ESPN.com polled 40 NBA experts asking them to give their confidence level based on key questions surrounding the top teams heading into the restart.
Questions that were considered include:
- Can the Houston Rockets’ micro-ball approach work?
- Will the Los Angels Lakers find an effective closing lineup?
- Do the Toronto Raptors have enough to take down the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks once again?
- Will the Clippers be able to figure out their on-court chemistry?
ESPN.com had voters determine their confidence level based on how effectively they believe each team will end up answering the questions ranging from 0% to 100%.
The article then provides the rankings for teams having the most confidence to least confidence with the Clippers finishing first and the Raptors finishing 10th.
This is a fun list to examine as we await the NBA to resume, but today let’s unpack our own “Confidence Index” about our view of God by asking ourselves these questions:
- How confident are we in God?
- How confident are we that God loves us and hears our prayers?
- How confident are we that God’s Word is true?
- Do we have confidence that God is faithful to provide and deliver on His promises?
- Are we confident His way is better than ours?
- Are we confident He will comfort us in our afflictions?
- Are we confident in His power that lives within us?
When we waver on the confidence index, the following verses can strengthen our confidence level:
Psalm 118:8 (ESV) gives us the promise, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
Galatians 6:9 (ESV) encourages us with these words: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”
We can have the same confidence Paul had when he wrote in Philippians 1:6 (ESV), “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
As we think about our confidence level in God, are we closer to 0% or 100%? Do we fully trust and believe that God is good and faithful and can do the impossible?
Even when God seems silent or we’re waiting on Him, we must continue to have confidence in Him and cling to Jeremiah 17:7 (ESV): “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”
Ultimately, let’s remember what 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NLT) says about why we are confident: “We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.”
We know that God loves us and saved us, so we can have great confidence now and forever because of the team we’re on and the One we’re following.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know at times I doubt and lack confidence that You will work things out in my life. Please help me trust You and Your Word so that I can live with great confidence and remember how much You love me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
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In what ways do you lack confidence in God?
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How does having confidence in God change our outlook on life and our circumstances?
