Depend (verb): to place reliance or trust (merriam-webster dictionary).

“Then he (Jesus) said, I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” ~ Matthew 18:3 (NLT)

There is a reason people always say “wait until you’re ready to have children”. This is because children depend on their parents for everything; food, clothing, shelter, showering, etc. They trust with their whole heart. In the verse above, Jesus is saying to be just like that – completely dependent on Him. Not just when we want a new job, a spouse, more money, or a breakthrough, but in everything. That kind of dependence means humbling ourselves and admitting, “Hey God, I actually can’t do this life thing without You.”

Depending on God means we can’t do anything apart from Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6(NLT). Truth is, for the independent and “I can do it all by myself” people (like me) this doesn’t make sense and doesn’t come naturally. So here are some practical ways to help us create a relationship with Jesus which will help us depend on Him

First, know God for yourself. It wouldn’t make sense if we’re just blindly depending on God because someone said to do that. You’ve got to open up that bible and learn about who God is and what His character is like. Knowing God for yourself will build your confidence on who He is and will help you be able to depend on Him for everything. Secondly, acknowledge God’s sovereignty. When we truly understand that God is the creator and we are just the creation, there’s a perspective switch which causes us to be humble. Last but not least, prayer. I know this is cliché but having a prayerful lifestyle is evidence that we trust God to lead us in life. I pray that as we dive into the 2^nd half of 2025, may we learn what it means to TRULY DEPEND on Him — not just when things get tough, but in every moment of life. As we do this, I believe we’re going to grow 2gether. Grace and peace 🙂