Trusting God

If someone asked me what is the greatest truth that I have ever learned, it would be learning to trust in God. Trust is the basis of faith, it is the basis of growth, it is the basis of our strength, not in ourselves, but in Him. It is also our hardest battle because it fights against our flesh, our old ways, our old thoughts, our old fears. Trusting is also our greatest joy.

Jesus is who God our Father wants us to trust in. Trust is really what believing is. It is such a simple truth but oh the difference it makes. My newest grand daughter loves her Papa. I see it in her eyes and when she runs to me with her arms outstretched. It is such a beautiful thing and it is what God wants us to do with Him. Trusting God is interwoven in so many stories and words of Jesus that are quoted in the Bible that it isn’t funny. Remember in Matthew 18:3 where Jesus says that unless we were like little children we could not enter into the Kingdom of God? What do little children do that we as adults lose as time goes by. They trust, unreservedly. I’m sure that when we learn to trust God like a little child does, it brings God joy just like it does to us when a child trusts us. And would we ever consider doing anything to destroy that trust that a child displays? As Christians, you know the answer. How much more so with God.

Here is a link that lists 48 trust verses in the Bible” https://dailyverses.net/trust

And how is the practical application of learning to trust in God worked out in our lives?  I will list 7 things that you can learn to do:

• Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) It’s not about us, it’s about Him. Don’t depend on your resources, your own capabilities, depend on Him, depend on His capabilities. Depend on His love for you.
• “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ” (Psalm 55:17) Let God know what troubles you, every thought, every fear, every doubt. Learn to cry out to Him. Know that He hears you. Know that He will answer, in His own time, in His own way, and it will be a complete response, usually much more than we have asked for. Oh the stories I could tell you.
• “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” (Proverbs 3:7) Sometimes, the only way to live the life God wants us to live is by separating ourselves from the bad influences that keep dragging us down. Flee from evil. The example I frequently use is, if I am having a problem with eating too much food, I have learned it is not wise to sit in front of an open refrigerator. God will let you know what He wants you to separate yourself from, do it. This works the best when we start pursuing something else that lifts us up in it’s place.
• John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Put God first in your life. Understand that everything that we do, everything, needs to come under His Lordship. The words that come out of our mouth, the thoughts that come into our minds, the desires of our hearts. This is not easy. I don’t think this one ever stops, at least while we are here in our bodies. It is only when you honestly try to do this that you become aware of how often our words, thoughts and even our actions are not in line with God’s will. This is humbling. Fear not, God knew all about us when He called us.
• “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) This is a biggie. Check Yourself by God’s Word. Can’t over emphasize this one. We aren’t so good at evaluating ourselves. We will go to great lengths to excuse our behaviour, our actions, and our sins. Nothing, nothing, cuts through all the untruths that we hold onto like God’s word. This is the bread we need to feed on everyday. Not really an option if you want to grow. Ignore this one at your own peril.
• Romans 8:5-6 “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit. There is a close correlation with listening to the Holy Spirit and spending time in God’s Word. He will let you know when you are crossing the line, He will bring it to your awareness. Take it to heart. It could be a negative word you are saying about someone. our attitude, our fears, our hopes. Acknowledge it in prayer and commit it to God and earnestly try to be mindful of it so that it is diminished or eradicated. And the Holy Spirit’s leading is not just negatives, many times He will let you know that He has a holy love for someone you meet, or to speak out in faith to someone. Learn to be sensitive to His leading. The Holy Spirit never shouts, He speaks softly. Don’t miss it.
• Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Learn to rest in the Lord. This is also a biggie. It totally correlates with trusting God. You can’t trust if you don’t rest in God. The Sabbath is for every day (7 as in 7th day, 7 is the number of completion). Picture two oxen that are yoked together with the yoke collar. You are in one and Jesus is in the other. He does the heavy lifting, He does the guiding, He determines when to start and when to stop. You’ve basically alone to walk beside Him. The Bible verse that comes to my mind when I read this portion of Matthew is Philippians 1:6 which reads: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Notice who began a good work in you and notice who will carry it through to completion. He does. Rest in this. I have to remind myself of this all the time. I am where I am supposed to be and I am doing what I am supposed to be doing right now. He will let me know when this changes. In the meantime, I rest in Him. That is what trust is, resting in, believing in, having faith in. It’s what it is all about.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!