GloriousByFaith

Do we really believe that seeking God first leads to provision-or do we still live like everything depends on us?

Many of us are familiar with Matthew 6:33, but do we truly believe that, doing the action in the first half will produce the promise in the second ? On my journey as a Christian, I had an appreciation for the word of God, but not to the extent that I fully trusted it to be true. Today, the world is full of people who trust in themselves rather than God. This is an unfortunate sight, and I believe I can say this unapologetically because this is also a part of my story.

Before I came to Christ, I became quite independent. Through experiencing many family traumas, I lived in survival mode. I fought to be an overcomer in the best ways I knew how. I felt as though I had to take control of my life and the decisions I made in order to give myself a sense of safety and security. I was always thinking about the future, convinced that I knew how to best determine the best outcome for my life. Based on the environment I grew up in, I tried my best to live a life far removed from what I had seen. However, I did not do this consciously – it was simply a way of living that I developed in order to protect myself. And, of course this mindset seeped into my relationship with God.

First let’s consider this, Jennifer Dukes Lee in her book It’s All Under Control, interprets the craving for control as believing “I’m safer and more secure if I’m in charge.” Building on this, Sharon Hoode Miller, in her book The Cost of Control, defines control as , “the power to influence the world around us and the sense of empowerment that gives us.” She also uses the term ‘the illusion of control.’ That regardless of our reality of being in control or not, just the feeling of being in control feels good enough. Later on her chapter “The illusion of control,” – Miller presents a statement that sums it up: this is ultimately seeking refuge in a lie.

Let’s look at another side to a life lived placing trust in yourself.

To guide one’s self, plan out my life, and work everything out on my own – now, that sounds heavy. I once heard someone say that living in a way where you are governing your own life is practically playing God. Those are huge shoes to fill, and it is a weighty task. This reminds me of Matthew 11:28 (GNT)
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.”

Again, do I truly believe that Jesus will actually give me rest?

I’ve learned that true change happens at the point where you come to the end of yourself. To a point where you can actually see Jesus for who He really is. Once you come to Jesus and have a true relationship with Him, you’re in a position where you must renew your mind EVERYDAY. The more you spend time with someone, the more you start to think like them. Freedom came when I believed that I no longer need to live in survival mode. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). I thank God that He revealed to me that the way to a good life can only be found in Jesus (John 14:6).

My plans will fail, as my efforts to live a good life will. Even as a believer, it’s easy to fall into the lie that I need to maintain control-to keep my focus and grip on the things that I want to achieve. That takes me back to Matthew 6. Each time I read Matthew 6:32, I feel instant conviction: “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” To me, this is a wake-up call. How unfortunate it is to profess to follow Christ while thinking like an unbeliever. This is a battle that we will continuously face. I believe that one’s atmosphere and where we live geographically has a great influence. I have experienced this personally, living in London, a place where it’s always go go go and get get get, which fuels the pressure to keep desiring to stay in control. Yet, there is a point that you can reach, where you realise that all the striving has led you nowhere. Then you begin to ask, so what should I give myself to instead?

I have lived my whole life doing myself a disservice by not fully living according to God’s word and doing His will.

THIS is what this blog is about.

We CAN have an amazing life-not through our own wisdom, but through God’s.

The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, But a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel. (Proverbs 12:15 AMP).

There is great peace in staying rooted in God’s word.

In His Word it says, You shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. (Exodus 23:25 NKJV) This parallels Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”

The truth is, we cannot be God, but He has not left us idle. Instead, He has given us the privilege of serving Him—keeping our hands busy on this earth—and He promises to reward us for it.

Look out for Part 2, where we will unpack the power of serving God.