Trusting in God

Trust is something we here about often. Trusting people to do their part of the science project, trusting friends with material items or struggles, trusting our bus driver to get us to school safely (which isn't always easy to do lol). It's part of our everyday lives, but how does it apply to our relationship with God? Do we trust God in the same way that we trust our best friend? Parents? Youth Pastor? Do we even understand what it means to trust in God in the way that He asks us to do? Unlike trusting our friends, teachers and parents, God call us to trust in Him on a much higher level. Let's take a look at what God says to us in the Bible.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understand." -Proverbs 3:5
So, God tells us to Trust in Him with all of our hearts. First off, let's break down what trust is.

1.

reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

2.

confident expectation of something; hope.

 

To rely on something, hope in, fully confidence. That's what we do when we trust in something or someone. Solomon, the author of the book of Proverbs, tells us to trust in God with all of our hearts. Meaning to trust Him with everything that we have, every fiber of our being. Trusting Him more than anyone else. Then it continues on with "and lean not on your own understand." Well, what does that mean, lean not on your own understand? Simply put, things aren't always gonna make sense, but trust in God anyways. God can see the big picture of our lives, while we on the other hand, see a very small portion. God reminds us not to try and use our own understand, try to make sense of what He is doing sometimes, because it won't make sense to us, but it does to God. God works in our lives in amazing ways, and lets us go through things to make us stronger and prepare us for our future. He ask us to trust in Him without us making sense of things because He sees the whole picture unlike us and in the end, it will work out for our benefit. 

David was a young fella in the Bible. He was the youngest of his brothers, and had to stay home to help with the sheep while his older brothers went off to war. The king of the philistines challenged King Saul to a one on one battle, his best verses Israel's best. The philistines sent out Goliath. He was huge, around 9 feet and extremely strong. No one in the Israeli army wanted to fight. Somehow word got to David and God called him to go out and challenge Goliath with a sling and a stone. David, being faithful went out, and killed the 9 foot giant with a rock from the river. It's a good example of God seeing the big picture and asking us to trust Him. In david's mind, it didn't make any sense what God was asking him to do. How could a sling and stone kill a giant. However, he trusted in God, didn't rely on his own understanding and did what the Lord asked. God took care of him too, and he became a hero in the kingdom of Israel. 

If God can take care of a boy and kill a giant with a stone, then He can lead you out of whatever situation you are in, struggle you are going through, or problems you face. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding my brothers and sisters, and as verse 6 puts it right after, "and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths" Trust in God, but Him in front, and He will be faithful to take care of you. 

Thinking before you react

So, we're all teenagers. We more often than not get the mentality that we're right, or we react to situations without knowing the big picture. Matter of fact, we let small things get to us, or our tempers flare up quickly. Believe me, I've been there, still do a lot also. Thankfully, God's grace is more than enough for all of us, and by growing closer to Him, He will show us ways through His Spirit to honor Him, and through His word.

In the Book of James, God shows us some wisdom on what we should do in certain situations involving our tongue and how anger.
"But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God"
Be quick to hear....many of us do that in everyday conversations, talking with friends and the like. However, how often to we take the time to listen to what someone has to say when we are mad at them? Arguing with them? Frustrated with them? Most of the time, we don't. We do the exact opposite and choose to not even listen. Then it brings up slow to speak. I can't even count the amount of times people have always warned, "Think before you speak". Well, it's a very true statement, and God even tells us to do the same. We are quick to say something that we pretty soon regret. Sometimes it is a simple joke, others, it's something rude or crude said during an argument/fight. Our words, can never be taken back. Once we say something, we've said it, it will always be there. That is why God warns us to be careful what we say and to think about it before we do. Also, there's a reason why this statement goes with the first. More often than not, when we are quick to speak, we are also slow to listen. We want to say what we want, poke fun, get back at someone, and we don't want to hear what they have to say back to us. Though go hand in hand with each other. When we face situations where it is easy for us to just blurt something out and ignore the other person, just think, you may be surprsied what God will have you do in the moment when you do, or how much you can change the situation.
Lets take a look at the rest of the verses, Slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. I know from experience, and I've seen it happen a lot, we let our tempers flare up sometimes with seconds. High school is gonna come with a lot of situations that will make it easy for you to get angry. You may be having a rough day with people frustrating you, stressed out about school or things in life, different situations of the like. When we are like that, it is very easy for us to get angry. However, that's what God says not to do. It's certainly not easy, I mess up with it a lot. But by seeking Him daily, He will remind us to focus on Him in those situations. When we get angry, let it lose and what not, we are dishonoring God. Anger doesn't justify things, but rather does the opposite and generally makes things worse. That is why I encourage you to focus on Christ
Overall, We should take a step back, look at the situation, calm down, and think about what we say before we do. Work it out with whoever the problem is. And let God be your guidance

Being an Imitator of God

So here is a study that will help you in your walk with Christ and being a witness to your schools that I did a while back

Quote:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and 2walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Paul is telling us that we should be an imitator of God. Well, what does it mean to imitate someone.
1. To use or follow as a model.
2.
a. To copy the actions, appearance, mannerisms, or speech of; mimic
b. To copy or use the style of
3. To copy exactly; reproduce.
4. To appear like; resemble.

Those are some definitions of what it means to imitate something, or someone. Paul is calling us to do just that. To copy God, to resemble, follow as a model, to reproduce. So what does that look like? How do we imitate God and walk in Love, just as Christ loved us. As we read on in Ephesians Chapter 5, it gives us a good picture.

Quote:

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints

That verse packs quite a lot. Immorality, impurity and greed should even be named among you. That means there shouldn't be even the tinniest hint of that in your life.
Some of you may ask what does Immorality and impurity mean. It's talking about Sexual immorality and impurity. That is any sort of sexual act, thought or desire that is outside of marriage. That ranges from extreme things such as pornography and sex, to simple things such as looking at someone in a lustful way. The Bible tells us, that there shouldn't be even a hint of that in our lives. It's not easy, believe me, but with God all things are possible. Also...

Quote:

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

God will always be there to help you overcome temptation in your lives and to help you become an Imitator of Him.

Quote:

4and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Simple enough. We shouldn't be mean to others, tear them down or joke about things that don't glorify God, but rather to build people up and to give thanks in everything.

Quote:

5For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Just as this verse says, people that deliberately practice those things don't have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. That doesn't mean those that aren't trying to overcome it.
Let's use a young teenage boy by the name of Joesph for an example. Joesph at an earlier age, became addicted to pornography and was deep into lust. He looked at girls as objects, not as a human being. He also didn't know Christ. He was one of those people that didn't have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. That is, until he accepted Christ as his savior. God changed his life around and now he is trying to live a life for God's glory, but he still messes up sometime in the lust area. Does that mean he does have an inheritance. No, we're all human, which means that we are going to mess up. What God is looking at, is your heart and whether your heart is trying to glorify Him or continue in the flesh.

Quote:

7Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Therefore, don't be partakes with them. If we want to be imitators of God and live for Him, we can't join in in practicing the things of this world and being immoral/impure people. Rather we have to walk in the light and strive to learn what pleases God. Our good works come from the Fruit which the Spirit of God produces in us. So walk in Spirit, not in the flesh.

Quote:

11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14For this reason it says,
         "Awake, sleeper,
         And arise from the dead,
         And Christ will shine on you."

Everything that we do will one day be exposed before God Almighty. Ever thing we hide in the closet or throw under the bed. It's all going to be exposed before the Light of the Lord. That is why Paul encourages us to not participate in those unfruitful deeds. That don't help us to become an imitator of Christ. But rather, they are what keep us spiritually dead and sleep. We want Christ to shine on us, and reflect the things we have selflessly done for God and not the selfish acts we have done for ourselves. Be an imitator God

Quote:

15Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

As we've been told before, life is but a vapor. Thus we need to make most of the time God has given us on this planet and to glorify Him while we are. Be careful what you do so that you don't dishonor God. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Praising God for everything that He has done in our lives and joining together with our brothers and sisters of Christ to do that. As it is said throughout the New Testament, in everything give thanks. There is always something you can be thankful for.


Let's recap on this. God calls us to imitate Him, or to copy/resemble Him. We do that by walking in love and honoring God with our lives. If we want to imitate God, we have to remove ever hint of sexual immorality and impurity. Our speech should be used to praise Him and build others up, not tearing them down. People that don't live a life for Christ won't have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Just because we mess up doesn't make us lose our inheritance, we have to strive to do better next time and remember to focus on Christ. Everything we do will be exposed someday, so let our works be ones that honor God. Finally, live our lives focused on Christ, giving thanks in everything, and striving to understand the will of God.


Therefore be imitators of God