Living 4 Him

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you.  He will never leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Have you ever faced a situation that required more knowledge than you had?  Maybe you made a desperate search on the internet for more information or maybe you called a friend to ask for their opinion?  Most likely, you sought the help of an expert.  You called the plumber or a financial advisor or a doctor or the landscaper.  We need experts to guide us in circumstances that are beyond our scope of understanding. 

God is our expert when it comes to matters of the heart and mind. Partnering with him as an expert is exactly what Jesus had in mind when he spoke the words “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

God has a magnificent plan for our world.  A plan that goes beyond the scope of our understanding.  A plan with a part for every person.  A plan that includes love and kindness through sharing, giving, helping and following our expert guide.  When Jesus chose those words, he had full knowledge of who he was handing the reins over to.  God is completely qualified to handle our needs and our requests as they arise on earth. 

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” Psalm 24:1  He is Creator of the world.  Every life is sparked by his fire.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never end.” Lamentations 3:22  His love never ends.  He has abundant compassion over everything he has created.

“The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Psalm 145:9  He is a good God.  God’s will is to spread goodness to his children. 

“My Father is always working and so am I.” John 5:21 His Spirit moves in the world. He works in both the physical and spiritual realm.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways.” Isaiah 55:8  God has knowledge that we do not possess.  He can accomplish anything, reaching far beyond our imaginings.

God is able.  He is the ultimate expert. Asking for God’s kingdom and God’s will in our prayers releases our desires into the hands of the one who has the best intentions and is the most capable.  Praying in this way places our faith in God and lifts a burden from our souls.

When Jesus faced the culmination of his mission on earth he turned to God in earnest prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:36-44).  Three times he asked the Father to take away the situation before him, then he followed these words with his prayer of trust: “Your will be done.” He laid the full weight of whatever would happen into God’s wisdom, yielding to the power that was above all, surrendering the anguish in his own soul.  No one else knows how to handle our emotions like God, our Creator.

Corrie Ten Boom shares this life-changing insight: So often we do not live as richly as possible because our unwillingness to yield stands in the way.  Let His will be your will,  His way your way, and all insufficiency  and earthly ineptitude will be met by the sufficiency of His grace.

Jesus knew the power of partnering with God and he demonstrated it for us in a most enlightening way.  Let his example be a steady guide when you come to God in prayer. 

Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your soul): Read Jesus’ prayer experience in Matthew 26: 36-44.  What new insights or understandings arise?

Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): What situation in your life needs to be released to God?  Pray for his will to be done, trusting that the expert in charge will bring about the best outcome and feel the lightness in your soul!