PRAYING LIKE JESUS DAY 26

GOD WANTS OUR TRUST

 “I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” – Philip Yancey

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

Though this proverb is one of Christianity’s most popular verses, it definitely isn’t the easiest to live out. Trusting God in everything does not come easily. We’ve all experienced disappointments with others and perhaps we’ve even been disappointed with God. Trusting God may not come naturally, and hesitations may arise, but ultimately trust is a choice we need to make, and a journey that God will take you on as you walk with him. Nothing and no one is as sure as the trustworthiness of our Heavenly Father.

“No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love” Psalm 147:11

What does it look like to trust God? It means taking him at his word. It means learning to listen to his voice and acting on what we believe he says to us. As Proverbs 3:5-6 explains, trusting the Lord means seeking his will and taking the path he shows you, even when you don’t understand. It can be daunting and risky, but listening to God and acting on what he says is how trust is built. Even Jesus had to decide to place his trust in the Father as he walked out the life he was destined to live. He had enough trust in the Father’s leading and plans that he was willing to go to the cross.

Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” (Luke 23:46, MSG)

Jesus chose trust even as it was costing him his life. Even in that very dark moment, he didn’t consider his trust and obedience a defeat, but a victory. Jesus died with a shout of triumph on his lips. He did not whisper, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He shouted it like a victor completing his last battle with the enemy in a triumphant victory. That’s the kind of trust we’re after. That no matter what it looks like, we know we’re more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39).

Jesus trusted completely, knowing that whatever God had in mind on the other side was worth it. Have you entrusted God with your family, future, health, and everything else? The greatest victory we will ever experience as children of God is complete and total surrender.

Questions for Contemplation

• In what areas do I already trust God? How did I gain this trust?
• In what areas do I feel like I can’t trust God right now?
• Are there things I used to not trust God with in the past that I now trust him with completely? How did I get to this point of trust?

Prayer Points

• For God to let you experience him in new ways so that you can develop more trust.
• Severed relationships to be healed and restored.