Growing

Here’s today’s idea: Instead of trying to fit God into your plans, discover His plans and fit your life into them.

One of the biggest temptations we fall into is trusting God with the big stuff in our lives while trying the handle the details ourselves. We tend to live from big event to big event. The problem with this kind of living is that you never grow up spiritually. You remain spiritually immature.

The secret of growing up spiritually is trusting God with the details of your life.

Here’s the question I want to invite you to ask yourself:

Do I trust that the one who knows me best actually knows what’s best for my life?

Years ago, my friend, Dave Edwards taught a lesson on the five positive results of trusting God with the details of your life. Here’s what I learned:

When you trust God with the details, you get to experience Christ like results.

Result 1: You experience peace.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; or length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you.” Proverbs 3:1-2

Don’t get so caught up in your new-found freedom that you forget what you’ve learned in Church, your quiet times and small group. Don’t forget to apply the notes you’ve taken. Don’t forget to apply truth.

Don’t just know the truth in your head, allow it to drop down into your heart.

Why?

Every time we apply the truth of God to the details of our lives, it increases the peace of God.

Every time we apply the truth of God to the details of our lives, it increases the peace of God. Click To Tweet

2. You have relationships that work.

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4

Kindness and truth are the two things that all relationships are built on. It doesn’t matter if it is a relationship with your parents, bosses, friends, or who you date. Every relationship that you have is built on kindness and truth.

When you allow kindness and truth to be the way you handle relationships, you find favor. Your relationships work. There is less drama.

3. You get to know and do the Will of God.

The greatest need you have is to know God’s will. What does God want for your career? What does he want for your relationships? What does he want for your future?

Many of you are at a crossroads and your greatest need is to know God’s will.

“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

Don’t try to figure it out without God. No matter how bright you are, you don’t know it all. There are some things about your life God knows that you don’t know. When you lean on Him, He will make the path of your life straight (or obvious).

4. You get to reach your full potential.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8

Your life will be complete – whole. You get to live out the design the God created you to live.

5. It is always for your good.

“My child, don’t ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12

Being disciplined or corrected rarely sounds fun. I tend to think back to my childhood and the silly question every parent asks, “Do you want a spanking?” Uh….no.

The word for discipline means pressure. Because God loves us, he applies pressure to the areas of our lives that we need to trust him. He takes his finger and points out the details.

That brings me back to the original question:

Do you trust that the one who knows you best actually knows what’s best for your life?

Is there any area of your life you’re feeling pressure? Could that area of pressure be a detail God is pointing at?

Remember, the secret of the Christian life is trusting God with the details. Every time you do, you reap God-like results.

Trust him today.

THE 140:

The secret of the Christian life is trusting God with the details. You get to reap God-like results. Click To Tweet

This devotional is one in Sugar Hill Church’s First 30 devotional series for college students. To access the entire series & podcasts be sure to check SHC’s site each day, as new ones are added daily. (Because we know you are busy, just click here & save as bookmark.)

Listen to Today’s Devotional

I’ll admit it. I wasn’t a great student, especially in middle school and high school. Honestly, for a while, I didn’t see the point. I just wanted to work and do my own thing.

Something changed. It clicked in college that learning and growing are part of my spiritual growth. Do you remember what Jesus said about our minds?

An expert in the law stepped up and asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” That’s a pretty good question. I’m not sure what this guy expected Jesus to say, but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t expecting

Jesus response:

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Luke 10:27

Jesus says that an essential part of loving God is with our minds. What that means is when you begin to really think about honoring God with your mind, education take on a whole new significance. It becomes valuable. It becomes important. If for no other reason, because Jesus said so.

So how do you do it? I’m by no means an expert at this, but I have committed to grow in this area. Here are a few tips I’d give.

Loving God with Your Mind

1. Commit to being a life-long learner.

I know you know a lot, but recognize that you don’t know it all. Always keep learning. Always keep growing. When you do this, you can do this in a way that God get’s the credit. God gets the glory. Never quit learning.

Create a rhythm in your schedule that allows you to consume helpful content. The two biggest ways I do this is by listening to audiobooks & podcasts.

The first step for you may just be to determine that you’ll be all-in in your current coursework. As John C. Maxwell says, “Leaders are readers, and readers are leaders.”

We never stop learning while we’re still living.

2. Live out your faith with intentionality.

The classroom and the campus are the perfect places to live out your faith. Some get tripped up thinking it doesn’t matter what they say or do in class or on the campus. This just isn’t true.

You are always in the spotlight, and you are always on a platform. People are always watching. Authentically live out your faith and be ready to share your faith intelligently.

Small things done well can make a big difference.

You are always in the spotlight, and you are always on a platform. Click To Tweet

3. Build your credibility.

Education is a great platform for building your credibility. In many ways, you’re in a season of preparation. When Jesus taught, people noticed that he taught with authority. Why? Jesus had two undeniable qualities: competence and character.

Competence means that you know your stuff. Character means that you live it out. Use this season to focus on both and your credibility will increase.

4. Challenge yourself and work with excellence.

Here’s what the wisest man that has ever lived said:

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” ~ King Solomon (Proverbs 22:29)

Be a person that consistently performs with excellence. Excellence is the missing ingredient that makes an average person an exceptional person. When you live out excellence, you grow in influence and separate yourself from the crowd.

Excellence is the missing ingredient that makes an average person an exceptional person. Click To Tweet

Commit to living a life of consistency and continual improvement.

“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to be better.” – Basketball coach Pat Riley

What do you think? What would you add to this list? Shoot me a note, I’d love to hear what you think.