Depending Only on God

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Sometimes, we feel invisible, as if God does not see us or hear our prayers (Isaiah 40:27). We think that He has forgotten us, because our circumstances are out of control and we need His intervention. Yet, He still tarries. Life is not limited to our time on this earth. We do not need to "get ahead" during this lifetime. God honors those who honor Him and despises those who dishonor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).

Our tendency in a trial is to work it out in our own efforts. However, we usually end up making things worse. We are broken, even if we will not admit it, and God calls us to lean on Him (2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6). God looks for those who are living by faith in Him. Even the atheists live by faith in something. However, our trust in God is the only faith, which produces eternal results.

If we put our trust in our self, or in other people, we are depending on the flesh rather than on the Lord. We end up worn out, devastated, poor and lonely. However, if we trust in the Lord, He blesses us wondrously (Habakkuk 2:4; Proverbs 29:25). We are rooted and secure. We flourish and are prepared for life's trials. We have no worries, so we thrive and bear God's fruit in our life (Jeremiah 17:5-8; Galatians 5:22-23).

We can relax and live in God's peace, entering His rest, even in the worst of circumstances. He always works out everything for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Trials are opportunities for God to prove His love for us. If we view them through His eyes, we will see His mighty hand in the midst of them (Psalm 136:12; 1 Peter 5:6).

Prayer:
Father God, teach us not to rely on our human strength or the wisdom of friends, but to follow Your Spirit's leading in every area of our life (Zechariah 4:6). When our activities are inspired by Your Spirit, we see Kingdom results. We depend solely on You for our life and our future. Bring our flesh into submission to Your will.

Thought for the Day:
When we depend on God alone, we put our faith in His faithfulness; since He is our trustworthy defender, we shall never suffer ultimate defeat. - Psalm 62:5-8

A Living Sanctuary

God created the universe for our enjoyment (Genesis 1:1). He built in every provision we would ever require. As we seek Him with all of our heart, He supplies all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Deuteronomy 6:5; Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:33). Through His wisdom and power, His Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (Proverbs 2:3-5). As we diligently seek His face in prayer with a dedicated life, He opens to us every door we need, not to fulfill our desires, but in order to accomplish His plans for our life (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

God created mankind to communicate with Him, to serve Him and to love Him with all of our heart (Deuteronomy 4:29). Our sins put static in the airwaves between God and us. We also weaken our communication with Our Father when we immerse our life in the things of this world. Without our Godly connection, we start to feel negative emotions, such as anxiety and stress. Conversely, as we stop committing those sins and focus instead on Christ in us, God faithfully forgives our sins and our connection is restored (1 John 1:9).

Once our communication with God is reinstated, we feel His peace and joy return to our soul once more (Psalm 5:3). Communication with God is more than talking. It also involves listening. If we spend all of our time talking to God, we limit our relationship with Him. It is all one sided and out of balance. Jesus enjoys deep unity with our Father (John 10:30). This same intimate relationship is available to us as well, because our triune God dwells within us (Colossians 1:27). God lives His life in us through every moment of our day if we focus on the leading of His Spirit (Luke 6:12-13).

Times of crisis and urgency are not the only issues God cares about. He has a plan for each moment of our life, and we find fulfillment only when we walk in His will. Living in God’s will is the happiest place on earth. As we pray without ceasing, we are available to hear God’s voice throughout our day and to follow in His footsteps moment by moment during our entire lifetime. As we feel His love and see His faithfulness in our daily life, praise and worship filled with thanksgiving engulf our days.

A sanctuary is a place that is set apart and sacred, holy and full of worship. God created us as a sanctuary in which He dwells. He lives and walks in us, through us and instead of us. He is our God and we are His people (2 Corinthians 6:16). God’s praises fill our heart and mind, and inundate our thoughts and actions. Each one of us is the temple of God and He dwells within us by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We benefit from that relationship all day long as we allow God’s Spirit to direct our steps through Christ in us (Psalm 16:9, 20:24; Psalm 119:133).

The concerns of the world and the treachery of sin try to steal our victory (Hebrews 3:13). However, if we trust in the Lord with our whole heart and depend upon God’s wisdom to direct our life, then we will walk in His continual victory (Proverbs 3:5-6). When our focus in life changes from the earthly to the eternal, our life has more meaning. We learn to praise God in every situation, even though the outcome seems bleak. He always works out everything, even the negative things, in His timing and for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11).

 
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, whether we experience a life-altering crisis or a simple mundane event, we need You and Your direction. Remind us to make music in our heart to You, Lord (Ephesians 5:19-20). As we gather with our church family, we speak the Word to one another, and sing hymns and make spiritual melodies to You, our mighty God (Ephesians 5:19-20). Put Your new song in our heart so we sing praises in worship to you, not just at church on Sunday, but every day of our life (Psalm 134:2; Psalm 40:3; Psalm 96:1). We dedicate all of our thoughts, words and deeds to Your glory. As we patiently trust in Your direction and provision for our life, we dedicate our life as a living sanctuary to You (1 Peter 2:5).

Thought for the Day:

God is preparing our lives to be a holy and set apart sanctuary for His habitation.