What does it mean to depend on God for everything?

Depending on God for everything is a profound and deeply spiritual practice that involves trusting in God's provision, guidance, and sovereignty in every aspect of our lives. This concept is rooted in the understanding that God is the ultimate provider and sustainer, and that our lives are best lived in alignment with His will and purposes. To depend on God for everything means to live a life of faith, surrender, and reliance on His wisdom and strength rather than our own.

The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that illustrate what it means to depend on God. One of the most central passages is found in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches about the importance of trust in God's provision. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus says:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

This passage emphasizes that God is aware of our needs and is faithful to provide for them. When we depend on God, we are called to seek His kingdom and righteousness first, trusting that He will take care of our material and emotional needs. This requires a shift in focus from our own efforts and anxieties to a reliance on God's promises and character.

Another key aspect of depending on God is found in the practice of prayer. Prayer is a means of communicating with God, expressing our dependence on Him, and seeking His guidance and provision. In Philippians 4:6-7, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to bring their concerns to God in prayer:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Through prayer, we acknowledge our limitations and God's limitless power and grace. It is an act of humility and faith, recognizing that we cannot control everything and that we need God's intervention and support.

Depending on God also involves trusting in His timing and plans. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

This means that we are to trust God's wisdom and direction, even when it doesn't make sense to us or when it requires patience and perseverance. God's ways are higher than our ways, and His plans are often beyond our comprehension. By relying on Him, we demonstrate our faith in His goodness and sovereignty.

Living a life of dependence on God also means embracing His strength in our weaknesses. The Apostle Paul speaks to this in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Paul's words remind us that our weaknesses and struggles are opportunities for God's power to be displayed in our lives. When we depend on God, we are not relying on our own strength or abilities, but on His grace and power. This perspective allows us to face challenges with confidence, knowing that God is with us and will sustain us.

Moreover, depending on God means recognizing His role as our ultimate source of security and identity. In a world that often values self-sufficiency and independence, the call to depend on God is counter-cultural. It requires us to find our worth and purpose in our relationship with Him rather than in our achievements, possessions, or status. Psalm 62:5-8 beautifully captures this sentiment:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

In these verses, the psalmist expresses a deep sense of trust and dependence on God as the source of hope, salvation, and refuge. This dependence is not passive but involves actively waiting on God, trusting in His promises, and pouring out our hearts to Him.

Christian literature also offers valuable insights into what it means to depend on God. One notable work is "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk. Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of living in constant awareness of God's presence and relying on Him in every moment. He writes:

"We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed."

Brother Lawrence's practice of continually turning his thoughts to God, even in the mundane tasks of daily life, exemplifies a life of dependence on God. It shows that dependence on God is not limited to major life decisions or crises but is a daily, moment-by-moment posture of the heart.

In summary, depending on God for everything means living a life of faith, trust, and surrender to His will. It involves seeking His kingdom first, bringing our concerns to Him in prayer, trusting in His timing and plans, embracing His strength in our weaknesses, and finding our security and identity in Him. It is a holistic approach to life that acknowledges God's sovereignty and goodness in all things. As we grow in our dependence on God, we experience the peace, joy, and fulfillment that come from living in alignment with His purposes.