So last year for CHRISTmas, my wonderful college roommate Taylor gave me the daily devotional book called "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. To be transparent and honest with you, I wanted to do the daily devotional each day, but there have been times when I have missed days. Which basically means I need to have my priorities in the right place, and I challenge you to as well. I will say I have learned so much from doing this devo, and on Labor Day the devo made me think a lot and I decided to make a blog post on it.
The title/first sentence of the devo read: LIVING IN DEPENDENCE ON ME is a glorious adventure.
The verses for the day were: 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10; Acts 17:28; Colossians 2:6-7 and John 14:20.
After reading the devo for this day, I couldn't help but think of the question: Why is it so hard to give our independence up and live dependently on Jesus?
Now I want you to think about this, it isn't a hard concept to grasp or do. I have easily been dependent on my parents for most of my life, and yes, I'll admit, even a little too much at times. I ask them for things, I always know they will protect and take care of me, and they still do to an extent. It isn't the same as when I was younger, but I still trust them completely and know they'd never do anything to hurt me. But then, why is it so hard to fully depend on God? I mean it should be easier to depend on Him because of His love He has shown to us through Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, and the omnipotence He's shown us time and time again. He is all powerful and sinless, where us humans are imperfect and sinful. Because of our sin, our trust can easily be broken. So then, why are we scared to give ourselves fully over to God? Maybe it's because He is all powerful and anything can happen. Luke 18:27 says, " What is impossible with man is possible with God."- and that can be both comforting and terrifying. Putting your whole life in the hands of someone else can be scary because you don't know what they'll have you do. When you depend on your parents or other humans, you still have a lot of control yourself. I mean you're really completely dependent on your parents when you are an infant, and then you slowly grow more independent, but you're guided greatly through that long and slow transition. The only other time you may be fully dependent on others is when you are near death. Another thing to think about is that the people you depend on normally aren't going to have you do something that may seem impossible or improbable because they don't have the ability to do the impossible, but when God asks you or leads you to do something, you know it's possible, which can be paralyzing. Meaning you're too scared to move forward and don't want to go backwards, so you just sit. God has risen people from the dead, split the Red Sea in two, provided manna, He's made heroes out of the least of them, multiplies food, and has done many miracles. One miracle He has done that is really important to me, is healing my brother when he had a crucial surgery and the doctors almost gave up (full story in another post, coming in a few months).
It may also be hard to become fully dependent on the Lord because you don't want to change. You like the way things are and don't want to be told what to do, what to give up etc. Maybe your priorities aren't straight and you are spending too much time idolizing different things, when God should be #1. When I say idolize, I don't necessarily mean a statue or a different religion, I mean what is most important in your life? Is it your job? social status? friends? sports? talents? celebrity gossip? your looks? your boyfriend? girlfriend? family? - and so much more. No, not all of those are bad, but if they are put before God, that isn't good. God should be #1 and other things should follow. Yes, yesterday I didn't have my priorities straight and ended up wasting time and skipping my devo. I need to prioritize daily and remember to put God first.
One more reason why it may be hard to fully depend on God, is the pressure to live up to someone else's expectations. God is perfect and wants us to follow Him, yet we are not perfect. We need to accept that we aren't perfect, but not use that as an excuse to sin. We need to except that imperfection yet strive to be like Christ Jesus. God is also a God of mercy and grace, so we shouldn't worry about not living up to His expectations. He loves us and wants us to follow Him. He wants us to strive to be like Him, but we need to not be afraid to make a mistake, and become dependent on Him to lead us and guide us in His ways.
All in all, there should be NO reason not to fully depend on God. My challenge for myself and you is to wake up each morning and commit your day to the Lord and fully depend on Him. Remember the W.W.J.D? bracelets? There were similar bracelets that read F.R.O.G. -> Fully Rely On God. That is my new challenge, to F.R.O.G. each and every second of each and every day.
Should you choose to accept this challenge, welcome to the journey of your life. Remember Christ is in you and you are in Him! Together you make the perfect team! Enjoy the glorious adventure!
- Jalynn
Two songs that go with today's blog are below:
Impossible - Newsboys http://vimeo.com/56454863
Surrender- Joy Williams (now in The Civil Wars) https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/surrender/id268637604?i=268637709
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