“God is always going to be inviting, nudging, and challenging you to step into greater faith and rest. The Enemy, however, is going to push you to step into fear and ungodly striving by trying to make things happen in your timing and through your own wisdom and effort rather than God’s.”- Banning Liebscher (emphasis author’s)
“I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safely.”- Psalm 4:8
In Chapter 4 (“Nothing to Prove”) of Rooted, Banning Liebscher stresses that the journey of trust = a two-way street. As God builds our root systems, He directs our hearts into greater intimacy and dependence on Him. But, He also entrust us with specific assignments, gifts, opportunities, and resources.
Thus, stewardship comprises the other side of the journey of trust. And the goal of stewardship is faithfulness. Yet, the weight of what God entrusts to us creates uncomfortable pressure. However, as Bill Johnson, Pastor Liebscher’s mentor, once told him: “God is not interested in your comfort; He is interested in your growth.”
Therefore, it’s not a question of whether or not we’ll face uncomfortable pressure in the process. Rather, it’s how we should respond to that pressure. Most noteworthy, Banning states, we must be aware of two different types of pressure we’ll encounter in the growth process:
- God invites, nudges, and challenges us to step into greater faith and rest
- Satan pushes us to step into fear and ungodly striving
As a result, the key to faithful stewardship consists of learning to resist any pressure that is not from God.
Today’s question: What Bible verses support your step into greater faith and rest? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Sleep in the storm, calm the storm”
