In this world you are taught to be independent. In many ways you need to be, like getting dressed, feeding yourself, reading and writing, etc. You need to be independent to function in society. A baby starts out fully dependent on his parents to take care of him, yet they are to teach their child to become independent so they can live their own life one day.
As this is a part of God’s plan for His children, at some point in your life, God calls you to a spiritual dependency. This spiritual dependency begins at your conception. While growing within your mother’s womb, God knits you together (see Psalm 139:13) with His beauty and purpose. He places knowledge of Himself within you (see Jeremiah 1:5 and Ephesians 1:4) where one day you will choose Him.
Your purpose was given early on, see what Galatians 1:15-16 says, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. Then it pleased Him to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus.”
As you grew into adulthood, God has been pursuing you. He needs to set you on the journey to dependence, dependence on Him. Take it from the birds in the sky that we studied in the last blogpost. The journey to Jesus begins with faith and trust. Before daybreak, the birds begin singing what has been placed in their hearts. They trust God that His light of day will shine forth. They have faith in their Creator.
You and I have been gifted with a blessing and a curse that sets us apart from the birds. It is the freedom to choose. Birds act like birds because they don’t have a choice. They are who they are. Humans are given freedom to choose. While freedom is a gift, it is also a curse for you can take a wrong path and live in such a way that is not honoring God and His ways. You can walk in rebellion instead of walking in dependence with Christ.
Your journey to dependence requires some open-heart surgery. God gives you the Holy Spirit that connects your spirit with God when you choose to follow Jesus. God places within you at the moment of your salvation, a new covenant, a new heart. Jeremiah 31:33 talks of this, “But this is the new covenant I will make with (you) on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within (you), and I will write them on (your) heart. I will be (your) God.” Hebrews 8:10 says, “But this new covenant I will make with (you) on that day,” says the Lord, “I will put My laws in (your) mind, and I will write them on (your) heart. I will be (your) God.”
On your journey, you need to keep connected to God. You need to be powered by prayer to stay on God’s path. Jesus understood this. Take a look at Mark 14:32-42 and see how vital prayer was for Him. If Jesus needed prayer to remain dependent on His Father, so do you (and I)!
Ask yourself a few questions: Why did Jesus feel the need to pray? How many times did He pray?
Jesus knew what laid ahead of Him. He needed God to sustain Him. His spirit was willing to be obedient, but His flesh was weak; see verse 38. Jesus needed to pray. You, in your weakened state, DO NOT KNOW what today will bring. This makes it all the more vital to pray all day long. You need to remain connected to Him with every breath you take. This is why God sent Jesus to earth. When He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven as The Living God, He (I am changing it to present tense), He gives every believer the Holy Spirit. Every believer walks personally with the God that loves them.
What was in Jesus’ day that is the same today?
Sin. It lurked around then, and it lurks around every corner today. Sin carries temptation with it, temptation to become independent. When you read Matthew 7:13-14, you see how many people choose to take the independent road. Don’t be one of them.
Remain linked to your Savior as you go about your day today. This is how to remain dependent on your journey to heaven. God is with you and the Spirit is speaking to your soul. Listen and live!
Carol J German 