A Call to Trust

There's only one way to develop the kind of trust that the Lord wants us to have...it is why there was a tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden, and why the Lord let his people get thirsty in the desert, and why the walls of Jericho didn't just collapse on their own, and why God waited ten years before making David king, and why Jesus was constantly putting his disciples into situations that were risky and challenging.

We don't grow in our faith and trust in God until we come to the end of ourselves -- then we either curse God and die, as Job's wife suggested, or we learn to trust.

Trust isn't a suggestion. It's a command. Jesus commanded his disciples during the last supper, before their whole world would be shaken upside down. "Trust in God. Trust also in me." And then he said, "Peace. My peace I leave with you."

I've wondered how on earth they could experience peace -- and it seems to me, once again, that peace follows trust. When you know the Lord and can put deep roots into his goodness and his strength, you will know that no matter what happens, he is in total control, and has your best interest at heart. He only has good intentions toward you. You can rest as you trust in him.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault a man?
Would all of you throw him down--this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place;
they take delight in lies
With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my might rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie;
if weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath
Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods;
though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Psalm 62

Trust. Everyday.

How can we go through difficult times without totally losing our sense of well-being? Seems that we need to be reminded everyday not to lose our focus. The more difficult life situations become, the more we must find the time to be with the Lord and in the truth of his word. Everyday. Otherwise, we are so susceptible to forgetting the truth, and believing lies. Our job is to cling to the Lord.

How can we trust the Lord when everything is falling apart? when life gets really tough? We can't trust that everything will work out the way we want. What we can trust in is the character and nature of God. We have to really know in our mind and in our heart that He is everywhere. He knows all things. He can do anything. He is strong. He is in control. He is good. He is loving. He is compassionate. He has a plan and a purpose for everything. As our roots go down deep into the character and nature of God, we will find a peace this is totally unexplainable.

As we go through hard times, maybe we should put a postit on our journal:
"TRUST. Everyday."

Being Rude

It's funny how hard it can be to keep doing what I really want to do.

I bought a great journal called "PASSION." And each page has the words "Passion Every Day." (http://www.compendiuminc.com/)

It's really helping me to focus every day on living my passion for God -- first by loving him. What I recognized yesterday during my devotional time is that I've been busy doing my Bible study preparation or working on my a slideshow for a Christian conference, but I had been ignoring God. The insight for me was in being reminded that the Lord is with me (it's funny how I know this, but at the same time, I don't!) The truth is, we live in his presence. So when I'm at my desk to spend time with the Lord, and instead I'm busy doing my Christian work and not focusing on my love for the Lord, he's with me...in my study with me...waiting for a conversation...and I'm ignoring him, acting as if he's not there. How rude is that!

I read a Puritan prayer yesterday:
"Impress me deeply with a sense of thine omnipresence, that thou art about my path, my ways, my lying down, my end." And I would add as I've been doing other things instead of spending time with the Lord, "Impress me deeply with a sense of thine omnipresence, that thou art about my desk, my office, my computer, my chair, my morning." (from The Valley of Vision, A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions)