Trust God - Summer Break pt. 9
We will be wrapping up our Summer Series over the next couple of episodes, as we continue to shift our way of “thinking and being” to Trusting God and the Kingdom way of thinking -through the discovery of a few simple tweaks we can make. By learning to Trust God and not our way or the world’s way, we will gain power over our emotions and feelings and exchange them for peace, joy, and being fully satisfied. Would you like a life that satisfies your soul. Your inner person?
Diana’s Notes
Welcome to the 9th episode of our summer series on Heartfelt Conversations with Diana! It’s FALL, YA’LL… Can you believe it? Over the next couple of episodes, we will wrap up our series on shifting our focus away from grumbling, complaining, controlling, and a lack of trust in God—by learning to trust God, gaining power over our emotions and feelings, and exchanging them for peace, joy, and a soul that is fully satisfied. Would you like a life that satisfies your soul, your inner person?
In our next few brief conversations, we’ll talk about empowering ourselves to live a more peaceful, joyful, and less stressful life by choosing a positive attitude over a negative one. Let’s keep practicing how to take control of our emotions and feelings and not allow them to steer us down the wrong path.
We’ve been studying the Israelites and their complaining attitude towards God and Moses when they should have been filled with gratitude for being rescued from slavery. Last week, I started sharing how I began my faith walk by simply trusting God:
Trusting that God would provide.
Trusting that God would protect.
Trusting that God would show me the way as I walked.
But that is the hard part—trusting as He shows. Learning to trust in Him, even when we don’t have all the answers. Remember, it is in Him we are to trust. But that is hard. It’s hard to start out on the journey without knowing all the steps. What if we think we know a better way, or a shortcut that could save time? What if we don’t like the route He chose?
In other words, it isn’t really trust, is it? When we have to know, when we can’t let it go, when we want to know everything that is going to happen before we step out—then we are still trying to control the wheel. We can’t drive and be trusting God to drive at the same time; it causes a very stressful ride. And if we are on this ride we call life, then let's at least enjoy it. Trying to be in control all the time does not bring enjoyment. It brings more stress, more anxiety, more fear, more frustration, more sleepless nights, and dreaded days. What a way to live! I was guilty of being blind for years because my eyes were fixed on myself. I felt abandoned, and the whole time, God was trying to bring me into the most significant relationship I would ever have—in this life and my eternal life.
Just like me, God was trying to bring His people, the Israelites, into a relationship with Him. God knew the people would need to lean on Him, rely on Him, and find their confidence and hope in His hands if they were to build enough trust in Him through their experiences. The journey.
God is much more interested in our journey with Him than in giving us our way. Yes, God wants to bless His children. He is a good Father, and He gives good gifts. But, like any father, He wants His children to trust Him so He can properly protect them and lead them to a good life.
God wanted the Israelites to learn to trust Him to provide for all of their daily needs, no matter what they might be. He was establishing a bond, unity. Unity is very important to God. God does not like division. He knows that to be divided is to be in a weakened position. That is why it is so important to have a firm foundation in God’s word so that we are able to stand firm, united under One Sovereign God. And love must be the center of all our decisions. That is why we must trust God; He is LOVE, and only He knows His Truth—from our perspective.
The answer to more empowerment in our lives is not through force, control, fear, or entitlement. We gain power through peace, and we gain peace by following God. We learn to follow God by following His Son Jesus, whom He sent to us to pay for all of our sins—the choices we make against God’s Word.
Jesus also came to teach us about God’s Kingdom by teaching His disciples, and then He (Jesus) left us His Spirit, the Helper, because He knew from practical experience as a man that without the help of the Holy Spirit—God’s Spirit—we will always be defeated by our true enemy, who hates mankind. He seeks to devour and destroy.
1 Peter 5:8 (AMP) warns us:
"Be sober (well-balanced and self-disciplined), be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, fiercely hungry, seeking someone to devour."
But when we are trusting in God, seeking Him, and fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can be strong, bold, and secure, knowing that God’s word tells us to find rest and comfort in our relationship with Him.
We are told in Romans 8:31:
"What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be (successful) against us?"
God IS for you—God loves you! If you want more peace, less strife; more contentment, less resentment; more joy, less angst—the answer will not be found in anything visible in this world. It only exists with a surrendered life to Jesus, believing God is I AM, Creator of the World, the ONLY ONE TRUE SOVEREIGN GOD, and learning to be led by the Holy Spirit. That is the only path to have a victorious, satisfying, and fulfilling life—now and for all eternity!
God was performing unnatural provisions before the Israelites' very eyes, and yet they still would not trust God for their basic daily needs. How was God ever going to get them to trust Him for bigger battles and future hardships if they wouldn’t even trust Him for basic food and water?
How can God prepare us for future storms in our lives? Being a Christian, following Christ, does not mean the absence of trials and troubles. But from personal experience, I can testify that the trials and troubles appear much smaller and easier to deal with when you look through the lens of Christ and not your own. PLUS, as we’ve talked about in past episodes, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we have 24-hour access, 365 days a year, to our Life Coach. He is here to encourage, equip, and lead us down the greenest pastures God has already planned for our journey. But it is up to us to cooperate and trust His way.
That is why we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He changes our perspective on how we see things, even if the actual circumstances haven’t changed. A mountain can appear to be a molehill, able to be climbed with ease. But without being led by the Holy Spirit and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, most often, at least from my experiences, the molehills become mountains—cold, hard, dangerous mountains with rough terrain and little ease.
A Spirit-led life aligns our perspective with what God’s word says, not the world. That is walking by faith—trusting God.
Remember—2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) says:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight (living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises).”
How have we been doing with Philippians 2:12, for anyone who joined last week?
The verse says to "...continue to work out your salvation..."
Who has been actively pursuing spiritual maturity? The AMP Bible describes "working out" our own salvation as:
"[that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]."
Last week, I shared Exodus 16:4, one of the verses God gave me as He called me to walk by faith—to trust Him for my daily ration. Next week, I will share another verse God spoke to my heart on taking another step of trust and faith, that He not only will lead but will lead with ease and comfort.
The Message Bible reads Exodus 16:4 this way:
"God said to Moses, 'I’m going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day’s ration. I’m going to test them to see if they’ll live according to MY teaching or not.'"
There are many reasons God tells us to trust Him and follow His ways. In Proverbs, He tells us how to bring health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones:
Proverbs 3:5-8:
"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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
God is good. He is trustworthy. He will never fail you. He loves you—right now! But He warns us to TRUST HIM, not to be wise in our own eyes.
I hope these conversations inspire someone to be encouraged to step out in a faith walk with Jesus today. It is placing our faith and trust in God that guards our hearts and minds and directs our steps. And as we step out in faith, His Spirit leads and guides us into a deeper walk with Him. The Holy Spirit will empower your journey to do more than you could ever imagine!
Meditate on Proverbs 3. Let go of your opinions and your way of always having to do things, and trust God and His faithfulness. See if you don’t find healing in His word and more joy in your life!
From a prayer found in Ephesians 1: 16-20
I have not stopped giving my thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called them, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same mighty strength He exerted when He raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms. Amen!
I pray that you may come to be strengthened in your inner personality through faith in knowing Jesus intimately and personally for yourselves.
May God strengthen you, help you, and uphold you with His righteous right hand!
God Bless! And see you next week!
Songs to inspire you
Micah Tyler - Praise The Lord (Official Music Video)
Jonny Diaz - "Beauty of the Cross" (Official Lyric Video)
Scriptures from this week's Podcast
1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)
"Be sober [well-balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, fiercely hungry, seeking someone to devour."
Romans 8:31
"What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?"
Proverbs 3:5-8
"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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP)
"For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]."
Exodus 16:4
"God said to Moses, 'I’m going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day’s ration. I’m going to test them to see if they’ll live according to MY Teaching or not.'"
Remember:
Exodus 14:14
"The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."
Reflection:
In Christ, you have the same power living in you that raised Jesus from the grave! How amazing is that, child of God!
Foundation Verse:
Romans 8:11
"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living in you."
Additional Resources
Prayer of Salvation
Jesus has given salvation, healing, and countless benefits to all who call upon His name. These benefits can be yours if you receive Him into your heart by saying this prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to You admitting that I am a sinner. Right now, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask You to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I believe that Jesus rose again from the dead so that I may be justified and made righteous through faith in Him. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Lord of my life. Jesus, I choose to follow You, and I ask that You fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit. I declare right now that I am a born again, child of God. I am free from sin and full of the righteousness of God. I am saved in Jesus’ name. Amen.
This prayer and the comment above, were taken out of the book:
Secrets to Powerful Prayer - Discovering the Languages of the Heart
By Lynne Hammond and Patsy Cameneti
If you have just received Jesus as your Savior, please write Lynne Hammond Ministries at:
PO Box 29469
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55429-2946
Or, email one of the ministries listed on the Additional Resources Tab and let them know that you are a brand new christian and need some direction on the next steps for your new life in Christ.
Or email us here at Heartfelt Conversations with Diana and we will pass along your information for you.
Congratulations if you are a brand new Christian or if you have Returned Home! Welcome!!! Get in God’s Word and get it into you!
Diana’s Home Church:
Valley Family Church - Pastor’s Eric and Alexa Jones
www.valleyfamilychurch.org
Other recommended Jesus-centered churches who teach the True Word of God:
Elevation Church - Steven Furtick
https://elevationchurch.org/
Joseph Prince Ministries - Joseph Prince
https://www.josephprince.org/
Joyce Meyer Ministries
https://joycemeyer.org/