Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Moving Faith Beyond Words

It's so easy to say, Have faith. Trust. The Lord will take care of you. It's so easy to say that to someone else and trust in your words. Why? Because it's someone else's life that is out of whack. It's someone else's life who has had the control taken away. It's much harder a lot of times to say that to yourself...and believe it and apply it.

I've been to church and Bible school since I was out of the house in diapers. I know the "trust" verses and the "worry" verses in my head. But you know what? In trying times, sometimes it's hard to move them from your head to your heart because when you move them to your heart it means you have to fully believe them, not just be able to recite them. You have to rely on them for complete assurance. But you know what? I think these situations are the Lord's way of saying, "It's time to put these verses into action. It's time to make you a stronger person. In other words, let's put your money where your mouth is."

If you're anything like me, you're a planner. If you're going on vacation, you have a home made vacation book with maps in the order you'll need them, tickets in order that you'll need them, and parking suggestions...in the order that you need them. I like to plan. I like to know things ahead of time. I hate when people tell me I have a surprise gift because it's out of my control. I hate not knowing! I like to hold on to a little bit of the control...

It's easy to pray, Lord, take control. It's a little bit harder to hand that control over to him because it means complete and total trust and obedience...but it also means erasing your plans and letting God write His. You may know in your head His plan is the best, but when it's different from your plan, sometimes it's hard to accept. With this acceptance may come a little bit of worry. Maybe not worry that God won't follow through. But just anxiousness at what's going to happen. Anxiousness about the situation that is completely out of your control. That's why I love this next verse. I can just see God's eyebrows raised and kind of chuckling as he says it, as if saying, "Think about it--I care for you above all else! Of course I'm going to care for you!"

Matt 6:25-34-"...do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? *Insert eyebrow raising and slight chuckle during next line* Look at the birds of the air, that they don't sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are!?...for your heavenly Father knows you need these things. But seek first His kindom and His righteouness and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Amen!

Philippians 4:6- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So my goal for today is to rejoice in the Lord's plan, to pray that I can lean on him during times of struggle, knowing he has plans for me to prosper, knowing he wants the best for me, and allow my faith to move from my head into my heart. To allow these verses I've heard preached a million times move from a memory verse to an application. To not worry because God will take care of it!

Can I hear an Amen?

3 comments:

kaciesblog said...

So when I said this to you this afternoon, were you offended?? :) A lot of times, I refer to you and Andrew when I'm showing someone how God will take care of things. As strange as this may be, I always had more faith that he would take care of YOU TWO more than I had faith that he would take care of ME! I love you!

Audra Laney said...

No, no. :) You've missed my point. We trust God to take care of other people sometimes more than we trust him to take care of ourselves.

Wade said...

Hey Audra,

Thanks for this post. It's perfect timing as I will learn on Thursday if I will get laid off or not! I've been reciting Jeremiah 29 over and over in my head for the last week . . . focusing on the part where he says that God has plans to prosper and not to harm!

I really do think I'm at peace with whatever happens. But like you say, it's one thing to think something in your head but something totally different to actually live it in your life!

Oh, by the way, I finally got araound to adding your link to my blog. Hope you don't mind.

Be good,

W

This Might Tickle Your Fancy

Blog Widget by LinkWithin