Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, “My heavenly Father knows all about this!” This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. “Ask, and it will be given to you . . .” (Matthew 7:7).

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 16, 2014

Lord, I understand the teaching; ask God and He will provide. Stay connected and God will reassure me that He has my interests at heart, and has demonstrated His faithfulness with his grace, mercy and sacrifice. I also understand that I am to worry about nothing and pray about everything. And I love this scripture…”how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

But God, when I am staring down the barrel of an overwhelming situation or circumstance, and my senses can only see the pending calamity, how can I grab hold of You and Your promises? How can I leave my senses and rational thought behind and “know” that You will meet all my needs. How can I “know” that You are really there to catch me? It is very difficult to leave my senses behind and step out of the boat Lord. How can I trust You more and experience Your deliverance even, and especially, when my senses tell me otherwise?

And God says…”You cannot be a “little bit” committed to a life of faith in Me. What many people (and you) do is commit to Me , and when the troubles come, abandon hope and faith when I do not answer prayers the way human senses and intellect demand. But I am God and my ways are not your ways. I cannot operate as God and bless you in expanded, comprehensive, Godly ways if you have faith that expects Me to only respond as your senses and understanding determine. “

“The secret to living in faith is to be connected to Me, trust Me based on My sacrifice and the help I have provided you time and time again, and then be connected and curious about how and when I will meet your needs this time. If you only give Me the faith to respond in one way and I know that responding in that way is not for your greater good, we will “disconnect”. 

“Going forward simply come to the river (as the song says), and trust Me to meet all your needs. Do not trust your senses, sight or intellect. Delight yourself in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart. And we know that when you are immersed, connected and delighted in Me, the mind of Christ lives in you and you simply know I will meet all your needs.”

“Your “knowing” is the evidence of the faith required that allows Me to act on your behalf. And remember, when you cannot summon the knowing; the faith to believe, look to Me and I will provide that as well. You believe, and I help you in your unbelief.”