Learning to Turst God

So, the past 4 days or so God has REALLY been teaching me to trust Him!  This may sound awful...but it really is easier said than done.  I want to take everything into my hands and control them...but that is NOT what God wants.  Not to mention I want to worry about everything instead of placing my worries in God's hands. 

A few days ago God led me to the following verses.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put into practive. And the God of peace will be with you.

So, in itself this really spoke to me that night.  I have to truly give everything to Jesus and TRUST HIM and ONLY HIM with my future.  But then I read the same verses in The Message.

Philippians 4:4-9 (The Message)

Celebrate God all day, everyday.  I mean, revel in Him!  Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them.  Help them see that the Master is about to arrive.  He could show up any minute.  Dont fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, graciout-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.  Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized.  Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

The Message intrepretation of these verses hit me even harder (more like a ton of bricks).  I began to think about the following things.

1.) Do I celebrate God every day?  Really celebrate Him?

2.) Do I make it perfectly clear to everyone I come in contact with that I am on their side?  Do I really let the people close to me know that I care about them?

3.) Am I pointing the people I encounter on a daily basis to God?  Because, in reality He is near...and "He could show up at any minute!" Vs. 5b

4.) I really need to thank Jesus for all he has already done in my life and let those praises shape my worries into prayers and I present to God.

5.) Once I give give my worries to God, I have to absolutely leave them there with Him.

6.) I have to accept the peace that God gives me.  Not just brush it aside and go back to worrying!

7.) I need to thank God for that peace.  Because when I recieve it, it is AMAZING how I feel knowing that He is in control NOT ME!

8.) Am I thinking daily, constantly on things that are ture, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, things that are the best, beautiful, things to praise?

For me its a daily task (ok, more like a minute by minute task) of saying "God here are my worries and concerns and I leave them at Your feet I will let you bear the burden for me."    But the peace that I get when I do so is unexplainable.

God's plans for our (MY) life may not be what we (I) want, but His plan is the best.  And this morning I once again claim these verses for my life and give everything to You Father.  I know that You are in control and for that I am so grateful!