The Fight of Faith at times is to TRUST… Reliance on Self or the LORD.

1.RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY- WITHIN! Self Reliance!

And even knowing that about yourself should not lead to despair but to Him, a healthy distrust of self– the traitor within… the temptation to lean to our own understanding and this is why we cry out to Him to help us lean on Him and His Word instead, to shape our thinking and wean us off self reliance onto deeper dependence upon Him.

Paul learned this when he said, “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”-{2 Cor 1:9}.

Reliance upon self is untrustworthy, and no sound foundation, But relying upon Him who raises the dead is His credentials! God weans us off self reliance onto Himself as part of our education to trust and rely upon Him who is reliable and trustworthy and loves us! We cant trust ourselves, it is not within us to save ourselves, sustain ourselves, but it is in… HIM! Who has saved our souls… and wants to save us from ourselves which is part of our sanctification. Choices are opportunities to trust, self or the Savior and His Word…

RELIANCE ON SELF TO THE EXCLUSION OF RELATING IT TO THE LORD;

Remember in Joshua’s day he was conned by a group of people, the Gibeonites, “…acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy. They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.” – {Josha 9:4-6}…

And what was the problem after they made a treaty with them? “…but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.”-{Joshua 9:14}.

They did not consult the LORD, they leaned to their own understanding!. Lot was the same , he looked at the land, and never consulted the LORD…

2. RECOGNIZE THE HEART OF THE LORD;

We can DELIGHT in Him that HE Desires to lead us in the way we should go. There is never anything so small that we should not commit to Him.

Keep committing yourself to Him, trusting Him, relying upon Him and His Word

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take.”-{Prov 3:5-6} –

3. RELATING AND RELYING ON THE LORD

JEHOSHAPHAT– AND the people when under threat, Jehoshaphat turned to the LORD, away from Self RELIANCE and we see what he did, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” … WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO…. BUT LOOK WHAT THEY DID DO!

They turned to the LORD, RELATED it to HIM And RELIED upon HIM!

4. REST AND RELEASE-YOUR OPPORTUNITY;

Joshua, Paul, Jehoshaphat…. all had circumstances and choices to make, rely on self or the LORD… and so do you and I… encountered with choices, pressures, and the Battle of Faith between our ears and in our heart, who will we choose? We will choose the one we trust!
Nervous? fearful? Anxious? Unsure? God news, GOD NEWS. you can cast all of your cares upon Him for “HE CARES FOR YOU.”-{1 Peter 5:7}. He is able to do the exceeding abundant beyond all you can ask or think, He is GOD who raises the dead, created all things, upholds all things by the power of His Word and He has committed Himself to you, He loves you, is for you and has Promised, “all things work together for good to those who love Him and are the called….” He who began a good work IN You will complete it”-{Read Rom 8:28; Phil 1:6}. So cast all your cares on Him and let Him give you His peace for your fears, anxieties and settle your mind and heart down. He ever lives to intercede for you and has told us in times of difficulty to Come to His throne of GRACE- not a throne of rejection but Grace to RECEIVE, mercy, Grace and HELP in time of need, I love the way that word “need” is written it means the “NEEDY ONE” is to come! Woohoo! We are all needy and we can come to Him who sits on the THRONE, all authority in Heaven or earth belonging to Him and He who is al powerful, who loves you, is available and delighted to meet you with HIMSELF! Don’t hold onto your fears, anxieties … give them to Him in exchange for His peace and promises!
REST IN HIM AND RELEASE YOUR CARES TO HIM WHO CARES! 🙂

 

Think on these…

  1. RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY WITHIN- SELF RELIANCE
  2. RELATE IT TO THE LORD
  3. RELY UPON THE LORD
  4. REST AND REJOICE IN HIS DELIGHT, DESIRE TO LEAD YOU IN HIS WAY!

REJOICE , you have a Wonderful LORD who has undertaken for your soul, salvation and is invested in you through His Life and desirous you walk with HIM TODAY…🙂