Leaning In

(Scripture references from the NIV)

A few years ago there was a book published that resulted in the “Lean In” movement.  It was primarily to encourage women to be more assertive and strive to be leaders rather than followers.  It sounded good on the surface but became a very controversial movement that people either loved or hated.  

I thought about that idea of “leaning in” and realized that we have the greatest power ever known that we can lean on.  Our God is all-powerful, all-knowing and loves each of us deeply.  He wants more for us than we ourselves can even comprehend.  We can always lean into Him for our guidance.  

When we suffer from difficulties and cry out to God for help, what do we ask for?  There are times that we may be asking for less than what we really need.  But, there are times that we can be superficial when it comes to asking for things from our Father.  Maybe by leaning in to Him we can know better what to ask for and discover the full resolution to what we are facing.  

Often our problems can be a result of heart issues.  Lucky for us, our Father God is a certified heart specialist!  There are times when we need solid answers and we should cry out for wisdom to know the issues causing our difficulties.  If we would lean in to our heavenly Father, seeking the deeper causes to what we face, we might be surprised to discover the reasons that we have our problems.  He wants to help us correct those heart issues so that we can move forward – stronger, braver and healthier in all ways.  That is what we need to do, even if it is done in baby steps, to discover what we were meant to be and do – to become all we were designed and destined to be.  

So, how do we discover what those heart issues are that cause all these fringe problems?  How exactly do we go about leaning in to God for the answers?  The obvious answer to that would be through prayer – by praying we are leaning in to our God.  The more we make time for conversations with God, the more we open up to Him, the more we can learn to depend on and trust Him, then the more likely we are to hear a response from Him in our spirit.  But, I know as well as anyone that those whispers in our spirit can be hard to hear at times – hard to trust.  We question ourselves as to whether or not that prompting was really something from God or was it something my own mind just threw out?

I believe another rock solid way to lean into God is the study of His Word.  I probably have gotten more answers and guidance this way than any other.  I have read completely through the Bible numerous times; and then through individual or group study had more in depth study of the Word.  There are many times that a passage I have seen dozens, maybe even hundreds of times, will be a glaring answer to something I needed to know at that moment in time.  

I also am convinced that the corporate worship we experience by attending church regularly can provide us with another opportunity to lean in to our God and can provide us with clear answers to questions we may have.  Sometimes we may get an answer to a question we were not even aware that we had!

As we lean in to our heavenly Father, who loves us and wants only the very best for us, we can learn more about those heart issues; and, as they are dealt with, there is a high likelihood that the circumstances that have created so many of our difficulties will change.

I believe that if we tend to lean into our weaknesses, our problems, our doubts, that we are really leaning into our enemy.  We are giving him the upper hand in our life.  We are allowing him to keep our hearts confused, our minds twisted and our circumstances going the wrong way.

We need to learn to make time daily to lean in to the One that cares deeply about us – the One that wants only the best for us – to comfort us, heal us, bless us and love us.  The more time we lean in to Him, the easier it is to hear and trust those promptings in our hearts.  The easier it will be to see those words in His book that are reaching out to grab us, teaching and guiding us, the more blessed and uplifted we will be in corporate worship.

Lean In – correct and heal your heart – then your circumstances will change.  

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”  Proverbs 3:5 

“I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”  Psalm 34:4 

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”  Psalm 34:17 

Written by Karran Martin – March 28, 2019