Week 2 – Day 9
Dear Friend,
One of the most common traits of a foster child is their independence. Through all of the years of transitional home lives and the uncertainty of their future, these children wear their independence as an armor of protection. Though I was adopted at three years old my self-determination was firmly in place, prepared at any moment for when I had to rely on myself once again. Unfortunately, foster children are not the only ones who carry their independence into their relationship with God. Everyone has had disappointments that cause us to build up a self-reliance that leaves little room for the Holy Spirit at the beginning of our walk with Him.
The good news is that God actually refers to us as adopted children, so that means He is completely aware of the quirks in our past that makes us who we are today. Yet, He knows that if we stay untrusting, self-reliant individuals we will miss out on the wonderful life that Christ purchased for us. So early on in your relationship with Him He will encourage you to lay down those defenses and begin to trust Him in a way you never thought possible.
In order to make this trusting easier, God actually removed the power of darkness over our life. Similar to becoming a citizen of a free country after being born in war torn poverty, God translated us into His kingdom as His heirs. Without God we would have to rely on our own ability and response in the natural to every thing that happens to us in life, both good and bad. In our new position as His children we have the rights and benefits of God’s intervention on our behalf.
Christ purchased healing if we are sick, peace if we are in fear, provision if we are in need, comfort if we are hurting etc. Eternal Life here on earth, Christ’s way! We live in this world under the laws and citizenry of the promises that Christ purchased through the cross. That means we have hope where this world has to simply endure the whacks and wallops life hands them.
The key is accepting those victories and leaning on God to bring them to pass. We can choose to do it all on our own but then those are the rules we live under; natural and self-reliant. At one point in my life God told me, “If I was human you would believe me by now. I would have proven myself trustworthy to you.” It was such a shocker because it was true. I had a hard time trusting people and would watch behaviors for quite awhile. Unfortunately, I hadn’t even given God the benefit of the doubt in the natural. With all He had done for [my family and myself, I still struggled trusting Him.
I made a change that day. God was trustworthy. He hadn’t ever let me down and He had always been there to see me through when others did. I began to be open and completely honest with Him. I shared my hopes, dreams, discouragements and obstacles. With my honesty came an ability to hear Him and the ability to turn the weight of controlling my circumstances to Him. He had a clear path to order my steps and I began to change in a deep way. Fear became less frequent and trusting became easier. Now most situations are faced side-by-side with Him and the wasted energy of stressing out is less common. I am no where near perfect, but it takes me a lot longer to become frustrated and I run to Him much faster for His strength.
God never asked for adult children, as you will see in the next entry. He just wants to be your Father. It is His greatest desire to be clung to and trusted. He is a good, good Father and He can be depended upon. One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Corinthians 1:9 (AMP). Add it to your favorites as well; read it, meditate on it and make Him your first conversation when you need a trusted friend.
Love,
Jen
Meditation:
1 Corinthians 1:9 (AMP)
God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 1:12-14 (AMPC)
12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.
13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
Journal:
Are there areas that you hold onto? Even hiding them from God because you have always had to rely on yourself? Are you at times trying to make God prove Himself, as you take back the weight and worry of things as the day goes on? Never again will you be required to carry it all; He is the Father that wants to carry it for you. What are you willing to turn over to Him today?
