Trusting God Connie White

Fasting isn't something I was raised doing, but in the last few years I've come to see it as a valuable practice in my own spiritual life. It is a way to intentionally turn away from the flesh and toward the spirit - a physical way to say, "I want God more than I want anything - even my necessities." I also think it helps train us for spiritual battles to come. Turning to the Lord when you experience a hunger pang is practice for turning to Him when we face all kinds of earthly difficulties!

We need to learn to see God as the only absolute solution for our need!

"...look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

All we can see around us will pass way - these bodies, our stuff, our careers. Let's focus on the things that really matter...a perspective we can only get by focusing on the Lord and His Word. 

There's much we don't understand now, but one day it will all come clear!

Many of us try to fulfill our duty as Christians but never even attempt the delight! "Rejoice in the Lord!" the Bible says. "Delight yourself in the Lord!"

Engaging in the duty without ever moving into the delight leaves us feeling put upon and overworked. If you do your yardwork because everyone tells you to, you will always resent it. If you do your yardwork so you can enjoy your yard, then it is part of the enjoyment.

Let's slow down and delight in the Lord so the duty does not become drudgery!

Thankfulness is one of those key building blocks for a firm faith foundation. It keeps us remembering what God has done for us in the past, so we will be confident He's going to continue being faithful in the future. Being intentionally thankful is a part of taking your thoughts captive that will keep you grounded in the Lord.

I know there have been times when sought the Lord but still felt empty and unsatisfied. This leads to becoming disillusioned and confused. Why isn't it working? For me, I've realized it's often because I may have come to the Lord, but I've continued to seek satisfaction in the things of this world as well.

If I sit at the Lord's table, but continue trying to live on the food of this world, no wonder I continue to languish! It's like bringing fast food to a five-star restaurant! What am I even thinking? 

Finding satisfaction in the Lord requires seeking our satisfaction in the Lord and the Lord alone. 

There are about a million reasons we don't pray, but the Bible says, we "do not have because we do not ask." (James 4:2)

So, what are we waiting for?!

I talk about some of the things that hindered my own prayer life: 

1) It doesn't feel like God is hearing me/it's working.

2) God is sovereign, so He's going to do whatever He's going to do anyway.

3) I feel myself doubting, and the Bible says to pray without doubt, so I might as well give up.

4) I don't think I'm doing it right.

The list could go on! But the bottom line is God wants to hear from us, and the more we pray, the more of Him we will see!