Thursday, April 13, 2017

Trust in the Lord - Part 4

'Just trust in the Lord'. How many times has someone said that to you after you have shared a challenging aspect of your life with them? 

They are easy words to say, but in my experience, they are not so easy to live by. As I have shared in previous posts, there are actions we can take to help us increase our trust in the Lord when we are struggling. But we have to be careful that we don't put our trust in doing those actions, but we rather we keep putting our trust in Jesus.

In the Gospel of John, we read,

Then they said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]

Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger]. 

John 6:28-29 AMP

God asks us to believe, cleave to, trust, rely on and have faith in Jesus. That sounds like having a relationship to me. As we walk out our salvation, our relationship with Jesus should deepen. It should not look the same today as it did the day that we were saved. Paul expresses it to the Colossians this way,

For this reason also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things - that you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition). Colossians 1:9-10 AMP

We are to be steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God. This is not just head knowledge, it is also as the Amplified version says, acquaintance and recognition. Knowing the person of God, sensing His presence, recognising His ways, listening to the still small voice and fully receiving His love for us. As we grow in each of these relational areas, so our trust in Jesus grows too. Then, in challenging times we are more readily able to ...

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Proverbs 3:5 AMP

And therefore walk on God's straight and plain path for our lives, experiencing  His favour and blessing, and empowering us to be a greater blessing to others.

In all your ways know, recognise, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:6 AMP

So lets go back to that vulnerable area in our lives where we find it a bit more difficult to trust God, where is your trust level at now? If it is still wavering, why not take some quiet time with God today and talk with Him about the barriers holding you back. Ask Him for His help. Then listen to what He has to say. He has the answers and He wants to see each of us increase our trust in Him, so we can do all that He has called us to do.

 

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