by David Brenneman
"Do not fear them, for the Lord your
God is the one fighting for you."
Deuteronomy 3:22.
When things are going our way, trusting God is easy. But when overwhelming battles, painful trials, unmet needs, or lost hopes assail us, we may be tempted to ask, "Can we still trust Him?". We may question why a caring Father would allow sorrow and difficulty to touch His children's lives. We may even doubt whether He is willing to do anything about our circumstances.
But God assured His people, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you" (Psalm 50:15). Can we truly rely on Him to do that? At such times, it is necessary to recognize God's character-to understand that He is not only able but also willing to fulfill every promise in Scripture. Even when we cannot comprehend why the Lord would allow certain situations to occur, knowing His ways can help us trust that He will always act in a
manner that brings about eternal blessings for His children. Also,
believing in His character and love makes it possible to continue
obeying Him, which means we position ourselves to endure and
triumph in the face of the challenges in our lives. So today, don't despair. Know Him and keep trusting.
Jesus, help me to know You better so I can trust You
- Dr. Charles Stanley Trusting God with Today.
Throughout the Old Testament there's example after example of times when life for those you read about were presented with rock solid reasons to trust in the Lord. Some did, some did not. The way it was presented was not at fault. Rather the heart of the recipient was.
We want explanations for the why's in our lives. We don't like delays of any kind. A cup of coffee in a microwave for less than 90 seconds is too long for most.
Have you ever really thought about the truth of what God says of Himself with regards to what He purposes He will do? Well you might have but not in this way.
All jokes aside, consider the resurrection of Lazarus. Indeed there will be a day, according to the Word of God, that a shout from Heaven will be proclaimed and the dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive and remain will also rise to a new life, new body in Christ. Jesus can and does give life to whom He chooses. He authorizes those taken from the world as well. This is but one example. But had He not been specific many more people might have been raised from the dead as well.
Delays and time taken are for our benefit. Otherwise should everything from God happen instantly everything about it would be missed.
"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 your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
To trust requires a span of time. At least with a moral perspective it does. As He thinks so it is. However, we cannot handle such a wondrous concept ourselves.
We build trust with our Savior with everything that we go through in our time on the Earth. We need the things we go through in order to learn the voice of our Good Shepherd. Sheep that we are we need that. Sheep need even to be corrected concerning their thinking more highly of themselves than they ought. Sheep need to learn the voice of their Shepherd. Once they do they won't follow anyone else.
Our trials and tribulations that we are going through and will go through are teaching us to trust the Shepherd of our souls.
When we choose a shortcut vs the way that He is leading us to and through...we will miss out on the lesson of trust building.
When we worry rather than listen for His voice we lose out.
When we...the list can go on and on.
Our prayers should include a thankfulness for the trust He is building in us as well as seeking to know Him more.
When we learn that trust we don't rely on our own understanding.
When we have that trust the peace that passes all understanding comes to us.
When you pray, be thankful for all aspects of your day.
It's to me a great mercy of God that our consequences don't arrive instantly in our lives.
How important is your trust in your Lord and Savior to you?
Seems an odd question to ask but what did Jesus say?
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30.
And they follow Me.
You either follow yourself, the world or Your Savior.
Does this now have a deeper meaning to you?
“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15.
In our day to day we face the temptation to follow anything but the Word of God.
We face the temptation to wallow in worry rather than to trust in the Lord.
We face the temptation to listen to erroneous teachers because their siren sounds appear to appeal to us. It's entirely possible for the right words to come from the wrong mouth. We cannot dismiss what is said about who are to be teachers of the Word of God and to whom they are to teach. Men are to teach over all. Women are not to be teachers of men. Women are to teach children or other women. That's from the Word of God.
Temptations are going to be in our lives to try to get us to not listen to the still small voice that is our Shepherd.
You are in good company with those who did right by the Lord when you are trusting God with your everything.
Jesus said plainly to be careful of how you listen. Trust is built by actions and speech which impact our belief.
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 your paths straight.
Ask Him before you follow someone's teaching. My convictions are not your convictions. Seek out the Spirit of God to show you what you should listen to and from whom.
The Berean Church wouldn't even take the Apostles at their word but examined everything. As should we. Our trust in the Lord is what takes us down His path for our lives.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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