Monday 23 November 2015

Can You Really Count on God?

Can You Really Count on God?
 
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Building My Life on Values That Last
 
 
 
Can You Really Count on God?
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By Rick Warren — Nov 22, 2015
 
Devotional image from Rick Warren
 
 
“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV)
For most of us, the reason we don’t trust God fully with our lives is because we really don’t know him. We usually don’t trust people we don’t know.
The same is true with God. That’s why God wants you to know the real him — not a fake version you’ve learned from popular culture. There are many popular myths about who God is that simply aren’t true.

For example, some believe he’s like:
A cosmic cop: He’s the big, bad policeman in the sky looking to catch us doing something wrong.
The celestial Santa Clause: He’s just there to give gifts. He smiles, nods, and never really pays attention to the naughty list.
The grand, old man: He’s the old, old god who isn’t much different from you. He has his own failures and faults. He doesn’t have any of the answers, either.
The Force: Like in the popular science-fiction series “Star Wars,” God is an impersonal force that we can bend to our own will.
If I thought God was like any of those popular misconceptions, I wouldn’t trust him either. But he’s not. The Bible paints an entirely different picture of the character of God.
The truth is, God is infinitely worthy of your trust because no being in the universe is as capable to influence the world around you as he is. The Bible says, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4 NIV).
God has the power (and the desire) to sustain and help you through whatever you’re going through. He wants to give you his best for your life — and he is uniquely able to help you get there. He is the creator of the universe. He literally has all the resources in the universe that he can mobilize on your behalf as you seek to follow him.
But the key is, you must trust him.
The Bible says, “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV). You can trust God with everything you are because he is able to help you succeed if you do. That doesn’t mean that God will give you all the money, fame, or power you want. But if you trust him, God will help you succeed in what he has called you to do and be.
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Talk It Over
  • Which of the misconceptions about God do you think is the most common among your friends and family? How about society?
  • How would someone’s life change if there was a proper understanding of what God is like?
  • What is one area of your life where you need to begin to fully trust God?
  • Today’s Scripture
    “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!”
    (Deuteronomy 1:11, NIV)
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    Blessings Are Coming Your Way
    God wants to release favor and blessing into your life. He longs to be good to you. Some blessings are stored up for you because someone in your family line honored Him. It may have been a parent or grandparent, or maybe someone way back in your history that you don’t even know; but because they lived a life of faith, now you are going to reap the rewards. It may have been a hundred years ago, but God wants to increase you a thousand times over your ancestors. When you have those moments where you feel like you’ve received “favor out of nowhere,” that’s the time to thank God for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for His promise to pass down blessings from generation to generation.
    We serve a gracious and mighty God, and His favor lasts a lifetime! Open your heart with an attitude of expectancy because blessings are coming your way!
    A Prayer for Today
    “Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I give You honor and glory today for all You have done for me. I receive Your blessing and look forward to the good plans You have prepared for my future in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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