self-confidence vs. pride

i have been pondering much lately on the worldly definition of self-confidence vs the biblical definition of pride. Before i would not have equated the two. I would have said that you can be self-confident, a good quality to have and instill in your children, without being proud. But now i believe that cannot be the case. Paul says in Philippians 3:3 that he puts no confidence in the flesh. My confidence should only come from Him. So what does that look like, this God-confidence? I sometimes can't tell the difference between striving in my own strength and laboring according to the power that works within me (Col 1:29). When am i operating on my own strength and thus having self-confidence, and when am i working with His power? I am learning that it comes down to dependence. Just as the branch is totally dependent on the vine for any source of strength or life (John 15), so i must be dependent on him for even my daily breath. I know i can do nothing without him, but do i act like it? or do i go about my day without a thought of how much i need him? am i desperately and hopelessly dependent on him? it is a paradigm shift of thought and attitude for me. we are taught to be self-sufficient not needing anyone else; that transfers to our Lord as well. So he is teaching me that my self-confidence is nothing more than pride. After all, all my abilities, my gifts, my language, all that make me who I am, are from the Father of lights who gives every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). so without Him, i a really nothing anyway. Pride is so deceitful to think that we are something when we are not. So i am learning to root out this sin of pride that rears its ugly head in the form of justified self-confidence and clothe myself with humility,which i am learning from my fellow Yoke-bearer, who is gentle and humble in heart. (Matt 11:28-30)

Not a lighter!

Our guard who lives up on site in Bolu was looking for a lighter. As he searched in the drawers in the office, he came across what looked like a lighter. so he pulled the lever and it sprayed. Soon he was one the phone with Brad in a panic! "My wife and I are dying, I think we need to go to the hospital!! I think we have been poisoned; we can't breathe!" After Brad calmed him down and asked him the details of what happened, he realized that what the guard grabbed for was not indeed a lighter but bear mace!