Confidence

Confidence is defined as a trusting, or reliance; an assurance of mind or firm belief in the integrity, stability or veracity of another, or in the truth and reality of a fact. Confidence is trust; reliance; safety, or assurance of safety; security; boldness; courage.–Webster’s American Dictionary
  A modern definition of confidence is the mental attitude of trusting in or relying on a person or thing; firm trust, reliance, faith, assurance, boldness, fearlessness, arising from reliance (on oneself, on circumstances, on divine support, etc.), and is synonymous with trust, which is firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.–Oxford English Dictionary

“Self confidence creates limitation, but soul confidence begets fortitude.”
–Edna Lister

  Confidence is a soul virtue, and law of being, rooted in the principle of faith. You cannot be somewhat confident; you are or are not confident. Confidant is a derivitive of confident, meaning "one to whom secrets are entrusted, and intimate friend. God is my confidant; I tell Him everything without reservation. And you may as well do so, since He is omniscient, knowing all things, anyway, whether you tell Him or not.

Edna Lister on Confidence

Take any setback, whatever it is, on the chin. Separate the blow from your confidence, and examine it. Use every delay and obstacle as a guide, a measuring rod of progress, but give it to God in prayer.–Edna Lister, Your Magnetic Powers, January 13, 1933.

Now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.–1 John 2:28. The Word of truth is your assurance, and gives you confidence that if you dwell in him, he shall abide in you. Through Christ’s help and love, you can overlook and overcome.–Edna Lister, Life Is a Task, March 15, 1936.

Let your confidence in God’s Power be exalted.–Edna Lister, August 19, 1938.

You must have a spiritual anchor above and devotion to a Supreme Being of Light to whom you go in confidence to feel secure.–Edna Lister, January 13, 1939.

Stand in absolute confidence in the faithfulness of God’s Power and Love to fulfill all His promises.–Edna Lister, August 2, 1940.

It is marvelous to wait upon the Lord in the high place of poise and Power, while you work out your own salvation where you are. This is the supreme test of your confidence in the faithfulness of God’s ability to fulfill His promises to you.–Edna Lister, August 9, 1940.

The only loss is your loss of confidence in God’s ability to work all things together for good.–Edna Lister, March 12, 1941.

You may have perfect trust in God: This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.–1 John 5:14.–Edna Lister, Flaming Desire, May 26, 1941.

You express your faith of God as confidence in His ability to perform miracle upon miracle.–Edna Lister, January 20, 1942.

Through prayer you gain assurance, confidence and trust in your soul’s ability to commune with God.–Edna Lister, The Silence, April 12, 1942.

Let unconquerable faith be your great strength, your confidence and your only answer.–Edna Lister, October 14, 1942.

Take each day’s steps confidently as they come to be taken.–Edna Lister, May 4, 1945.

Thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.–Isaiah 30:15. So enough Love, Light and Power are enough quiet and confidence.–Edna Lister, July 3, 1945.

Love thy neighbor as thyself.–Matthew 22:39 refers to confidence in your own ability. Give your neighbor the same credit you give yourself; this is putting the Golden Rule to work.–Edna Lister, Thou Shalt Love, April 22, 1946.

Do not place confidence in man’s work, but in God.–Edna Lister, August 10, 1947.

Intuitive consciousness asks God, seeks first the kingdom, and knocks to penetrate the veil that separates the visible from the invisible. Such a person has that upward look toward God because they are always looking above the worldly appearance. They base their optimism and faith on a knowing assurance and confidence in God and His right answers.–Edna Lister, Creative Imagination, May 1, 1949.

When you need assurance and confidence, read Psalm 91.–Edna Lister, The Flaming Sword, July 29, 1951.

Do not cross the line between self-confidence and boasting.–Edna Lister, October 21, 1951.

For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.–John 3:16. For God so loved are words of lavish giving. A Father who would send His firstborn Son in sacrifice for us reassures our confidence in God as our basis of eternal being.–Edna Lister, The Living Chalice, December 7, 1952.

The faith of God is constant and in it you find your own constancy and unalterable confidence in God.–Edna Lister, Faith: The Challenger, 1953.

Most of us would never do anything if we knew exactly how difficult the path was going to be! Courage, confidence in your ability to conquer, and a growing faith is life’s reward for each step you take, for each obstacle you overcome along the way of destiny.–Edna Lister, Time: The Adjuster of Life, 1953.

By study and practice you can establish a certain secure identity with a Source that is immutable, invincible, unchangeable and immovable. The Source is ever there to be called upon; it fills all the emptiness, all the loneliness. Security fills the void, confidence and trust take charge, holding you more securely than hope. An inner knowing fills your life with new peace and joy.–Edna Lister, Eternal Youth, 1954, 1987.

Comparison is dangerous, for it produces negativity, undervaluing of your talents or abilities, and loss of confidence.–Edna Lister, March 29, 1954.

Ascension is a refining process of the soul, the moving up from part-time self-confidence to full soul confidence, which is based in divine principle. Self confidence is unimpressive because you can see through it, while soul confidence shows inspires the world. Self-confidence is based in outer things, but soul confidence places its trust in unfailing principle, which never falters.
  Self-confidence must change into soul confidence when selfish desires and self-centered will become soul desires and free will, which form the Christ mind of I AM consciousness, the fusing of desire and will. Self-confidence must change to soul confidence slowly and gradually, or the explosion can burn out the finer soul function of the endocrine glands. Self is always afraid to let go, yet self must become soul confidence to know the glorious freedom from bondage to earth.
  The whole process of Ascension is a travail of soul moving from self confidence, which is egotism, to soul confidence.
  Self confidence splits and cracks when needed most, but soul confidence is immutable because you have ascended to God.–Edna Lister, I Ascend, July 11, 1954.

Confidence is firm trust, assured expectation, unwavering boldness, not authoritative, dictatorial or brash. Your finest confidence is your trust in God. Be unwaveringly confident, with a firm standing and under-standing. Stand under the Light of God.
  Confidence is trust or faith in what you believe, and serves as your ladder as you climb from the old ways of believing into a new life in Christ.–Edna Lister, What Is Confidence? December 11, 1955.

The contrast between self and soul confidence is like the difference between light and dark. Faith’s power moves through trust and builds real soul confidence.–Edna Lister, What Money Cannot Buy, December 1, 1957.

Satisfy your soul in the quiet and confidence of having an undisturbed home and place of rest.–Edna Lister, May 30, 1958.

A conquering attitude makes you untouchable, serene and confident, no matter what anyone says to you.–Edna Lister, November 3, 1958.

When an angel told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, he obeyed instantly because he knew by unconquerable faith that a miracle would come, and it did: A ram caught in the bushes replaced his son as the offering. Abraham had complete confidence that God had the solution, if he would trust Him.–Edna Lister, Faith Unconquerable, November 30, 1958.

A confidence shared under a demand for secrecy can be held secret only while the honor and love of the one demanding the secrecy lasts. When love is spent in secrecy, it becomes the world’s property like an expired copyright. Under law, like a copyright, the time of holding a confidence expires, then it is permissible for the world to know what you have already known. There is no betrayal, just the passing on of needed knowledge. Yet this is no permission or excuse for idle gossip.–Edna Lister, May 14, 1959.

Self confidence creates limitation, but soul confidence begets fortitude.–Edna Lister, Manifestation, May 24, 1959.

To be assured and comforted into confidence in God is essential. To establish your identity with God is critical. Without this confidence and identification, you cannot know your service, or find the Way.–Edna Lister, Lo! I Am With You Always, April 25, 1960.

Your Oversoul will move into your body as confidence when you believe what the Master said: Ask, and it shall be given to you.–Matthew 7:7.
  Soul confidence must be born of faith, the substance of the eternal life sparks that heal and renew.–Edna Lister, What Is Healing? May 17, 1960.

Every soul who comes to earth seeks to identify with something. It may be mundane, as in an earthly love, money or material goods, but everyone seeks something in which to trust, an identity in which he may have confidence.
  When you have little or no faith in your soul, you have little or no confidence or trust in God. Yet you must know that you are a descended creator god before you can grow the faith that God uses you. Then you can truly ascend as a creator god. When you have enough faith and trust in the Father, you become faith and confidence.–Edna Lister, From Adam to Jesus, May 22, 1960.

The secret to reaching complete confidence and trust in God is to put on the whole armor of God—not half, not part, but the whole armor, daily—to withstand and having done all, to stand.–Edna Lister, God Is Safe and Dependable, June 5, 1960.

Faith is enough when backed by divine love and confidence about what must be healed and how to do it.–Edna Lister, Is Faith Enough? June 21, 1960.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.–1 John 5:14-15. God will grant anything you ask, according to His will, if you have confidence in Him.–Edna Lister, Here and Hereafter, October 9, 1960.

You must eliminate fear, and ascend on complete surrender, total selflessness, confidence in and comprehension of God.–Edna Lister, January 29, 1961.

Faith is complete trust and confidence in the Power of God and that His Power is always working. Act as if you have it in the moment you ask. Believe until you know that God’s will for you is good. Jesus said that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. When you trust yourself, God trusts you.–Edna Lister, This One Thing I Do, November 26, 1961.

Accept instantly, then wait upon the Lord in quiet confidence, doing all obediently, using discrimination, discernment.–Edna Lister, April 16, 1962.

Trust in God imparts untouchable, serene soul confidence.–Edna Lister, April 14, 1963.

Exercise the confidence and the quiet assurance in the Power of God to overcome all obstacles, and so it shall be.–Edna Lister, July 22, 1963.

Disturb not a vibration with foolish speech, for quiet and confidence bring fulfillment.–Edna Lister, September 8, 1963.

You feel insecure if you do not acknowledge the Source Overall.–Edna Lister, What Is Nonresistance?, May 23, 1965.

Make your declarations in complete assurance and confidence, without doubt or fear. Trust in God without "variableness or shadow of turning."–Edna Lister, Comprehension and Recompense, November 7, 1965.

Doubt and fear are not faith, complete confidence and trust.–Edna Lister, January 17, 1966.

Many people slip because of a tendency to feel overly self-confident.–Edna Lister, May 5, 1967.

Whatever you must do, do it gently, wisely and with great firmness. Firmness is composed of your complete confidence with God and assurance of your identity as one with God at the Source.–Edna Lister, October 16, 1967.

Serenity and knowing count, as do trust and confidence.
  Our confidence has expanded because God has solved every problem evil has presented to Him as fast as He could without strangling us.–Edna Lister, May 12, 1968.

When you have enough faith and trust in God, you become faith and confidence.–Edna Lister, Let Your Light So Shine, November 24, 1968.

Do not put your trust in a person too weak to be worthy of it.
  Don’t worry about trusting people, trust God!–Edna Lister, May 9, 1971.

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Declarations for Confidence in God

I am now filled with confidence because I trust God. I am now putting all my affairs in God’s hands. I am now leaving my affairs in God’s hands.–Edna Lister, Undated papers, 1931.

Father, please send forth enough of the power of love through me to fulfill all the needs of my family and myself. You can now trust me with the wealth of the Kingdom to distribute to the world. I am now ready to be used to release this inner abundance that shall relieve the whole of humanity. You can now trust me to use all that I need for myself and send the rest forth into the world.–Edna Lister, The Gold Standard, 1934.

For security, declare, God is my security. See yourself as secure in God. Expect your highest good, which is better than the human mind understands. I am secure. See yourself as secure in your present condition or circumstances. Know that the good is there, waiting to reveal itself to you, and bless it, though you don’t see it yet.–Edna Lister, March 20, 1968.

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New Testament on Confidence

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.–2 Corinthians 5:1-8

I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.–Ephesians 3:7-19

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.–Hebrews 10:35-37

Abide in [Christ]; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.–1 John 2:28-29

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.–1 John 3:18-24

This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.–1 John 5:14-15.

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Old Testament on Confidence

Thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.–Isaiah 30:15

It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Psalms 118:8

Jehovah shall be thy confidence Proverbs 3:26

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