Foundations Week 20, Day 2

Scripture Read: Proverbs 3; 4
Title: Trust In the LORD 
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3: 5 & 6

(E) Explain: Trust is defined as the assured reliance (confidence) on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.  Trusting God is something that should come naturally and yet it seems to be one of the hardest things we face as people of God.  Author, radio host, and founder of Joni and Friends, an organization accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community, Joni Eareckson Tada writes, “Real satisfaction comes not in understanding God's motives, but in understanding His character, in trusting in His promises, and in leaning on Him and resting in Him as the Sovereign who knows what He is doing and does all things well.”[1]We often do not know why certain things happen, but we should trust that God has our best interests in mind and he is worthy of our trust. 

(A) Application: : 
Three Hindrances to Trusting God

1. Unbelief:  Unbelief is plain and simply weakness in faith.  To refuse or withhold belief; to not allow oneself to be persuaded.  Usually unbelief does not end in physical death but it can lead to spiritual deadness.  A person who is bound by unbelief is someone who is in bondage to doubt and skepticism. 
   There are benefits to trusting God in all situations and it may not always be easy (and in some cases it may seem nearly impossible) because we do not understand what He is doing or may not believe God is capable of  accomplishing something. 
2. The second hindrance is doubt. Doubt means lack of confidence in something that is trustworthy.  To consider unlikely… i.e. I know God is capable of doing a certain thing, but I don’t think He will pull through for me.
3. The third hindrance is seeing things with human eyes instead of with Spiritual eyes.   We all have the tendency to look at present difficult circumstance with human eyes and we have difficulty seeing things from perspectives other than our own.  Some may be in financial turmoil and feel as though they will never get out of their load of debt.  Others may be addicted to substances and think they will never kick their addiction.  There is a realm out there called the Spiritual realm.  This is where miracles happen.   We face present circumstances and we may become overwhelmed by them because we see no good way out, but God has a way.  Trust him.

(R) Respond: LORD, help me to trust you with all my heart and not lean on my understanding.  May I acknowledge you in every way, trusting that you will make my paths straight.
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[1] Eareckson, Joni Tada (1987) Is God Really in Control p. 9 Joni & Friends.