Confidence in Christ- Day 1

Scripture: Philippians 3:12, Philippians 3:13, Revelation 21:4

Scripture Reading:

• Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to

make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

• Philippians 3:13 - Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do:

forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

• Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,

neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed

away.

Thought:

When you walk up to a tee, if all your thoughts are on the putt you had just missed on the previous

hole, you are not thinking about the hole you are on now or have any space in your mind to be confident.

Invariably, you will end up making another mistake, continuing the misery of the missed putt beyond the

one hole, possibly to the rest of the round. It is the players with a “short memory” who don’t let the

recent past mistakes continue to plage them but focus on the present throw. Sometimes it can take only

one great throw to clear all the bad shots from your mind.

When Paul was writing to the Philippians, he was in prison, and at risk of being executed. On the

flip side, Paul in the previous verses (Philippians 3:4-6) laid out all the reasons from an earthly perspective

he could have confidence as a believer. Rather than focusing on his current circumstance, nor placing his

confidence in earthly “righteousness”, he acknowledged his only hope was through faith in Christ. Paul’s

focus was solely toward the future where one day he, and all believers, will be face to face with the Lord.

Where sin and death will be no more.

There are several things in this life which can distract us from both our present relationship with

the Lord, and our future hope in Him. We may be holding onto the wrongs that have been done to us,

allowing the people who hurt us to continually injure us, and keep us from growing in Christ, the only

source of healing. We may also have a “rosy” view of our past or present circumstances, keeping us from

acknowledging the reality of our desperate need of salvation through Christ. It is when we let go of these

things, we can confidently follow the Lord through our present fallen world, toward a future apart from

the sin that keeps us from living the life the Lord wants for us.

Reflection 1: What do I need to give over fully to the Lord to move forward in my relationship with Him?

Reflection 2: What can I do to walk confidently toward what lies ahead for me in Christ?

Prayer: Lord, thank-you that You have made me Your own through Christ. I pray that by Your Holy

Spirit, You would enable me to let go of anything keeping me from growing fully in You. In Christ’s name

I pray. Amen!

Contributed by: Dean Langenhahn | PDGA #208802