Depending on God

by Jane Hall, NCF Director

What do you know to be true about God that helps you trust Him to lead you through life?

A.W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  A right concept of God is essential if we are to develop trust and faith in Him and have real purpose in living. Tozer was very concerned that most people don’t see God as he really is, so his preaching and writing was devoted to God’s attributes as revealed in the Bible.

In the months to come, I will share with you what I’m learning from Tozer’s classic books, The Attributes of God, Volume 1 and 2. My hope is that you will glean some truths about God so that your concept of Him will expand and you will want to know Him better, all the time realizing that we can never come to an end of our knowledge of Him!

 I was reflecting on God’s attributes when my pastor, Rev. Grant Kaul, posted a devotional with one of my favorite Scripture verses and some essentials for living each day depending on God. He shares with us his thoughts:

Dependence upon God assures us of His guidance in life. If we are following Jesus, we want His leadership in our lives. But the question we face is, "How does the unseen God direct the lives of His people?" How can believers in Christ truly have confidence in his divine guidance?

“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” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB). These verses present to us this timeless principle: Dependence upon God assures us of His guidance in life.

I have found the following practices valuable for actively depending upon God:

• learning to have my way of life daily shaped by the Word of God (Timothy 3:16-17)
• letting go of my will by yielding to God's will (Luke 22:42)
• looking to God as I pray during the day (Colossians 4:2)
• listening to wise counsel before making big decisions (Proverbs 13:10)
• living by faith in Christ and being filled with his Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21)
• leaving the results to God as I move forward by faith (Job 2:21)

Though we cannot see God, we can experience His leading as we follow his precepts and are filled with his presence. He will lead. Are we willing to follow by faith?

Next month Jane will continue her new series on God’s attributes with reflections on God’s infinitude.

This is the first post in a series by NCF Director Jane Hall on God's attributes. She is inspired by the writings of A.W. Tozer in "The Attributes of God Volume 1 with Study Guide: A Journey Into the Father's Heart."