Can God Be Trusted?

Have you ever been at a crossroad - not sure which way to go? Is it all a matter of chance? Do all paths lead to the same place? As we come to the end of our study on trusting God, we see the promise from Proverbs 3:6b - "He will direct our paths."

Can God really be trusted to have our best interest in mind?  Is there anything required on our part? In fact, yes there is. We see in the first part of Proverbs 3:5, we are commanded to 1) Trust God with all our heart. 2) Don't lean on our own understanding of God and situations and 3) Acknowledge and consult with God about everything, THEN He will direct and make our paths straight.

In order for us to know the paths God wants us to follow, we have to be willing to:

1) Be Taught - David asks God to "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths." (Psalm 25:4)Isaiah 2:3 says "...He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." God will make His paths known to us, we just need to ask and be willing to be taught. Are you teachable?

2) Be Lead - God wants to lead us and He needs us to be willing to follow Him. "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths" (Prov. 4:11).  Do you trust God to lead you along the best pathway for your life? Are you leadable?

3) Be Guided - Isaiah 42:16a tells us that God "will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them..."  That's where our faith and trust in God comes into play. Our entire life is a "blind and unfamiliar path" and we are in need of a guide. Are you guidable?

David gives us a perfect example of God's trustworthiness when we dedicate ourselves to being taught, lead and guided by Him. "You (God) have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:11).

God can be trusted. God wants us to lean on Him when things don't make sense. God deserves to be acknowledged in all our ways and God desires to lead us along straight paths...paths that take us where He wants us to go! Are you willing to be taught, lead and guided?

Are You Trustworthy?

Can you be trusted with a secret? Are you reliable? Are you willing to complete something you promised you'd do? Week 3's verse - "In all your ways, acknowledge Him..." we see the importance of recognizing God in everything we do in order to fully trust Him.

But what about God's trust for us? Are we trustworthy when it comes to what He's given to us? We never really own anything, it's just a loan. It was God's property before we arrived and He'll lend it to someone else after we're gone.

Our selfish culture says, "If I don't own it, why should I take care of it?" Those who understand God's will and ways live by a higher standard. Because God owns it, we should take even better care of it. God's Word tells us in I Cor. 4:2, "Those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust."

When we make the most of what God has given us, He promises three rewards: (Matt. 25:21)

1) Commendation - "Well done, good and faithful (and trustworthy) servant."

2) Promotion - "I will put you in charge of many things."

3) Celebration - "Come and share in your master's happiness."

How well are you using what God has loaned you? What about your time - are you using it wisely? What about your talent - are you using it to bring glory to God? What about your treasure - are you using it to benefit others?

There is a direct correlation between how you use your time, talent and treasure and the quality of your life. So the question is: could the way you're handling them be preventing God from trusting you with more blessings?

Worry or Concern ~ Is There a Difference?

What are you depending on to give you direction? Who are you seeking wisdom from? Where is your own understanding leading you? Week 2 of our In God We Trust...Or Do We? study looks at "leaning on our own understanding."  I find that when I try to figure everything out (even God), it can lead me to places I know God doesn't want me to go...how about you?

Worry is one of the by-products of trying to lean on or depend on what we know and understand. When our knowledge of a situation or the future is limited, we feel the need to worry in hopes that we'll gain more insight! Jesus specifically tells us in Matthew 6:25 not to worry about anything in our life; He's got it all under control. He then goes on to ask in v. 27, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

Sometimes in our attempt to not let anyone know that we worry (i.e. disobey God), we disguise it by saying that we're "concerned" about someone or something. Is there a difference between worry and concern? Yes there is! Worry has no benefits whatsoever. Whereas, concern can be very beneficial...Let's look at a few:

Worry immobilzes us emotionally and often, physically.
Concern causes us to take action.

Worry focuses on self and its' fears and anxieties.
Concern focuses on others and their needs.

Worry has a negative effect on our health.
Concern produces a positive effect on our well-being.

Worry ignores relationships by withdrawing from others.
Concern ignites relationships by reaching out to others.

Worry stifles productivity.
Concern stimulates productive action.

Worry is self-serving.
Concern is others serving.

Worry takes our control.
Concern gives control to God.

What are you spending your time and energy on - worry or concern? You can worry or you can trust God; you can't do BOTH!  What's your choice today? The next time you sense the need to worry, ask yourself - "Who am I trusting in? Myself and my limited understanding or God and His infinite understanding?"

COMMENT: Share with us what you have learned about the effects of worry in your own life.

In God We Trust...Or Do We?

We say we trust God, but do our actions show it? We want to trust God with every area of our lives, but what keeps us from actually doing it? Trusting someone we can't see can be a challenge. Trusting in something we can't touch or feel is difficult. But are those good enough reasons not to do it?

I recently took a survey where I asked women to tell me in what area of your life do you struggle most with trusting God? Their responses were not surprising, as they reflect many things I struggle with as well. The results showed that #1was money, followed by future, family, health, relationships and safety. Questioning pain, affliction, misfortune and situations that don't make sense topped the list as well.

What exactly does trust mean? Webster's defines it as: to believe; to have faith in; to have hope in. These are all great things we should be doing and showing God - especially if we say we love and want to obey Him. Our key verses for this study are from Proverbs 3:5-6 - where we're not given a suggestion or helpful hint, but a command! Let's look at part one: Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart (actions).....

What keeps us from trusting (believing, having faith in, having hope in) God with ALL our heart (actions)?

1) Our need to control everything.

In our attempt to try to "fix" other people, situations, circumstances, etc., we are in fact showing God we do not trust Him to fix what needs fixing. (In some cases the person who needs the most fixing is us!) God wants us to live by faith, not head knowledge. In our effort to control everything, we want to know how everything is going to work out - ahead of time. This is not faith. This is not trust. This is not obedience.

2) The choices we make.

In Isaiah 26:3. we're told that God will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is steadfast, because they trust in Him. A steadfast mind is not confused, but confident. It knows the right choices to make. Choices that will please God. Choices that allow our actions to prove our faith in God - regardless if we understand all the facts or not.

3) We put our confidence in the wrong people/places.

Are you putting your trust in the wrong things? Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." We can't say we trust God and at the same time, hold tight to our money and possessions. God can be trusted with all the people and things we value most. We can't trust man to come to our rescue like God can.

Psalm 118:8 is in the exact middle of the Bible. It can be considered the central verse of the entire Word of God. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man!" How appropriate!

Here's a great quote to think about - "Don't trust to hold God's hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding and you do the trusting!"

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  Share with us an area you struggle with when it comes to trusting God. Do you relate with any (or all )of the 3 reasons we looked at?

A Significant Life - What's It Look Like?

We all want to live a life of meaning, purpose and significance, but do we really know what it looks like? As we wrap up our study of John 10:10, Jesus tells us He came to do the total opposite of what the Thief came to do...."I came that you may have life and have it to the full (in abundance, rich, satisfying, overflowing,)".

What does a significant, full, rich, satisfying, abundant life look like? Is it even possible to attain?

1) A life of giving. The Thief came to steal; Jesus came to give. He is our example of a life of giving and serving. Mark 10:45 reminds us that "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Life, clearly states that "Significance comes from serving others." Are you living a life of giving or just receiving?

2) A life of living. The Thief came to kill; Jesus came that we might live. He didn't die to save us from our sins so that we might sit around waiting to get to heaven. He wants us to live while we're here. According to Colossians 1:10-12, He wants us to bear fruit, grow in the knowledge of God, be strong with God's power to endure and joyfully give thanks to the Father. Are you truly living or just counting down the days?

3) A life of winning. The Thief came to destroy; Jesus came to give us the victory. A significant life is not lived in defeat. Jesus knows a victorious life is possible, if we depend on Him and His power. We must recognize who is fighting our battles. "For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory!" (Deut. 20:4) Are you living in victory or content with defeat?

A significant life is possible! It's about giving and serving. It's about living, not just surviving. It's about being victorious. Claim the life Jesus gave for you to live - not the one the Thief wants to destroy!

Victory is Yours...Claim It!!

Victory is yours today...are you claiming it or accepting another day of defeat?  The Father of Lies would love nothing more than to see you continue to be distracted, discouraged and ultimately, destroyed. But we do have hope. There is a way out of the Enemy's trap.

John 1:14 says that Jesus came from the Father, full of grace and truth. If we want to claim the victory, we need to believe the Father of Truth. Here's 3 steps that will get us started. I have to choose to do these every day - how about you?

1) When we are distracted, we must re-focus.
If we've lost our focus on God and have turned it onto ourselves, we must re-focus! In order to claim your victory, ask God to "guide me in your truth and teach me...for my hope is in you all day long." (Ps. 25:5) We have to choose to focus on being guided and taught by God and to focus our hope in Him all day long.

2) When we feel discouraged, we must renew.
If we find ourselves in the Thief's pit of despair, we need to renew: Our mind (Romans 12:2) and not allow ourselves to dwell on our problems. Our commitment (2 Cor. 4:16) and not lose heart. How encouraging to know that our strength is renewed when we hope/wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).

3) When we've been defeated, we must be revived and restored.
When we give up the fight and accept defeat, the Enemy thinks he's won. But we don't have to stay down for the count. God wants to revive and restore us. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:25, "I lie in dust (despair, defeat, depression); revive me by your word."  Don't stay in the dust - let God lift you up!

The victory is yours today. Are you ready to take these steps and claim it?

Next Week: The Father of Life (John 10:10b)

Father of Lies vs. Father of Truth

Father of Lies vs. Father of Truth  (Part One)

Lately, I've encountered an onslaught of lies. Not lies about my character or myself spread by others. But lies that only I hear within my own head. And the sad thing is, I know I'm not alone. I know others fight this battle every day! Unfortunately, it's not something we like to talk about. We don't want others to know we have weaknesses. Questions. Doubts and fears. But we can igonore them; we must recognize where this lies come from.....

According to John 10:10a, the main goal of the Father of Lies (John 8:42-45) is to steal, kill and destroy. In order to accomplish this goal, the Thief (Satan, Enemy, Devil, Deceiver, Serpent, etc) uses a 3-step process!

1) Steal your focus by getting you distracted from God, His Will and His ways. We allow our mind to be consumed with busyness, lies, selfish ambitions, sin, life's challenges, hurts, disappointments, past failures, etc. If the Father of Lies can get our focus off of God and onto ourselves, Step One has been completed!

2) Kill your dreams by getting you discouraged. Step Two leads us to a place of depression, sadness, worry and anxiety. We start to believe the Thief's lies and doubt God really has a plan and purpose for our lives. We become angry, hopeless and weak. And when dreams die, so does the dreamer.

3) Destroy your life by allowing you to accept defeat. When we see defeat coming, we give up. We quit learning. We stop growing. We seclude ourselves from others and withdraw from living. When we get to this point, Step Three has been accomplished and the Thief's mission has been successful.

Are you believing the lies of the Enemy? Have you allowed the lies he's spreading to distract and discourage you? Do you fear that defeat is close at hand?

Hang on. There is hope! Tomorrow, I'll share the 3-step process we can use to gain our own victory by believing the Father of Truth!