Psalm 138:8–"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands."
This is an honest prayer, a sincere prayer. It is a prayer that I hold to and that all should. But while it is a nice sentiment to hold, it is another thing entirely to live our lives dependent upon the faithfulness of God, resting our confidence in the assurance that He fulfills His purposes. But that is what this verse is all about: living a life of obedient trust in the faithfulness of God to fulfill His promises.
As we embark on another week of life in this crazy world, let us take some time to ascent to the promises God has made to us, and to actively trust that He will fulfill them.
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Psalm 56:4–In God I Trust
Psalm 56:4–"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid."
Fear is a real, very human thing that every person experiences. It could be the fear of paying the bills, or the anxiety of relationships, whatever the fears may be we all deal with them. Sometimes fear can be so overwhelming that it feels asphyxiating. It is at these times, though, when all of life seems to fall like a great dark cloud over our lives that we should remember and apply the words of this verse.
I shall not be afraid.
Why?
Because my trust is in God and His word.
Amen.
Fear is a real, very human thing that every person experiences. It could be the fear of paying the bills, or the anxiety of relationships, whatever the fears may be we all deal with them. Sometimes fear can be so overwhelming that it feels asphyxiating. It is at these times, though, when all of life seems to fall like a great dark cloud over our lives that we should remember and apply the words of this verse.
I shall not be afraid.
Why?
Because my trust is in God and His word.
Amen.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Jeremiah 17:7-8–Blessed are Those Who Trust in the Lord
Jeremiah 17:7-8–"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
The reality of this verse can be most keenly seen in its converse. When people do not trust in the Lord they have no roots to secure them in times of trouble, no stability when the winds of life blow, and fail to produce lasting fruit of eternal value. But this is precisely what trusting in the Lord means. To trust in the Lord means that we will rely upon Him for our provision, our strength, and our guidance in life. There is no surer Rock than the Lord Himself. What Jeremiah says is still as true as ever. Let us never forget this as we strive to live a life based upon trusting in the Lord.
The reality of this verse can be most keenly seen in its converse. When people do not trust in the Lord they have no roots to secure them in times of trouble, no stability when the winds of life blow, and fail to produce lasting fruit of eternal value. But this is precisely what trusting in the Lord means. To trust in the Lord means that we will rely upon Him for our provision, our strength, and our guidance in life. There is no surer Rock than the Lord Himself. What Jeremiah says is still as true as ever. Let us never forget this as we strive to live a life based upon trusting in the Lord.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Proverbs 3:5-6–Trust in the Lord
Proverbs 3:5-6–"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."
Far be it for me to say something completely obvious but life is hard. It is full of disappointment and a whole lot of, well, junk. Amidst the vertiginous reality of this world, however, we have a sure and certain security: the Lord. Only in Him and in His truth will our paths be made straight and our ways be secure. It is for this very reason that we should not lean on our own understanding but should, in all our ways, acknowledge Him.
Far be it for me to say something completely obvious but life is hard. It is full of disappointment and a whole lot of, well, junk. Amidst the vertiginous reality of this world, however, we have a sure and certain security: the Lord. Only in Him and in His truth will our paths be made straight and our ways be secure. It is for this very reason that we should not lean on our own understanding but should, in all our ways, acknowledge Him.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Proverbs 11:28–Trust In?
Proverbs 11:28–"Whoever trusts in his riches will fail, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf."
This verse offers a distinction. On one hand there are those people who would put their trust in wealth, in riches. These people are held in contrast to the righteous who will "flourish like a green leaf." It would seem that, at the surface level, this verse is about trust. However, I submit that there is something else, something deeper.
The question I have to ask is: why do the righteous flourish like a leaf?
The answer must take into account that those who trust in riches will fail but the righteous will flourish. Riches are not the reason that some will fail; it is their trust in riches that causes their failure. The most obvious inference would be to say that what causes the righteous to flourish is, at the very least, that they do not place their trust in riches.
The appropriate follow-up question is: what do the righteous put their trust in?
Without wasting too much literary space, the answer to the above question is simple. The righteous place their trust solely in God. Trusting in God alone is the only way to ensure that one will flourish and not fail. There is only one sure Rock, only one Fortress. Until or unless we place our trust solely and securely in He who is, then we will always seek something else to place our trust in that is neither trustworthy nor worthy of it.
In Christ alone.
This verse offers a distinction. On one hand there are those people who would put their trust in wealth, in riches. These people are held in contrast to the righteous who will "flourish like a green leaf." It would seem that, at the surface level, this verse is about trust. However, I submit that there is something else, something deeper.
The question I have to ask is: why do the righteous flourish like a leaf?
The answer must take into account that those who trust in riches will fail but the righteous will flourish. Riches are not the reason that some will fail; it is their trust in riches that causes their failure. The most obvious inference would be to say that what causes the righteous to flourish is, at the very least, that they do not place their trust in riches.
The appropriate follow-up question is: what do the righteous put their trust in?
Without wasting too much literary space, the answer to the above question is simple. The righteous place their trust solely in God. Trusting in God alone is the only way to ensure that one will flourish and not fail. There is only one sure Rock, only one Fortress. Until or unless we place our trust solely and securely in He who is, then we will always seek something else to place our trust in that is neither trustworthy nor worthy of it.
In Christ alone.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Protecting the Gift of Friendship
There is perhaps no greater joy than the true pleasure of love. I do not mean only love of the romantic variety, but the love between friends, the love between people that have been allowed to see the deep parts of one another. This is one of the truly beautiful gifts that God has given us. But despite this truth, our sin natures continually act as a toxin, degrading our relationships and spoiling the great joy of love.
This is why it is so vital that we seek God in faith, that we would give every bit of ourselves–even our relationships–to God so that He would consecrate and sanctify us fully. It is only in giving ourselves to God that He is free to transform us from the inside out. This is the only way to truly protect and cherish the love in our lives. Let us then commit to seek after God without end so as to be made able to love with reckless abandon and utter trust!
This is why it is so vital that we seek God in faith, that we would give every bit of ourselves–even our relationships–to God so that He would consecrate and sanctify us fully. It is only in giving ourselves to God that He is free to transform us from the inside out. This is the only way to truly protect and cherish the love in our lives. Let us then commit to seek after God without end so as to be made able to love with reckless abandon and utter trust!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
No More Wishes
It may seem an odd thing to say but we do not wish upon God. He is not our wishing well. Rather, we rely upon God. We depend upon Him in faith, as sure footings depend upon rungs of the ladder or as deep canyon rely upon a bridge to traverse. In fact, our lives are contingent solely upon His sustaining grace and the power of His Word, for truly, in Him we live and move and have our being.
A wish is a longing for fulfillment or contentment in circumstances or materials. To wish is to gaze at the future with an eye of discontent at the present. When we wish we are simultaneously indicating that a present predicament of want. We are admitting that we are not content currently but that if our wish be granted then we would be fulfilled. Truly this is a lie.
Conversely, in Christ our wishes our transformed into expectant hope. But this hope is not in the determent of perceived deficiencies in the current climate. Rather, our hope is in the goodness of God, in His steadfast faithfulness and His dependable love. As our hope in God ferments, we are met with fruit in our lives. This fruit is God depositing Himself within us.
All of this, ultimately, comes down to faith. And there can be no grey area, no neutral ground at this point. Either we are trusting in God or we are trusting in something other than God. This trust encompasses everything from fulfillment to security, from love to relationships; not the least of these being the whole ordeal of salvation.
Either we trust that God will be our hope or we do not. Therefore, we do not bring wishes to God; we offer Him no wish. To do so would be a disrespect to who He is and all that He has done. Instead, we come to God in faith and in love, made possible because of Christ and empowered by His Holy Spirit. Let us then think differently as we talk about desire and as we bring theology to bear upon all our lives!
A wish is a longing for fulfillment or contentment in circumstances or materials. To wish is to gaze at the future with an eye of discontent at the present. When we wish we are simultaneously indicating that a present predicament of want. We are admitting that we are not content currently but that if our wish be granted then we would be fulfilled. Truly this is a lie.
Conversely, in Christ our wishes our transformed into expectant hope. But this hope is not in the determent of perceived deficiencies in the current climate. Rather, our hope is in the goodness of God, in His steadfast faithfulness and His dependable love. As our hope in God ferments, we are met with fruit in our lives. This fruit is God depositing Himself within us.
All of this, ultimately, comes down to faith. And there can be no grey area, no neutral ground at this point. Either we are trusting in God or we are trusting in something other than God. This trust encompasses everything from fulfillment to security, from love to relationships; not the least of these being the whole ordeal of salvation.
Either we trust that God will be our hope or we do not. Therefore, we do not bring wishes to God; we offer Him no wish. To do so would be a disrespect to who He is and all that He has done. Instead, we come to God in faith and in love, made possible because of Christ and empowered by His Holy Spirit. Let us then think differently as we talk about desire and as we bring theology to bear upon all our lives!
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