Depend on God and Follow Him!

Across the country children's ministry is starting up for the new school year - there is so much to think about and do when it comes to launching the new year of ministry. As you do all the things you need to do, be sure to keep sight of the thing you really need to focus on . . . knowing and walking with Jesus! Determine to depend on God and put yourself in His hands - if you do, there is no telling what God will do through your ministry to the children and families in your church and community!

Read Psalm 86: 1-5 and make it your prayer for 2013/14 . . . 

"Please listen, Lord, and answer my prayer! I am poor and helpless. ² Protect me and save me because you are my God. I am your faithful servant, and I trust you. ³ Be kind to me! I pray to you all day. ⁴ Make my heart glad! I serve you, and my prayer is sincere. ⁵ You willingly forgive, and your love is always there for those who pray to you.'

As you go though this month, please make this your prayer . . . 'Dear Lord, please listen to and answer my prayer because You are my God and I need You to protect and save me. As I go through this day, please help me remember to live as Your faithful servant and to trust You. Please be kind to me and make my heart glad and I will pray to You all day and serve You! I thank and praise You for how You so willingly forgive me and find comfort and strength in knowing Your love is always there for those who pray to You . . . I will be one of those who pray to You! Thank You, Amen!'"

So, today, let's think for a moment about what it looks like for us to, "put ourselves in God's hands". What does this look like for you? We talk about trusting God and "putting ourselves in His hands", but I know at least for me, it is far too easy to just try to take control and make decisions without ever really stopping to think if what I'm doing is really what God wants me to do or not. What does it mean to "put myself in God's hands"? Well, I know as a parent - and now as a grandparent - when my children/grandchildren are in my "hands", I'm the one who is making the decisions, guiding them, watching over them, caring for them. They look to me to "point them in the right direction", to help them learn and grow, to provide the things they need and to help them know what to do . . . and not to do.

God is our Heavenly Father and He certainly is far more capable than I ever was or will be to guide me and watch over me. Maybe putting myself in His hands involves me making the conscious choice to listen to Him, to look for how He is providing and to follow as He directs. So, for today, my prayer is, "Dear Lord, please help me remember I need You to protect and save me. As I go through this day, please help me remember to live as Your faithful servant and to trust You. Thank You, Amen!"