Word of the Week - Dependence
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
For the most part, we generally think of Dependence from a negative perspective. Concepts such as co-dependence and entitlement generally come to mind and they typically imply dysfunction. As Americans our Country was birthed through a Declaration of Independence and thus we generally value the concept of being independent and self-sufficient. Gaining personal independence is a natural and healthy process for our children as they grow and mature. It is very normal for a young person to want independence from their parents as they reach adolescence and move into young adulthood. Of course, if parents have a healthy perspective, they desire for their children to become capable young adults who are not Dependent upon them physically, emotionally or financially. What I find so interesting in regards to our faith and walk with the Lord is that He invites us to become more and more dependent upon Him as we grow and mature. In fact, He loves us so much that He will often do whatever it takes to get our attention so we become more dependent upon Him. We often have a hard time getting this truth because it is contrary to what we typically learn and experience in the world. Living a life of Dependence on the Lord is not necessarily normal but it truly allows us to receive the full benefits of our Faith while also allowing us to grow closer in our trust and relationship with God. I would go as far as to say that as we live out our lives and approach the end of our time on this earth, our desire should be to become more and more dependent upon the Lord. Just as we entered the world totally naked and dependent on our earthly parents, we will leave this world alone and solely dependent upon the Lord for our eternal wellbeing. Whether we understand and accept it or not, we are totally Dependent upon the Lord. So let’s make a Declaration of Dependence to God today and experience the wonderful benefits of living a life of Dependence on the Lord.Have a great week…-Duane