Learning to Trust.
Once again I feel led to talk about the issue of trust. Our society likes to think of themselves as independent and self-reliant so we essentially have forgotten how to trust. But tonight at my moms Bible study at church we studied trust and how it builds the bridge to joy. A book I read a long time ago, One Thousand Gifts, was the topic of discussion.
I am embarrassed to admit, and for a long time I wouldn't admit it, but for sooooo long I relied on food. I not only relied on it but for a while it had become my backbone in life. To the point that when things in life didn't go my way I would just eat rather than getting in the word. I would physically fill myself up rather than allowing God to spiritually fill me up. Essentially my trust was in food, because of my strong mental reign that dictated over my spiritual. But there are other roadblocks such as control selfishness, busyness, and failure. All of these roadblocks we allow to steal our joy and control our spiritual life.
Once again I feel led to talk about the issue of trust. Our society likes to think of themselves as independent and self-reliant so we essentially have forgotten how to trust. But tonight at my moms Bible study at church we studied trust and how it builds the bridge to joy. A book I read a long time ago, One Thousand Gifts, was the topic of discussion.
First, I want you to think of roadblocks in your life that make you too afraid to step out of your comfort zone and trust the will of God. These roadblocks, are the things that blind you to truth, truth that brings about trust. Once you have thought of these things, I want you to write them down on a paper and visualize the words. Then one by one I want you to pray over each word and cross it out. Because we all have to tell satan that he has no control over us, and that our strength comes from God.
I am embarrassed to admit, and for a long time I wouldn't admit it, but for sooooo long I relied on food. I not only relied on it but for a while it had become my backbone in life. To the point that when things in life didn't go my way I would just eat rather than getting in the word. I would physically fill myself up rather than allowing God to spiritually fill me up. Essentially my trust was in food, because of my strong mental reign that dictated over my spiritual. But there are other roadblocks such as control selfishness, busyness, and failure. All of these roadblocks we allow to steal our joy and control our spiritual life.
The author of this book, Ann Voskamp, brought up a lot of good points and one that really convicted my heart was that, every time I choose stress/worry/food over Him I am committing an act of disbelief, a form of practical atheism. Belief is a verb, it is something that you actively do.
So I ask the question, how do you begin to trust? How do you truly believe that God is real and capable of acting in your life????
Well, I know this is going to sound stupid easy but, its as simple as counting your blessings! When you count your blessings you recognize who can be counted on in your life. When you give thanks to God for what He has already done then you can begin to trust Him in the future.
Romans 8:32 [ He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all,
how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? ]
When we get away from our facebooks, twitters, pinterest, cell phones, distractions, etc... and reflect on all that we have, we are able to see all that God has done... There is nothing to lose in trusting Him to continue His work in your heart and life.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding…in other words, let go & let God. Much easier said, then done, for us control freaks!! By leaning on my own interpretation or perception of things, I’m not trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly; I’m trusting in myself. I remember writing this verse in BIG LETTERS & then putting it on the refrigerator in the small apartment I shared with two friends. It was intended to be a constant reminder to myself to consciously choose to trust in Him. That was twenty-nine years ago, I was a 20 yr. old college student and a baby Christian.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, as an older, wiser, & more mature Christian, I am still learning to process what it means to trust in Him. I have figured out that the part about “acknowledging Him in all my ways” is the key to obeying this verse. It requires my full awareness of His presence with me on a moment-by-moment basis, and my determination to surrender complete control as He directs my paths. Again, this is much easier said, then done. Too often, I catch myself anxiously gnawing on my fingernails instead of trusting in the Lord. Your helpful, insightful remarks motivate me to seek Holy Spirit power in my endeavor to yield to His control in an ongoing manner. “Every time I choose stress/worry/food over Him I am committing an act of disbelief, a form of practical atheism...How do you begin to trust? How do you truly believe that God is real and capable of acting in your life???? Well, I know this is going to sound stupid easy but, its as simple as counting your blessings! When you count your blessings you recognize who can be counted on in your life. When you give thanks to God for what He has already done then you can begin to trust Him in the future.” I agree wholeheartedly!
The dictionary is the only place where “worry” should be placed before “worship” Freedom and joy coincide with praising & worshiping God, thanking Him for the things that He has done and for the things He is yet to do. When praise & worship have top priority in my life, I struggle less with worry & my trust in the Lord strengthens!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding…in other words, let go & let God. Much easier said, then done, for us control freaks!! By leaning on my own interpretation or perception of things, I’m not trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly; I’m trusting in myself. I remember writing this verse in BIG LETTERS & then putting it on the refrigerator in the small apartment I shared with two friends. It was intended to be a constant reminder to myself to consciously choose to trust in Him. That was twenty-nine years ago, I was a 20 yr. old college student and a baby Christian.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, as an older, wiser, & more mature Christian, I am still learning to process what it means to trust in Him. I have figured out that the part about “acknowledging Him in all my ways” is the key to obeying this verse. It requires my full awareness of His presence with me on a moment-by-moment basis, and my determination to surrender complete control as He directs my paths. Again, this is much easier said, then done. Too often, I catch myself anxiously gnawing on my fingernails instead of trusting in the Lord. Your helpful, insightful remarks motivate me to seek Holy Spirit power in my endeavor to yield to His control in an ongoing manner. “Every time I choose stress/worry/food over Him I am committing an act of disbelief, a form of practical atheism. How do you begin to trust? How do you truly believe that God is real and capable of acting in your life???? Well, I know this is going to sound stupid easy but, its as simple as counting your blessings! When you count your blessings you recognize who can be counted on in your life. When you give thanks to God for what He has already done then you can begin to trust Him in the future.” I agree wholeheartedly!
The dictionary is the only place where “worry” should be placed before “worship” Freedom and joy coincide with praising & worshiping God, thanking Him for the things that He has done and for the things He is yet to do. When praise & worship have top priority in my life, I worry less and my trust in the Lord strengthens!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding…in other words, let go & let God. Much easier said, then done, for us control freaks!! By leaning on my own interpretation or perception of things, I’m not trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly; I’m trusting in myself. I remember writing this verse in BIG LETTERS & then putting it on the refrigerator in the small apartment I shared with two friends. It was intended to be a constant reminder to myself to consciously choose to trust in Him. That was twenty-nine years ago, I was a 20 yr. old college student and a baby Christian.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, as an older, wiser, & more mature Christian, I am still learning to process what it means to trust in Him. I have figured out that the part about “acknowledging Him in all my ways” is the key to obeying this verse. It requires my full awareness of His presence with me on a moment-by-moment basis, and my determination to surrender complete control as He directs my paths. Again, this is much easier said, then done. Too often, I catch myself anxiously gnawing on my fingernails instead of trusting in the Lord. Your helpful, insightful remarks motivate me to seek Holy Spirit power in my endeavor to yield to His control in an ongoing manner. “Every time I choose stress/worry/food over Him I am committing an act of disbelief, a form of practical atheism. How do you begin to trust? How do you truly believe that God is real and capable of acting in your life???? Well, I know this is going to sound stupid easy but, its as simple as counting your blessings! When you count your blessings you recognize who can be counted on in your life. When you give thanks to God for what He has already done then you can begin to trust Him in the future.” I agree wholeheartedly!
The dictionary is the only place where “worry” should be placed before “worship” Freedom and joy coincide with praising & worshiping God, thanking Him for the things that He has done and for the things He is yet to do. When praise & worship have top priority in my life, I worry less and my trust in the Lord strengthens!