Self-Trust.

It's one thing to be confident in your competence.

It's entirely another to trust in yourself to the point that nobody else, regardless of their position in relation to you has something worthwhile to offer, perhaps has greater insight, a better plan or an altogether better way.

Then there's God...

...whose ways are not our ways. Nor are His thoughts our thoughts.

There are times for our competence. Times for our confidence. Times for seeking the input and perspectives of others. All in due process and in due time.

Yet, placing our trust in God should always come first. Seeking His input, His perspective, His plan... His worthwhile offering of an altogether better way that super-cedes our thoughts and ways; one can never go wrong.

Sure it may be a little dicey at times. A little scary. A little unsettling. All the aforementioned at once and more than "a little" is even quite possible. But then again, such feelings and emotions usually accompany the times when one tries to go it on their own, without God.  So what is gained by trusting in God exponentially outweighs what is lost in self-reliance; especially when you consider our finite minds prone to ill-timed mistakes compared to God's infinitely sovereign, perfectly-timed plan.

On this #deaconThursday, pray for church operations, that no matter their experience, competence or confidence of abilities, they will seek and trust in God. For all the discussions and meetings, strategies and plans, may they first look and pray for the counsel of the Holy. Pray for proper recognition, for the times when their confidence of abilities and planning align with what God has in store and when it should be carried out. Conversely, pray for discernment, that they not rush to act on their experience and step away and outside of whatever God may have had in store or intended for them to accomplish.

He is the potter. We are the clay. Instruments of His grace. Tools for His workmanship. Used for His purpose; for His glory.

-PNC

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