Trusting God: Active Choices for Divine Direction

 

Summary

Trusting Jesus with all your heart and making wise choices are the two essential elements to fulfilling God's will in your life. This journey is not about being passive; it requires active participation and decision-making on your part. God doesn't force His will upon us; instead, He offers us the freedom to choose His path. Proverbs 3:1-8 provides a roadmap for aligning with God's will, emphasizing the importance of remembering His teachings, trusting Him wholeheartedly, and acknowledging Him in all our ways. These actions lead to a life filled with peace, favor, and divine direction.

The scripture warns us not to forget God's teachings, highlighting the human tendency to overlook His benefits. Psalm 103 reminds us of the blessings we often take for granted, such as forgiveness, healing, and redemption. These are not just abstract concepts but tangible benefits that can transform our lives. The key is to internalize God's commandments, not as a checklist, but as a heartfelt commitment. This internalization begins with speaking God's promises into our lives, as Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." By declaring God's truths, we write them on the tablet of our hearts, allowing them to guide our actions and decisions.

Favor and success often follow those who are merciful and truthful. This is not merely luck but a spiritual principle at work. By embodying these virtues, we attract God's favor, much like Miriam, whose kindness and mercy bring her blessings. Trusting in the Lord means valuing His wisdom above our own, acknowledging that He knows more and can do more than we ever could. This trust is not passive; it requires us to lean on His understanding and not our own, allowing Him to direct our paths.

Direction from God is a progressive journey, requiring obedience step by step. We often desire the full picture, but God reveals His plan incrementally, teaching us patience and faith. The four main points to align with God's will are: do the best with what you have, take the high road and be positive, run to God first, and make right choices consistently. These principles, when applied, lead to a life that not only fulfills God's will but also sets a godly example for others.

Key Takeaways:

- Trusting Jesus and making wise choices are crucial for fulfilling God's will. This involves active participation and decision-making, as God offers us the freedom to choose His path. [04:53]

- Remembering God's teachings and benefits is essential. Psalm 103 highlights blessings like forgiveness and healing, which are transformative when internalized and spoken into our lives. [08:56]

- Favor and success follow those who are merciful and truthful. This is a spiritual principle, not mere luck, and it attracts God's blessings into our lives. [17:53]

- Trusting in the Lord means valuing His wisdom above our own. This requires leaning on His understanding and allowing Him to direct our paths, acknowledging that He knows more than we do. [22:37]

- God's direction is a progressive journey, requiring obedience step by step. The four main points to align with God's will are: do the best with what you have, take the high road, run to God first, and make right choices consistently. [38:05]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:31] - Introduction to God's Will
[04:53] - Trusting Jesus and Making Wise Choices
[08:56] - Remembering God's Benefits
[10:26] - Keeping God's Commandments
[11:20] - Spiritual Health and Longevity
[14:40] - Power of the Tongue
[17:08] - Favor Through Mercy and Truth
[19:39] - Compassion and Love
[22:37] - Trusting God's Wisdom
[25:16] - Seeking Help and Guidance
[26:17] - Healing Through Trust
[27:37] - Four Parts of Trusting God
[30:51] - Leaning on God's Understanding
[34:41] - Acknowledging God's Goodness
[38:05] - Four Main Points for Aligning with God's Will
[52:57] - Communion and Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 3:1-8
- Psalm 103:1-5
- Proverbs 18:21

---

Observation Questions:

1. According to Proverbs 3:1-8, what are the benefits of keeping God's commandments and trusting in Him with all your heart?
2. How does Psalm 103:1-5 describe the benefits of remembering God's blessings, and what are some examples given in the sermon? [08:56]
3. What does Proverbs 18:21 say about the power of the tongue, and how was this concept illustrated in the sermon? [14:40]
4. In the sermon, what examples were given to demonstrate the principle that favor and success follow those who are merciful and truthful? [17:53]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between trusting Jesus and making wise choices in fulfilling God's will? [04:53]
2. What does it mean to internalize God's commandments as a heartfelt commitment rather than a checklist, according to the sermon? [10:26]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the idea that God's direction is a progressive journey requiring step-by-step obedience? [38:05]
4. What role does speaking God's promises play in writing them on the tablet of our hearts, as discussed in the sermon? [14:40]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did you involve God in that decision, and what might you do differently next time to align more closely with His will? [04:53]
2. Identify one of God's benefits from Psalm 103 that you often overlook. How can you remind yourself of this benefit daily? [08:56]
3. Think of a situation where you can practice mercy and truth this week. How can you intentionally embody these virtues to attract God's favor? [17:53]
4. Consider a promise from God that you want to internalize. What specific steps will you take to speak this promise into your life regularly? [14:40]
5. What is one area in your life where you need to trust God's wisdom over your own understanding? How can you practice leaning on His understanding this week? [22:37]
6. Reflect on a time when you wanted the full picture of God's plan. How can you practice patience and faith in His incremental revelations? [38:05]
7. Choose one of the four main points from the sermon to focus on this week: doing the best with what you have, taking the high road, running to God first, or making right choices consistently. What specific action will you take to apply this principle? [38:05]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting Jesus and Making Wise Choices
Trusting Jesus with all your heart and making wise choices are essential for fulfilling God's will in your life. This journey requires active participation and decision-making, as God offers us the freedom to choose His path. Proverbs 3:1-8 provides a roadmap for aligning with God's will, emphasizing the importance of remembering His teachings, trusting Him wholeheartedly, and acknowledging Him in all our ways. These actions lead to a life filled with peace, favor, and divine direction. [04:53]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you are facing today where you need to actively trust Jesus and seek His wisdom instead of relying on your own understanding?


Day 2: Remembering God's Benefits
Remembering God's teachings and benefits is essential. Psalm 103 highlights blessings like forgiveness and healing, which are transformative when internalized and spoken into our lives. The scripture warns us not to forget God's teachings, highlighting the human tendency to overlook His benefits. These blessings are not just abstract concepts but tangible benefits that can transform our lives. By declaring God's truths, we write them on the tablet of our hearts, allowing them to guide our actions and decisions. [08:56]

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases." (Psalm 103:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific blessing from God that you have taken for granted, and how can you intentionally remember and give thanks for it today?


Day 3: Favor Through Mercy and Truth
Favor and success often follow those who are merciful and truthful. This is not merely luck but a spiritual principle at work. By embodying these virtues, we attract God's favor, much like Miriam, whose kindness and mercy bring her blessings. Trusting in the Lord means valuing His wisdom above our own, acknowledging that He knows more and can do more than we ever could. This trust is not passive; it requires us to lean on His understanding and not our own, allowing Him to direct our paths. [17:53]

"Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor." (Proverbs 21:21, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you show mercy and truth to today, and how might this open the door to experiencing God's favor in a new way?


Day 4: Trusting God's Wisdom
Trusting in the Lord means valuing His wisdom above our own. This requires leaning on His understanding and allowing Him to direct our paths, acknowledging that He knows more than we do. Direction from God is a progressive journey, requiring obedience step by step. We often desire the full picture, but God reveals His plan incrementally, teaching us patience and faith. [22:37]

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to let go of your own wisdom and trust in God's greater understanding today?


Day 5: Aligning with God's Will
God's direction is a progressive journey, requiring obedience step by step. The four main points to align with God's will are: do the best with what you have, take the high road, run to God first, and make right choices consistently. These principles, when applied, lead to a life that not only fulfills God's will but also sets a godly example for others. [38:05]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: Which of the four main points for aligning with God's will do you find most challenging, and what is one practical step you can take today to grow in that area?

Quotes

"Today, what I want to do in this service is read you some very specific scriptures, and then I want to make some well-deserved comments about those scriptures. And then, finally, toward the end of this message, I want to leave you with four main points, very practical things that I believe, I've prayed about this. I believe these things will set you up, put you in just the right place." [00:02:31]

"God has a GPS system that's a lot better than the ones we use in our cars and our phones. And he can take you and get you from wherever you are right now, on track, off track. Maybe you lost sight of the track. You don't even know where the track is anymore. God can get you from wherever you are back on track to fulfill his will in your lifetime. I believe that. I believe that." [00:03:31]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean to your own understanding in all of your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths one version says he'll direct your paths be not wise in your own eyes fear the lord and turn away from evil it will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones whoo amen let's pray father i thank you right now for the word of god it is a lamp unto our feet it's a light unto our path even the the very entrance of your word brings light and knowledge and revelation and we receive that this morning we receive direction and correction we receive hope and compassion and all of these things from the word of god as we jump into this today and we thank you lord that these truths that we'll hear today will change our lives forever in jesus name amen you may be seated amen amen such good good material" [00:05:55]

"Psalm 103 says this, bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all of his benefits. It's important not to forget the benefits of the Lord. What are those benefits? Well, it lists some of them in Psalm 103. He forgives all of your iniquity. a pretty good thing. He heals all your diseases. Amen. I'll take that. He redeems your life from the pit." [00:08:30]

"How many times in here have we discussed Proverbs 18 .21 that says, death and life are in the power of your tongue? Man, there is power in what you say. And I'll tell you right now, one of the most difficult things as any kind of leader is to get other Christian people to open their mouth and actually say something rather than think about it. Only think, only ponder, only muse, but never actually open your mouth and say something. But the Bible says that there's death and life in the power of your tongue." [00:14:23]

"Some people in this life seem to receive more favor than others, partially because they are merciful and truthful. Again, there are spiritual principles. Sometimes we only default to the natural things. Something goes really well for somebody and we say, man, they sure are lucky, man. They always get it. The good breaks. Man, things just always seem to go well for them. They're so fortunate." [00:16:26]

"Years ago, the Lord showed me something about compassion. And this is the way that I received it. It's just like a definition of compassion. Compassion is showing the love of God to someone who has wronged you. The most. Did I lose you right there? OK. Who deserves it the least. And can do nothing for you in return. Man. That just gets all over me because that's hard. That's hard." [00:20:00]

"We've got to trust in the Lord, like actually trust in the Lord, not say it and then not do it. I'm saying we've got to actually get to the place where your true trust is in the Lord. We can't exalt our own wisdom above that of God. And you say, I'm not doing that, Brother Tony. You'd be amazed at how much we all do it." [00:21:43]

"Think about for a second what this is saying, especially if you're experiencing problems in your body. If you're in pain. You need healing. Think about trusting God can heal and strengthen your physical body. That's really good news. That's really good news. There's a promise right there that we need to take advantage of. We'll say, I've just got this thing, you know. Well, let's come back and do what some of these verses are saying to do. You can incorporate this into your actual everyday life, and it'll make a difference. Amen." [00:26:17]

"Do the best you can with what you have. And we've been over and over this in here before. We've talked about how Moses, you know, the Lord told Moses to do something. He said, I don't have any way to do it. And God asks him, well, what do you have? What do you have that I can use? I've just got this stick. Well, we'll use the stick. You remember the widow woman with the cruise of oil, the oil in her house? Okay." [00:38:17]

"Take the high road and be positive instead of the low road which is negative take the high road proverbs says that as a man thinks in his heart so is he and there are some other meanings to that it has to do with some sacrifices and dietary restrictions, all kinds of things related to that verse. But the principle in that verse is that you're going to go and kind of like we were talking about leaning, you're going to go in the direction of your dominant thoughts." [00:44:43]

"Run to God. First, run to him and not away from him. You need to know that God is on your side, that he's pulling for you, that he's got great promises in the word of God for you. In fact, in First John, it says, God is light and in him is no darkness at all. Amen. There is no part of God that is bad. He is only good all the time." [00:46:39]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 15, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?