There are many things I practice which I have learned from God's word and instruction which I find incredibly beneficial in my relationship with God.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep
in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust
in you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust
in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 32:10Many are
the woes of
the wicked, but
the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds
the one who
trusts
in him.
There are many verses that tell us to trust in God but what verses tell us how to practice trusting God?
This is how I practice trusting God:
Ephesians 5:20always
giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6Do
not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Most people thank God only for the blessings they receive and only when they receive what they want. This does not require trust. Thanking God for all things, particularly evil things and things we don't want, feelings we don't like, thanking God for others sins against us, and for others sins against one another...This requires ultimate trust in God. The promise God has made to us "
Romans 8:28 And we know that
in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." tells us that we can absolutely thank God for all things because God will use all things for our good. This is how I practice trusting God.
I can offer literally thousands of times when I have thanked God for things that were horrid. Like when my daughter was raped I thanked God. God enabled me to forgive her rapist immediately...which allowed me to give my child what she needed, compassion and comfort. If I hadn't thanked God I wouldn't have had the ability to offer compassion and comfort because I would have been overwhelmed by my anger and hatred over what was done to her and spite and bitterness and un forgiveness against the person who harmed her. Practicing trust in God by thanking him for all things in all circumstances enables us access to his power and love in all circumstances which makes our reactions to every situation look very different than the reactions of those who do not practice trusting God. I am witness to God's perfect and pure love and power repeatedly as I practice his word in this way. I can testify that He keeps His promises and I live in His perfect peace as long as I practice trust by thanking him this way.
I practice humility. Like love humility isn't an attitude or emotion but something we must do in order to have it. The more love we give away the more we have. The more humility we give away the more we have. We must practice humility before God and also before others. Here are scriptures which express that we should practice humility:
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Psalm 25:9
He guides the
humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Proverbs 11:2When pride
comes, then
comes disgrace, but with
humility comes wisdom.
There are many more verses which tell us to humble ourselves but how do we Practice humility?
Forgiving others their sins is a practice in humility.
Confessing our sins before God and others is another way of practicing humility.
acting as though we are the worst of sinners, which again means complete forgiveness of others(even before they repent)
and also never being demeaning to others over their sins. Again there are many verses that tell us to practice all of these things.
Eventually we come to discover that both of these and many things are all actually practicing LOVE for God and Love for others. AS it is written, "love always trusts" so I practice trust. Love does not boast, it is not proud and it is not self seeking, all of which means practicing humility is also practicing love. Humility as I said is also about forgiveness, which is also practicing love as "love does not consider a wrong suffered."
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
I practice praising God in all things. I practice glorifying God in all things. I meditate upon God's word day and night. I listen to scripture as I sleep, when I wake and before I go to bed. Ya I practice many things God has taught me to practice through HIs word and empowered me to practice because He is my source of power to do good. I am sure you get the idea. I hope these things may help you become closer to God and help you mature in Christ. All glory and honor and power and praise always be to our God and father from whom all good things come.
