Hosanna Restoration Church

Following Jesus, is developing a growing lifestyle, patterned after what He has revealed and continues to reveal. If a person starts but then loses focus, it is like losing power in a boat on a windy day.

I say this because starting with Jesus puts a target on our back. The enemy is a troublemaker in every life. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. When we come to Jesus, the enemy doubles down in his efforts to destroy. If we drift out of faith, we are subjected to all the problems everyone else is plus the focused attacks because we dared to trust in the name of Jesus.

When we drift, doubt and condemnation clutter our minds and distort our focus. We get trapped in a place where we are so confused that we spend more time blaming God than even considering trusting Him. We question whether it was ever worth it in the first place. Many people drift into thinking it was easier without God!

In verse 11, Paul prayed that they would be strengthened with all His glorious power so they would have all the endurance and patience they would need. “May you be filled with joy.” I like that. We should develop a habit of always thanking God for making the way for us to share in His inheritance. And, of course, Jesus is the way.

God has seen to it that we are fully equipped. We can and should live in the light. We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness. We are free to worship and praise and glorify the Lord. Let’s be course keepers. Not drifters.

Someone suggested taking our burdens to God holding them in outstretched arms. We all know that carrying heavy things out in front of us does not last long. We have to put them down. So it is with burdens, we were not built to carry them. We were made to cast them to God.

Learning to cast is learning to trust. Learning to wait on the Lord is learning to trust. Trust in the Lord with all your heart all the time in all your days and ways.

Sometimes, people will ask, “How do I trust in the Lord in all things.” I would say, “how can we not?” I think we need to develop our trust to the point where we cannot do anything else but trust the Lord.

Let God be God. He knows the way. He planned the way. He searches for people who love Him with all their hearts. He searches for us before we know He is searching for us. Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling. Calling for you and for me. Come home today. Come home to stay!