THE IMPRACTICAL LIFE
“Trust”

Pastor Scott Oas | 05.01.16

WHAT DOES TRUSTING GOD ENTAIL?

1. Trusting God means you rely more on the unseen than the seen.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:29 (NIV)

2. Trusting God means it involves the whole heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
 and lean not on your own understanding; - Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

3. Trusting God means you admit that He is wiser than you.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways,”
 declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
 so are my ways higher than your ways
 and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Three fold promise of guidance -

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” - Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)

I will instruct you and teach you.
I will counsel you.
I will watch over you.

Where do I need to TRUST God?

- in my LIFE _________________________________________________
- in my RELATIONSHIPS ______________________________________
- in my CHURCH _____________________________________________

GOING DEEPER

SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 3:5-6

GETTING STARTED

Describe a time when you faced a fork in the road. On a divided path, roadway, a decision in life? What did you need to consider? What did you do?

A CLOSER LOOK

Read Proverbs 3:5-6.
The Book of Proverbs speaks of the way of wisdom and the way of foolishness. The way of wisdom will lead to life and the way of foolishness will lead to devastation and eventually death.

This passage invites us to follow the way of the Lord – it is a great invitation beckoning us to trust in God wholeheartedly.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ..”

1. In whom are we invited to trust? In what are we told to abandon?
Note: To trust means “to lean our whole weight upon”. We are invited to place our whole weight upon God.

2. Are there times when you find it easy to trust in God? Give examples.
Are there times when you find it hard to trust in God? Give examples.
What have you learned about God after those hard times?

3. It's been said, “We can put the whole weight of our worries upon God because he is bigger than the problems that we face.” We are encouraged to consider the picture of God found in Isaiah 40:9-31.

4. Read the passage Isaiah 40:9-31. What strikes you about the picture of God here? What does it say about God’s strength, might and power? How is God superior to “your own understanding”? Does this affect the amount of trust you have in Him? How so?

.... In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

5. What are some ways that we can “acknowledge” God?

DIGGING DEEPER

What does this proverb say will be the result of trusting God wholeheartedly? How have you experienced God’s leading in your life? What does it look like?

Which concepts about trust have been most helpful to you and might you draw upon the next time your trust in God is tested?