONE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES."
James 1:23-25 (NKJV)
• Looking into the perfect law of liberty, the Word of God, gives you the true identity of yourself.
"BUT HE WHO LOOKS INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AND CONTINUES IN IT, AND IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK [which he or she Read or Saw in that law of liberty], THIS ONE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE [she] DOES" (James 1:25 NKJV).
- The picture of yourself which the Word of God gives to you, is the true picture of you. But If you wanted to deceive yourself, you will put the Word of God aside and depend on what or who other people say you are.
- Whoever reads the Word of God and does not apply it, or does it; It means such has forgotten how he or she looks like—such is deceiving himself or herself.
- The Word of God is the true mirror that would show you how you actually look:
22 BUT be doers of the word, and not hearers only, DECEIVING YOURSELVES.
23 FOR IF ANYONE IS A HEARER OF THE WORD AND NOT A DOER, HE IS LIKE A MAN OBSERVING HIS NATURAL FACE IN A MIRROR; 24 FOR HE OBSERVES HIMSELF, goes away, AND IMMEDIATELY FORGETS WHAT KIND OF MAN HE WAS. 25 BUT he who LOOKS into THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY and CONTINUES in IT, and IS NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS ONE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES" (James 1:22-25 (NKJV). - When you look into the Word of God steadily, and do what It says; Thus you would have right assessment of yourself, and you would be blessed for practicing or doing the Word.
- When you had wrong assessment of the self, your values about life and things generally, would be wrong.
- You will value and give credibility to the ephemeral things than the eternal things:
1 IF THEN YOU WERE RAISED WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH" (Colossians 3:1,2 NKJV).
• Know that, It is when you see yourself in line with the Word of God that you have Confidence: "THEREFORE DO NOT CAST AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE, WHICH HAS GREAT REWARD" (Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV).
- When you did know who you are in Christ, you have the confidence. The knowledge of the truth emboldens and makes free.
- When you know your place, your inheritance in Christ Jesus, you have Confidence: "FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR and TIMIDITY, BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE" (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT).
- Through the knowledge of the Word of God, you get to know who you are in Christ Jesus. And that gives you the right assessment of yourself, which is of God.
- When you see yourself in the light of the Word of God, you live right, and your values about life and other things would be right.
- Through the knowledge of the Word of God, you get to know your God-given Vision, the plan of God for your life.
- You would know how to be content and not envy the ungodly (1 Timothy 6:6). Since you are convinced that the plan of God which was made known to you is the best.
• Through the knowledge of the Word of God, you would have the right view points about the self. You would be able to come to the throne of Grace, God, with boldness or confidence to receive from Him:
"LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY and FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED" (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).
- There things that could make you lose your Confidence, and be unable to approach Him:
(i) Living in disobedience would make you lose your confidence in God. - Disobedience would sever your relationship or communion with God.
- And when you are not sure or certain of God's presence or backing, you lose your confidence or boldness. Because you know without Him, you can but do nothing (John 15:5).
(ii) When conflicts and challenges of life and that of the Ministry increased, you can lose your confidence. This is the reason why you should always commit everything to Him in prayer. Do not carry the Burdens or cares that should be cast to Him (1 Peter 5:7). - You might be overwhelmed with the Burdens or the challenges of life, that is, what you are passing through, and be discouraged—lose your confidence in God.
(iii) Fear of failure can make you lose your confidence in God. That is why fear should not be allowed in your life (2 Timothy 1:7). - Do not allow what you had passed through in the past to limit your progress, thinking that what happened in the past would repeat itself.
- Someone who is afraid of failure would not attempt, or try to do anything new; thus, It becomes difficult for such to move forward or make any progress in life.
(iv) Living in Sin would make someone lose Confidence in God and His power. Do away with Sin:
"FOR TROUBLES SURROUND ME—too many to count! MY SINS PILE UP SO HIGH I CAN'T SEE MY WAY OUT. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I HAVE LOST ALL COURAGE" (Psalm 40:12 NLT).
• Things that will enhance your Confidence.
(i) The knowledge of the Word of God which would builds faith in you.
WHEN your faith is built up through the Word of God, your confidence in God is enhanced or solidified (1 John 5:12-15).
(ii) The encounters you had had with God personally boosted your confidence in Him.
a. The encounter which Moses had with God, what he heard from Him, boosted his confidence to face Pharaoh (Exodus chapter 3 through 5).
b. The encounter which the apostles had with the Holy Spirit, emboldened Peter and others to go out and Preach the Gospel of Christ with signs and wonders. THEY exhibited an unusual courage that amazes the religious leaders (Acts 3:1-10; 4:5-13,31).
c. When Gideon also had an encounter, his fear was allayed (Judges 6:11-24).
(iii) Love. Your love for God gives you the assurance and courage that He is with you (Matthew 22:37).
a. When you know that God loves you and you are walking in the light of His Word, you will have the Confidence in you that He would not let you down. THAT He cannot mismanage your life and destiny!
b. If you knew your relationship with God was intact, and you were sure of His love for you, your Confidence in Him would be stronger:
"BELOVED, IF OUR HEART DOES NOT CONVICT US [of guilt], WE HAVE CONFIDENCE [complete assurance and boldness] BEFORE GOD" (1 John 3:21 Amps).
"MY FRIENDS, IF OUR THOUGHTS DO NOT TELL US THAT WE ARE GUILTY, WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO COME TO GOD."
1 John 3:21 (Easy English Bible)
"DEAR FRIENDS, IF WE DON'T FEEL GUILTY, WE can COME to God with BOLD CONFIDENCE."
1 John 3:21 (NLT)
• There is a reward for you in Christ Jesus, and It can be gotten through Confidence (Hebrews 10:35).
- When you follow God wholeheartedly, unwaveringly, and that with strong relationship and fellowship, your Confidence in Him cannot but be high and strong.
- The correct assessment of the self comes through the knowledge of who you are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:17,18); This builds Confidence in you to walk with God. And It also gives you confidence to rule and dominate in the world.
- Those who built their confidence in their material possessions, would be regretted of it, because, whatever affects negatively those things which they had put their trust and confidence in, would definitely affect them negatively also.
- Your confidence should be in God. Let the Word of God be the standard through which you judged or assessed yourself.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- As you read this piece, whatever is troubling your health is rebuked and cursed to wither in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Hold of sickness is completely broken in your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!