In This I Will Be Confident

Text: Psalm 27
21 October 2018

STRUGGLES THAT AFFECT OUR CONFIDENCE

1. Facing powerful enemies

“When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes,
they stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war may rise against me,” Psalm 27:2, 3
a. Saul
b. His army

2. Dangers

a. Confidence in self
b. Compromise
c. Confidence undermined
i. Fear can grip the heart   (Psalm 27:1, 3)
ii. Discouragement can weary the heart   (Psalm 27:13)

A STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE

1. Learning to develop confidence

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”   Psalm 27:1
a. The Lord is my light
b. The Lord is my salvation
c. The Lord is my strength

2. Rediscovering this confidence

a. Through the challenges of life
b. Not just in knowing what God can do
c. Through personal experiences with God

3. A personal statement of confidence declared

“In this I will be confident.”   Psalm 27:3
a. Confidence that is personal and real
b. A declaration made in the midst of life challenges

SEEKING FURTHER INSPIRATION OF CONFIDENCE

1. Seeking the face of God inspires confidence

“When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”   Psalm 27:8
This is a wonderful verse to consider over and over again.
a. The Lord’s call to seek His face
i. Not for answers only
ii. To seek His face instead
b. What does it mean to seek His face?
i. Seeking the person of God
ii. Seeking the presence of the Lord
c. Seeking the face of God first
“My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek”
i. First and foremost
ii. Closeness with God inspires confidence

2. Prayer to God inspires confidence

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.”   Psalm 27:11
a. To seek God for His guidance
b. Interacting with God in prayer inspires confidence

3. Faith inspires confidence

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”   Psalm 27:13
a. Faith in God helps to overcome discouragement
b. Exercising faith in God inspires confidence