Proverbs 14:26

"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26

"Home is where the heart is." Pliny Once we come to Christ, our heart is given over to God(home). God gives us a place of refuge. A home away from home. He provides shelter or a residence for our hearts to be protected from the wiles of the world and the Enemy. What is this residence built with? What does it consist of? Fear. Fear of the LORD. It is funny that we should seek refuge in fear. We commonly view fear as a feeling of agitation or anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger(courtesy of Websters.com). In this context, fear is viewed as extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power. So, we should be living our lives in a house of AWE!

A house of AWE is a very beneficial residence for our heart. Our heart grows and learns in the presence of God and God's Word. A confidence in the Lord is birthed. Not just any confidence, but a strong confidence. How is this built? Well, I'm going to take a Eleanor Roosevelt quote and modify it. The original went like this: "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which in which you really stop to look fear in the face." I thought this sounded a bit better. "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look God in the face." All of our admirable qualities come from Him! He gives us the strong confidence to proclaim His glory in a world where the majority does not care! The confidence from God is the only good confidence! It allows us not to have to worry about succumbing to pride. How does pride try to creep in?

"A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident." Proverbs 14:16 "Confident" in this verse means "self-confident." We have to beware when "self" is attached to descriptions of ourself. When "self" is thrown into the picture, emphasis is taken off God and put on ME! Glory is taken away from God; credit is given to ME! It is a dangerous place to live outside of the House of AWE. Satan will manipulate your good qualities into evil ones! Virginia Woolf said, "Without self-confidence we are as babes in the cradle." I want to be a babe in the cradle. A child of God is who I am! My confidence lies in Him, not myself. The first 27.5 years of my life was lived in self-confidence. What a muck I made of it! The majority of the things, I thought were best for me, were not! Not even close. The best thing for me was God! He is the source of my happiness, abundance, strength, love, wisdom, and confidence! He wants what is best for me. I will trust in Him, and I will live in my refuge of AWE!

Life is deceptive. We live in these big houses. They are filled with all manner of gidgets and gadgets. Distractions litter the house. How can we focus on God when He gets a Sunday slot only? "In the fear of the LORD...." is where we must reside. When we choose to reside in this house, do not limit your thinking on God. It is no hole-in-the-wall dwelling. God wants us to think larger than that. A palace is our dwelling. People think fear will restrict our quality of life. Satan spreads these lies. God has done nothing but enhance my life since I chose to live in fear. I rely on God, and not myself. Self-confidence leads to destruction. It is a snare. Fear of the LORD promotes life. "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27 I would much rather lay by the fountain of life, than have my foot caught in a bear trap that leads to death! Can you read the fine print on that bear trap? MADE IN SELF-CONFIDENCE

kenny