How Build Your Confidence

We are dreading things, thinking defeated thoughts, when in truth, we have already been equipped to handle it. We have the strength for all things. When God created you, He put in you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. Now, quit telling yourself what you can't do. All that's doing is draining your strength. Often times, we limit ourselves without even knowing it. We go around thinking that the obstacle is too big, that we'll never get well, that this virus, this illness is going to get the best of us. We wonder why we don't have any strength, why we can't seem to get ahead, see a breakthrough. It's because our thoughts are limiting us. We draw in what we constantly think about. The Bible says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is." You can't think defeat and have victory. You can't think weak and have strength. You can't think not able to and accomplish your dreams. Your life is going to follow your thoughts. Instead of thinking weak, defeated, not able to thoughts, you need to start thinking power thoughts. Think about what God says about you. This sickness is no match for me. No virus can stop my destiny. This trouble at work is not how my story ends. The forces that are for me are greater than the forces that are against me. Victory starts in our minds. Success, breakthroughs, new levels depend on our thinking. I'm worried about my finances. I'm stressed over my children. That's drawing in more negativity. That's making you weaker, draining your strength, your energy, your passion. You'll be amazed at what will happen if you start thinking power thoughts. No weapon formed against me will prosper. God has me in the palm of His hands. He's the guardian of my soul. He's made me untouchable to the enemy. When you dwell on these thoughts, you'll feel strength rising up, courage, determination. This is not just being positive, this is your faith being released. That's why the scripture says, "Be careful what you think." It gives us a warning. Your thoughts are setting the limits for your life. All that came to my mind were negative, fearful, intimidating thoughts. I didn't just keep thinking those thoughts because they showed up. I didn't dwell on them, believe that they were truth. I tuned them out and got in tune with God on purpose. I thought, "I can do all things through Christ. I am strong in the Lord. I've been raised up for such a time as this. Father, thank you that I am equipped, empowered, and anointed." Thoughts told me, "Nobody's going to listen to you. You don't have anything to say." Instead of believing those lies, I would say, "Father, thank you that your favor is causing me to stand out." In the scripture, there was a young man named Mephibosheth. He was the grandson of King Saul and the son of Jonathan, David's best friend. Mephibosheth was born into royalty, destined to one day take the throne. But at five years old, his grandfather and father were killed in a battle. When word reached the palace, the nurse who took care of him picked him up and took off running, afraid that the enemy army was coming to kill him. In her haste, she accidentally dropped Mephibosheth, injuring both of his legs. He became crippled for life. And sometimes, well-meaning people can drop you. This nurse had good intentions; she was trying to help him, but she dropped him. Years passed, and Mephibosheth ended up living in exile in a city called Lo-Debar, one of the poorest, most rundown cities of that day. The name Lo-Debar means "without pasture." It was like a wasteland, with no greenery, no place to grow crops. Mephibosheth was the grandson of the king; he had royalty in his blood. He had lived in the palace; now

he was living in the slums, barely surviving. One day, King David was thinking about his friend Jonathan. He asked his men if any of Jonathan's relatives were still alive so he could be good to them. A former servant of the house of Saul came and told David that Mephibosheth was still alive. David's men went out and searched through the slums of Lo-Debar and finally found Mephibosheth, who was now a grown man. They had to carry him back to David's palace. I'm sure that Mephibosheth was afraid, thinking that David was going to punish him or even kill him because his grandfather King Saul had tried to kill David. But it was just the opposite. David was incredibly kind to him. He said, "From now on, you're going to live in the palace with me. Every night, you're going to have dinner at my table. I'm going to restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather King Saul." Mephibosheth was overwhelmed. He couldn't believe what was happening. But the way he responded to David's kindness shows us why he was living in Lo-Debar all those years. He said to David, "Why would you be so kind to such a dead dog as I am?"