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Free-Falling Trust – Barbara Winters
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Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV

God gave me a visual this morning.

Do you remember playing the trust game? You stand in front of a friend, both facing the same direction. You spread your arms and free-fall backward. The idea is to let the person behind catch you.

It requires relying on someone else. As a child, if I didn’t trust my playmate I would take a step backward at the last moment. If my younger sister was the one catching me, I gave her the evil eye before facing forward and starting my fall. She knew that meant, “If you don’t catch me, I’ll hurt you.” But this act said more about my fear than her nature.

This morning I brought an impending decision before the Lord—one that will affect my life dramatically. As I prayed, I saw a picture of myself, arms extended, legs straight, falling backward. I lingered in mid-air as if God asked what I would do. Do you trust Me enough to fall into My arms or will you take a step back?

When I take matters into my own hands; when I make choices without consulting the Almighty One and move forward without looking up, I put more trust in myself than in God. I essentially say, “My wisdom usurps Yours.” Moreover, if I take a step back before I reach His loving arms, I allow my fear to supersede my trust.

What do you fear? That God will require more than you can bear? That you are unworthy of His love or He won’t fix your mess?

Take heart. God wants us to succeed. He coaxes, prods, and cheers for us. He woos, loves, and gently guides. Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Let go of your fears. Visualize yourself free-falling backward into God’s loving arms. Take a step of faith toward the One who is trustworthy.

Lord, I choose to trust You with my decisions and my life.

Barbara Winters and her husband, Don, have four children, Kevin, JT, Kenneth, and Melinda. Barbara home schools her children and encourages her husband in his pastorate position. Her passion is ministering to ladies. Her purpose is to glorify God. Barbara writes articles and devotions and has been published at Lucid Magazine, SEEK, and Focus on the Family

Tortilla Chip Revelation – Barbara Winters
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Worship the Lord your God, and his blessings will be on your food and water. Exodus 23:25 NIV

I almost ate a tortilla chip from my daughter’s plate.

“So what?” you may ask.

God gave me a directive: Eat a special diet for one week. The simple act of reaching for the chip indicated I was on auto-pilot. My routine was second nature. I thought little before popping my favorite foods into my mouth.

God gave the Israelites a directive before reaching the Promised Land: Do not bow down before their (the enemies’) gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. Had I fallen before my god? Had food crept in and become a god in my life without my realization?

Misleading influences casually slip through the cracks into our lives – a television commercial for Pizza Hut, a church potluck with Mabel’s famous chocolate pie, a candy bar fundraiser for the local sports team. Before we know it, we’re knee deep in extra calories and foods to which God previously said, “No.” We are in enemy territory worshiping their gods.

We can allow our focus to shift from God to food, succumb to the world’s way of thinking, and begin justifying improper eating habits. However, our justifications are invalid. And this path leads to destruction – physically and spiritually.

Pause and evaluate God’s directive for you in the area of eating. If you find yourself in the position of justifying improper eating habits, demolish those beliefs. Take captive your thoughts, and replace them with truth.

God’s directive to the Israelites came with a promise. If they worshiped God, and God alone, He would bless their food and water. This principle is true for us. When we worship God, He will direct our eating and, subsequently, bless our food and water.

Lord, I desire to worship You, and You alone. Show me if I justify eating improperly. Take my thoughts captive and speak truth into my life.

Barbara Winters and her husband, Don, have four children, Kevin, JT, Kenneth, and Melinda. Barbara home schools her children and encourages her husband in his pastorate position. Barbara writes a column on the characteristics of God for Lucid Magazine at www.lucidmagazine.com, has several articles available for purchase at Churchmouse Publications, and writes two blogs: http://foodliesandtruth.blogspot.com/ http://thefatherheartofgod.blogspot.com/

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