Series: Always Relevant, God is...
John 14:27 MSG
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Romans 8:28 (All things work for good)
Don’t be cray…trust in God.
I’ve said before that I don’t remember a time when God/Jesus weren’t part of my life. I can’t imagine life without God.
That doesn’t mean that my life has been easy. There have been times when life felt like it was spinning out of control. The new word today is cray and it means feeling like things are out of control.
Trusting God IS the answer.
Trusting God is not always easy.
But I’ve learned a few things along the way that have helped me.
John 14:27, tells us,
“Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”
We’re not alone.
In other words…don’t be cray.
We’ve all had times in our lives when life gets the best of us and we feel like we can’t take much more. I recently read a great quote that I think is totally true.
“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.“ Harriet Beecher Stowe
The tide does turn. It always turns, and there are times when we feel like giving up.
Don’t.
I think Harriet Beecher Stowe is very right, especially if you have a high emotional quotient. Emotional Quotient refers to our self-awareness, our ability to self-regulate, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
People who feel things deeply are often aware of their own emotions and the emotions of those around them. Great leaders often have a high emotional quotient.
If you are aware of others and their feelings you probably have the capacity to feel the tide turning that Harriet Beecher Stowe speaks of. A believer who has a high emotional quotient will know how to pray and ask God for specific help.
They trust God.
In my prayer component of this site I’ve been seeking the guidance of the Spirit in learning how to pray into scripture.
Quoting scripture is an important component of prayer.
To put it simply, God loves it when we quote scripture in prayer.
God listens well when we quote scripture.
Why is that important to our word for today? Well, when we feel “cray” or like life is getting out of control, we can quote scripture to God when we pray.
A perfect example would be praying into Proverbs 3:5-6, “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.”
In order to center yourself in God when you feel cray, you can pray, “I trust You Lord with all my heart. I do not lean on my own understanding…I lean on You. I acknowledge You, God and I ask You to make my path straight today. Amen.”
Praying that prayer gets attention.
It’s results oriented.
Without asking for specific earthly things (like help me to fix my broken wash machine) the focus of your day is on God. In your prayer you acknowledged that God is God and you are not. That’s important because we often try to fix problems without turning to God.
When we do that we run the risk of experiencing cray.
We also acknowledge that there are things that we do not understand. In saying that we are recognizing that God is in control of our lives.
When we lean on God and acknowledge God as creator and sustainer of life we put the matter in God’s hands. When we ask God to make our paths straight we are giving God permission to clear away the difficulties in our lives.
I recently had an experience with someone that made me cray.
That person was controlling people around me who were making my life uncomfortable. I knew I didn’t know specifically what was being said (we seldom do know what was said) but I knew the result and impact on my life.
I knew from experience the best course of action was to turn to God. I knew God did know absolutely everything going on behind the scene. I prayed this prayer and I told God I trust Him and I give Him permission to make my path straight.
I knew God did not want me to feel cray.
I left the matter in God’s capable hands.
I knew God heard and is working everything out for good (Romans 8:28).
Spiritual Practice: Pray Proverbs 3:5-6
Even if you don’t have a specific need at this time pray the Proverbs 3:5-6 prayer telling God you trust Him and asking God to make your path straight.
In God, Deborah
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