Touré Roberts - The Gift of Confidence

I want to talk about this topic today: «The Gift of Confidence.»

Father, thank you so much for this moment that you’ve allowed us to step into today. Lord, you’re doing something; we feel it, we sense it, and we know it. You’re equipping us; you’re preparing us for this decade. Hallelujah! You’ve got so much in store for your sons and daughters, but we’re going to have to grow in order to lay hold of it. So, Father, in this moment that we have together, these few minutes that we’ll spend together, we pray that your Spirit would descend upon us in a rich and powerful way, God, that this would become a house of transformation to the effect that our minds will be renewed, so that we might align with what you’re doing in our lives. And, Father, I pray for the spirit of wisdom, revelation, insight, and knowledge. Lord God, grant us full access to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to heaven’s resources, God, to bring forth truths that enlighten us, empower us, and equip us—truths that cause us to align with the highest identity in you, so that we might become what you have called us to be. Father, while we’re praying, we pray for the person next to us. Will you bless them abundantly, please? We don’t know exactly what needs they may have—spiritually, physically, emotionally, or otherwise—but, God, we ask that whatever that need is, you would meet it, and ultimately, God, get the glory. In Jesus' name, Amen, Amen.

Do me a favor, before you take your seats, greet somebody. Let’s greet some bodies! I’m glad you’re here. God bless you! Thank you, Lord. Yes, the gift of confidence! At this time of the year, especially at the beginning of a year and certainly at the beginning of a decade, there’s always a surge in confidence. The new year generally brings with it a spirit of optimism and renewed enthusiasm. You’re back in the gym, your looks are improving, your vision is clear, and typically, you and I are more confident about the year ahead. That’s just how it goes. So, there’s always a surge in confidence, and the confidence I’m describing is self-confidence. Self-confidence is incredible! In fact, most psychologists would agree that being self-confident gives you an edge in life. You know what I’m saying? When you’re self-confident, you move forward without the trepidation that comes into play when you lack confidence. When you’re self-confident, you have an edge; you jump into tasks and feats with the sense that you can do it. The more confident you are about something, the greater your chances are of actually achieving and excelling at those things because you believe you can do it. Self-confidence is absolutely amazing, and you can even grow your self-confidence. In fact, if you want to grow your self-confidence, one of the ways to do it is to go back to school and enhance yourself in some of your skills and experiences. Certain areas will make you more confident. For me, to be honest, working out boosts my confidence. When I have that workout routine going, that little…you know, if you can see that 400-pack, I’m confident! So, for me, working out increases my confidence. I feel better when I read books. I gain more confidence when I attend conferences, seminars, and various events; they make me more confident about my intelligence and my ability to perform better at work and improve my business skills. You know, self-confident people typically promote well in their jobs; they are high achievers and generally do better in relationships. It is challenging to be in a relationship with someone who lacks self-confidence because they tend to put more pressure on you. Self-confident people, conversely, do better in relationships. It is an incredible and amazing thing to be self-confident. People at the top of their fields, in various disciplines, literally walk on water in their respective areas; they exemplify self-confidence in its effects, and it is wonderful. Being self-confident is fantastic and it is almost everything. Yet, God has a strategy for us to reach an even greater level of confidence. One of the things I’ve learned about self-confidence, and although it is amazing—and I encourage everyone to cultivate self-confidence—God wants you to be confident in yourself. He wants you to think highly of yourself. However, I’ve learned that there is one problem with my self-confidence: it is me. If you’re taking notes, write this thought down: the limitation of self-confidence. As wonderful as it is, it has a limitation. The limitation is that if you are only self-confident, the buck stops with you, and you and I are limited, which means our confidence will also be limited. The problem is that oftentimes, if you’re taking notes, write this down as well: God promises us things that are beyond us. Are you tracking with me?