“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14 KJV).
Reading and meditating the Word of God produces courage to face any situation in life. It gives you confidence that God will do what He said in His Word.
For example, it’s hard not to have confidence while reading First John 4:4, “…greater is he that’s in you, than he that’s in the world.”
As you meditate that, you mutter it over and over in your heart. “Greater means bigger than; that means stronger than; that means larger than; that means smarter than. Greater is He that is in me. He’s in me. He’s not out there; He’s in me. Greater is He that’s in me, than he that’s in the world. Who’s in the world? The devil is in the world. Demons are in the world. Those that come against me are in the world. But greater is He that is in me.”
After a while your confidence begins to rise. Not in yourself, but in the One who’s on the inside of you. In other words, the way to enter into the rest of God is to meditate the Word of God. If there is an issue you are facing, the first thing to do is to get God’s Word on the subject, and meditate that Word until it becomes a part of you.
Meditate on it until you choke the unbelief to death. You will then come to the place where you are totally confident in God.
Entering into the rest starts first of all with reading and meditating the Word on a daily basis. Decide that reading the Word of God is more beneficial to you than reading too many romance novels. It is more important than watching your favorite soap opera on television.
Guard yourself from those things that take your rest from you. When you put the Word of God ahead of those things on a daily basis, you’ll see yourself grow in courage and confidence. You will have the confidence to stay in faith. You will have the courage and confidence to continue to praise God until your situation changes. You will see God work on your behalf.
Scripture References: Hebrews 10:35-36, 38-39
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).