English
Português
Español
Français
Response
Relying on God is fundamental to the Christian life. We have faith in, or rely on, God for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). We trust in God for wisdom “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”, (James 1:5). Indeed, we rely on God for all things “These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.”, (Psalm 104:27) and in all aspects of life (Proverbs 3:5-6). The psalmist illustrates the Lord’s faithfulness with the triple affirmation “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”, (Psalm 18:2).
Depending solely on God does not imply acting recklessly. Jesus did not need to throw Himself off the pinnacle of the temple to “prove” that He relied on God (Matthew 4:5-7). There is a distinction between having faith in God and testing God. Relying entirely on God does not mean we should disregard the gifts God has given us. For instance, a person with strep throat may refuse to visit the doctor, saying (hoarsely), “I will rely solely on God to heal me.” Or a person driving a car may close their eyes and let go of the steering wheel, saying, “I will rely solely on God to drive me home.” These actions would be unwise. God has provided us with doctors and medicines to assist us.Heal us. He has given us the wisdom to drive a car. We can still rely on God when we visit the doctor, knowing that all healing ultimately comes from God; and we can still trust in God when we drive, knowing that all safety ultimately comes from God.
We rely on God all the time, and there are moments when we can do nothing else. The Lord provides us with the faith we need to get through those moments. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego couldn’t change the king’s decision, and they couldn’t reduce the intensity of the fiery furnace. They only knew that they could not worship a false god. They were cast into the fire, relying on God alone for the outcome (Daniel 3).
Here are some practical ways to trust in God alone:
1) Pray. Prayer is, among other things, an acknowledgment of God’s power, promises, and provision. When you pray, you show dependence on God. The biblical instruction is to “present your requests to God” «Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. », (Philippians 4:6).
2) Honor the Bible. The Word of God contains information, instructions, examples, and promises for New Testament believers. Read from the Bible daily. Verify everything against the truth of the Word «These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. », (Acts 17:11). And when there is a conflict between what the Bible says and what anyone else says, go with the Bible. “I will listen to what God the LORD says” «I will hear what God the LORD will speak: For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: But let them not turn again to folly. », Psalm 85:8.
3) Do what is right. Always, in every circumstance, act according to your conscience, and entrust the outcomes to God. Jochebed acted rightly by rescuing her son, Moses (Exodus 2:1-10). Daniel did what was right by disobeying the king and praying to the Lord (Daniel 6). David did right by confronting Goliath (1 Samuel 17). In each instance, their reliance solely on God was rewarded.
4) Be a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 urges you to present your body as a “living sacrifice” to God. Acceptable sacrifices are cleansed from sin and devoted to God. When you offer yourself as a living sacrifice, you live for the Lord. You stop striving for your own rights and cease relying on your own strength. By learning to be a living sacrifice for God, you will understand the reality that “when I am weak, then I am strong” «Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. », (2 Corinthians 12:10).
5) Remain in Christ. The Christian journey is not an occasional encounter with God. It is about making God your abode, dwelling with Him. Jesus expressed it as, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” «Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. », (John 15:4). Rely on Christ as a fruitful branch relies on the grapevine. The branch connected to the vine is fulfilling its purpose.
6) Reject worrying. God looks after His children, even more than the flowers He clothes the grass with and the birds He feeds daily. Indeed, you have needs, but “yourHeavenly Father knows, “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (Matthew 6:32). Learn to “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Keeping some of the anxiety on yourself is to doubt God’s care.
One day, the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus answered with an illustration: He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-4). One quality of children is that they are dependent on others for their well-being. God’s children should share that quality of depending on their loving Heavenly Father for everything they need.
