Today I continue our new series entitled, “Power of Fellowship.” Yesterday we looked at Proverbs 3:5,6 from two translations: the New King James Version and the Easy to Read Version. Today we will read it from The Message Bible.
(Proverbs 3:5,6 The Message Bible)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Proverbs 3:5,6 is the first scripture passage I memorized as a new convert. I was 23 years old. I was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. I was full of energy, but also full of pride, and I needed to learn how to trust God. It was hard for me to “give up control” of my life. My life, to that point, had been based on my decisions. I was learning that if I was going to truly walk with God and allow Him to walk with me, I had to learn to base my decisions on God, His Word and His Spirit. I am 46 years young today. I lived 23 years without God and I have had the benefit was living 23 years with Him. I can say without equivocation that the last 23 years have been much better than the first 23, and it is because I have learned to trust God, even when I am not sure what He is doing!
2. Trust is critical. John Maxwell, in Winning with People, taught “The Bedrock Principle,” which states that trust is the foundation for any relationship. This series is about developing and enjoying true fellowship with God; about having an intimate relationship with Him. To have a relationship with God you must learn how to trust Him.
3. Learning to trust God is not easy at first, but when you consider God’s character and track record, it should make it easier. Trust is established when words and deeds are congruent. Trust is also developed when people feel safe and secure. From that standpoint God is THE most trustworthy being you establish a relationship with. His words and deeds are always congruent. He always says what He means and means what He says. He has never (ever) promised something and then not done it. He has never failed. He is completely flawless and therefore, completely trustworthy. Further, you can rest in the fact that He has your best interest at heart. He made plans for you before the world began and His plans are better than yours. So when you consider all of this, you should settle the trust issue in your heart. God can be trusted!
4. Faith and trust are not the same thing. Faith begins where the will of God is know. If God’s will is clear, you can release your faith for His will to come to pass. But even when you don’t know what God is doing, even when your future seems unclear to you, if you have a relationship with God you will be able to trust Him. Because you know that He will never hurt you and He is out to bless you.
5. Now that we have established a foundation for trust and what it means to trust God, let’s go back to what Solomon said in Proverbs 3:5,6. He said, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” You are walking around with God on the inside of you. He is completely trustworthy. He knows more than you’ll ever know. His love is unconditional. His plans for your life are settled in heaven. So before you start making decisions and performing actions, you owe it to yourself to check with God. You don’t have to go anywhere to find Him. He is living on the INSIDE of you. Talk to Him. Walk with Him. Enjoy real fellowship with Him. If you do, and you start doing what He tells you to do, you will live an amazing life. It will be the life you were born to live and it is birthed out of fellowship with God.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me the importance of trusting You. You are worthy of my trust. You made plans for me before the world began. You are tirelessly committed to me and to those plans. Your track record is flawless. You have always said what You meant and meant what You said. You have never failed me and You never will. So while I live by faith… releasing my faith for the things You have clearly spoken to me, I also live with an unwavering trust. I have faith in what I know You said. I release my faith when I know Your will. But even when I don’t, and You have not spoken to me clearly yet, I still trust You. I don’t try to figure things out on my own. I don’t live my life based on my own decisions. I trust You everyday in every way. I listen for Your voice everywhere I go and in everything I do. Living this way, I allow You to direct my path. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
