God of My Life

As Thanksgiving comes around, I am getting so ready to go home and be with family. I am excited for turkey, football, and, of course, sleeping. But with all these activities I tend to rely on them to refuel me over the school break. I find myself thinking that if I can just get through this week then I will have rest and fun with my family.

When I step back, I realize that I have started trusting in my activities to get me through this grueling week rather than relying on the Lord. I am trusting in my family, food, football and fellowship more than I am trusting in God. But God is a jealous God and wants our full attention and for us to completely trust in Him—to understand that He alone can bring meaning to our life.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust alone in me" (John 14:1). God wants our lives to have meaning—to glorify Him alone, not ourselves.

In what aspects of your life are you not trusting God? Your future? Your sport? A job? Your grades? Coaching? Family issues? When we get to the point where we think we can handle these things on our own, we get selfish and inwardly focused, instead of focusing on the cross.

God promises us these things:

1.) GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US:
God promises that he will be with us through all things and has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," (Hebrews 13:5). No matter how hard our situations are, God is there guiding us. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps," (Proverbs 16:9).

Not only is God guiding us, but He is never going to leave us when it gets hard. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze," (Isaiah 43:2).

God will be there with you while you make decisions, and He has a perfect plan for each one of us. We should not try to plan anything ourselves or let perfectionism come in the way of God's story for our lives.

2.) GOD CAN BE TRUSTED
He is God of the universe. Why, as sinners, do we fail to remember this? I can't imagine how many times I think God can't handle a situation, as well as I can. Whoa! Am I so wrong. Thank goodness God gives us grace.

We can trust God because He never lies. Never. It would counteract everything if He did. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19).

Since God never lies, we can trust His Word and that He is our shepherd and strength.

Let us pray like David, totally trusting in the Lord alone and what He has planned for us, "By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life," (Psalm 42:8). The end part of that verse is what is so amazing: "…to the God of my life."

Are there days where you make yourself the god of your own life? Really consider that. Do you act as though you are the god of your world? I know being prideful I would say, "No, that's impossible," but deep down I know that it's true. If I humble myself before the Lord I can be honest and say, "Yes there are days where I think I have it all together—that I am perfect and others should be like me..." But what a difference it makes in my life when I let God empty me and fill me with Jesus! The pride is removed, and I can clearly focus on the Lord and trust in Him and remove myself from where God should be in my life.

I hope and pray that the Lord will continue to teach us to trust in Him alone and not ourselves, since, as sinners, we fall. But Christ always reigns and is always perfect.