How Do I Let God?

Living Abundantly 
According to God's Word Series

Read Time: 10 Minutes

I need to start this teaching with a story. A dear friend of mine used to say "You're not the Lone Ranger" meaning that whatever I have experienced, others have experienced as well; God has the answer. In a sense "there is no new thing under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9 and:

I Corinthians 10
:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
    but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
    but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
    that ye may be able to bear it.

I play with our community band and on the day of the concerts I have been getting very nervous. I have been playing for nine years now; I would think that I would be over the jitters by now. Also, by the time the concert arrives I have practiced as much as I can and all of the details are taken care of that I can think of. There is nothing else I can do to prepare, yet I have been getting very jittery. The morning of our fall concert the jitters started again and as usual I tried self-talk, explaining that there is nothing more that I can do and that I should just let the peace of God rule. I have been working diligently at letting God's peace rule. Notice I said that "I have been working diligently"? Since that wasn't really working I decided to take the matter up with God. I discussed my problem with Him and realized that I needed to be taught how to let God work in my life. I came to Him with meekness and confidence; in my mind I came to him on my knees. I asked our loving Heavenly Father to teach me and I gave the matter over to Him.  That was the key, come to Him, ask for guidance, and give the matter over completely. Within minutes I was at peace, clear headed, and ready to go. I never fretted another bit. To God be the glory!

My next request then is, how can I apply this in all areas of my life and how can I convey this to others? 

First of all I must take God at His Word.

James 1
:5 If any of you lack wisdom,
    let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
    and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
    For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Luke 11
:10 For every one that asketh receiveth;
    and he that seeketh findeth;
    and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

I know that I can come to God and ask. Many times I have asked for specific deliverance. But I realized that I needed to get back to the basics. I must ask for knowledge and wisdom. God's ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. If I want to walk with God and live the more than abundant life that He has promised than I must come to God where He is. With great joy and rejoicing do I declare that we have been granted access.

Hebrews 4
:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
    but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
    that we may obtain mercy,
    and find grace to help in time of need.

Like a child coming before her father I can come to my Heavenly Father and know that He hears me. I need to learn how to trust God, how to listen to God, how to let God. When we ask, God will teach us.

John 14
:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
    whom the Father will send in my name,
    he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
    whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16
:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,
    he will guide you into all truth:
    for he shall not speak of himself;
    but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
    and he will shew you things to come.
:14 He shall glorify me:
    for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
:15 All things that the Father hath are mine:
    therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

God has given us the comforter so that He can guide us, talk to us, inspire us, teach us. It is up to us to come before God knowing that He is ready, willing, and able to teach us, to guide us, and answer our petitions. 

When I read the Psalms of David I see a pattern. He praises God, he reminds God of His promises, he asks God for help, and he praises God more. It is important to speak the promises of God. Speaking the Word unleashes the power of the Word.

Psalm 27
:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
    the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
    came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
    though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Whatever the trouble afflicting us, whether is war, or co-workers, or mental troubles, or any thing, God is our light and our salvation; we don't need to fear anything, His is our strength. God takes care of His people. We must take God at His Word.

:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
    that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
    to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
    in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

We have been born into the family of God. We can sit in the living room of God's love. We can come boldly unto the throne of grace.

:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
    therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
    I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice:
    have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;
    my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Seek after His presence, practice the presence of God, He is always there.

:9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger:
    thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me,
    O God of my salvation.
:10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
    then the LORD will take me up.
:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD,
    and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Have confidence that He will teach you and guide you.

:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies:
    for false witnesses are risen up against me,
    and such as breathe out cruelty.
:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,
    and he shall strengthen thine heart:
    wait, I say, on the LORD.

Wait on the Lord. What does that mean? There are many references to waiting on God, not only waiting like one waits for the bus but it implies giving the matter to Him and let Him answer . Quit trying to "work diligently at letting the peace of God rule". Quit trying to work it out yourselves. Look to God for the answer; if He tells you to do something hop on it otherwise wait and expect. Oh, and there are benefits! Verse 14 above, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." He repeats the encouragement to wait on the Lord establishing it. He shall strengthen our hearts. Which allows us to trust and wait on Him. He even helps us be patient.

 Psalm 40
:1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
    and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
     and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
    many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,
    and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Who delivers? God does. Who establishes our way? God does. Who puts the song and praise in our hearts? God does. Many shall see His deliverance, reverence God and trust in Him. Blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust. We cannot trust in ourselves. We all have natural abilities, but God is still our strength and help.

Isaiah 40
:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
    that
the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
    fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
:29 He giveth power to the faint;
    and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
    and the young men shall utterly fall:
:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
    they shall run, and not be weary;
    and
they shall walk, and not faint.

God tells His people repeatedly that He is there for us, He is our strength. We can take God at His Word.

Lamentations 3
:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,
    because his compassions fail not.
:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;
    therefore will I hope in him.
:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him,
    to the soul that seeketh him.
:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

We can trust God that He will teach and guide us. Our simple act of coming to our Father in meekness and humbleness redirects our focus over to Him and His ability and gets it off of our selves and our problem.  He says He will teach us how to walk in the power of the holy spirit, ask. We must seek our wisdom from God.

James 4
:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.
    Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
    Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
    and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:
    let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Turn your eyes from the facts and circumstances of the world and unto God the giver of life, abundance, and health. The laughter and happiness obtained because of worldly things does not compare to the joy and rejoicing we can experience by drawing nigh to God. He will deliver and exalt you.

To God our, Heavenly Father, be praise and glory.