Most of our internal agony, our struggling and frustration come from misplaced confidence.  The world we live in teaches us that it is all about us.  When in fact it is not.  

Do you remember the story of Samson and Delilah?  "Then, Delilah called, 'Samson, the Philistines are upon you!'  He awoke from his sleep and thought. 'I'll go out as before and shake myself free.'  But he did not know that the Lord had left him.  Then the Philistines seized him." (Judges 16:20-21)  A champion who once depended on God for his every move, now says, "I'll just do what I've done before."

Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).  You and I know that scripture; we even quote it.  Yet we keep going out without bending our knee and our heart or committing our way unto the Lord, acting like it all depends on us, and falling flat on our faces.  Dear God, will we ever learn?

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes....But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, and whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."  (Jerm 17:5-8)

Before you go a step further today, pause and ask yourself, "Where have I placed my confidence?"

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