OUTLINE:

“put no confidence in the flesh”
It is wise to place ample emphasis on “no” in this statement. Even one iota of this brand of confidence increases our risk of stumbling. Good intention is to rid our lives of it... all of it!

“not having a righteousness of my own”
This really requires a bit of introspection for every believer in Christ. Our flesh is 100% self-righteous, always (there’s never a time when we can tame it). Temptation is constant.

“but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”
Contrary to self-righteousness is Christ- righteousness, the mainstay of the “new creature” (2Co 5:17). This righteousness bears good fruit, by grace through faith, such as confidence (aka, having faith that you are right before God).

“forgetting what lies behind”
Yesterday is gone. You can’t get it back. It’s true, we can/should learn from our mistakes, but we shouldn’t perseverate on them. Despondency results when we buy the lie that our past defines our future. We have a “living hope” (1Pe 1:3) that we are entitled to as children of God!

Jas 1:5 [Message]
If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.

Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;

1Pe 3:15
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; [begin this process with yourself!]

Pr 3:26
For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.

The Source of Confidence
Jesus is the only person worthy of possessing self-confidence. Our confidence must be “in Him,” not in ourselves. We might call this “Christ- confidence”. (ref: 1Co 2:16)

The approach to truth dictates what you find.

“while we have the opportunity, let us do good”
Life is short. God is good. Let us take advantage of what little time we have on this Earth to bring glory to the One who saves us. Let us avoid the trappings of creature-credit (e.g., self-confidence instead of Christ-confidence).

“you will be like God” (Gen 3:5)
This is Satan's way of saying, "You'll have your OWN wisdom and you won't need to consult with God anymore!"

Sin is the cause of misery.

2Co 5:7
for we walk by faith, not by sight (this is a supernaturally empowered “walk”, complements of the Spirit of Christ)

“Walking” With Power
Faith has power because the Spirit endows it. (ref: 1Co 2:3-5; 2Th 1:11-12; 1Pe 1:3-5)

“Walking” With Power
It's true that our confidence must be rooted in faith in Christ, but it's also true that for said faith to animate us (to enable us to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord" - Col 1:10), it must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

If our faith fails under pressure...but God is omnipotent...what does that say about our supposed faith???

The Lord Is Our Confidence
Our confidence is rooted in faith. It is through faith by the power of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ) that we obtain said confidence. In other words, it is the Spirit who empowers our Christ- confidence (ala Ro 15:13; Php 4:13; Col 1:9-12).

Ro 1:17
For in [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Is 32:17
And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness [also translated
“the effect of righteousness” or “the wages of righteousness."], quietness and confidence forever.

The Lord Is Our Confidence
Confidence in the Spirit’s power to transform us is tantamount to confidence in Christ.