Week 6 - Day 3

Day 3 - Read James 1:19-25.

Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Listening isn’t thinking,
processing information, or preparing a response. It is just
receiving. Remember school days when your teacher would give
instruction? What were the results if you didn’t listen well? I
(Sheri) remember one of our teachers gave us a pop quiz. She
said, “Read the entire test before starting to complete it.” Guess
what? Most of the class did not read the test. When they arrived
at the last question, it said, “Do not answer any of the questions.”
Only a few students listened well and completed the quiz properly.
If we don’t listen well, how can we get our instructions from God?
Listening intentionally allows us to receive all that God has for us.
(Amy this did say “do or obey” but I thought that we should just
stick with seeking, resting, listening and later in truth or abide
deal with obedience)

We are called to be totally surrendered to God! Jim Elliot, in his
book Shadow of the Almighty, said, “One does not surrender a
life in an instant; that which is lifelong can only be
surrendered in a lifetime.”

Do you trust God? I didn’t for a long time and there are still areas
(today) in which I probably depend on myself more than putting
my trust in God. Read these verses and strive to surrender and put
all your trust in Him!

Why is trust important?

But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that
through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon
Him you may have life through (in) His name [ through Who He
is]. John 20:31 AMP

He who believes in Him (who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him) is
not judged (he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment;
for him there is no rejection, no condemnation – he incurs no
damnation); but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust
in Him) is judged already (he has already been convicted and has
already received his sentence) because he has not believed in and
trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (He is
condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.)
John 3:18 AMP

Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and do not lean on your
own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He
will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

Some of you are probably asking yourself, how do you just start
trusting God if you don’t already? As you seek Him, get to know
Him through the word, prayer and spending time with Him, you
will begin to fall in awe and love with God. As you are in awe
and love with Him, you will begin to trust Him.