Trust In The Lord

When life happens and trials come your way, where do you turn to for help? Do you turn to your own strength for help? Do you look to others? Or do you cling to some humanistic positive thinking saying or motto; “When life gives you lemons make lemonade,” or  “That which doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.”

None of these things will help you. Everyone faces trials how we overcome them depends on who you turn to for help and refuge.

Don’t turn to others. Don’t turn to yourself. Don’t think some positive thinking saying will get you through dark times.  Instead, put your trust in the Lord. He will walk through the hard times with you, and when you come out on the other side, you will see that He has a plan for you that is good through it all.

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Samuel 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words be true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant: 

Psalms 9:10 And they that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you.
  
Psalms 13:5 But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 

Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalms 31:14 But I trusted in you, O LORD: I said, You are my God.

Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in you.

 

Lead Me To The Rock

The Psalms are the prayers of King David during the most overwhelming times of His life. His trials and problems always brought Him to his knees.

He knew when He was overwhelmed and had reached the limit of what he could endure, to cry out to the One, who can bear all things and give us rest.  

We too can cry out to that same Rock – to Jesus Christ, our rock of deliverance, our rock of defense, our rock of salvation, our rock of our strength.

David cries out “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Notice our job is to cry out to God in our distress and the job of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to Jesus.

if you are overwhelmed today, if your circumstances are more than you can bear, cry out to Jesus – to the Rock that is his higher than you and higher than your circumstances, higher than all your problems . 

He will deliver you. He will bring you to a place of rest, strength and victory. 

Psalm 18:46 The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and put my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

Psalm 62:2,6 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be moved.

Our Strong Tower

God’s children have a strong tower -  A place of refuge and safety where we can run to in times of trouble and trials.                                                                                                                    

When we need Him the most, we can run to the name of Jesus and be safe. In times of distress, fear, uncertainty, hopelessness, helplessness and weakness we have a place we can run to for comfort and protection.  Jesus is our strong tower.

He is Jehovah-Jireh. He has provided for our need of salvation. He is Jehovah-Nissi, our banner. His banner over us is love. He is Jehovah-Shalom, our peace. He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, our righteousness. He is Jehovah-Shammah – wherever we are, He is there.

Jesus is our Savior, our Rock, our Refuge, our Strength. He is our mighty strong tower. Are you overwhelmed today? Feeling afraid, insecurity or uncertain? Run to Jesus. 

Psalm 59:9: Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold.

Psalm 62:7: On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Psalm 71:7: I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge.

Romans 10:13: For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

True Repentance

We know that repentance means a turn of direction. But we have to turn to something. Gods’ word tells us “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. 

True Godly sorrow causes us to run into the arms of Jesus - the arms of grace leading to life in Him. There will be a true change.

Worldly sorrow lives in the moment, we may feel bad what we have done but it’s about us. Perhaps you got caught in sin and feel bad about being exposed. There is no power in merely feeling about what you’ve done. This causes us to turn from God and continue living in sin because it’s not produced by the Holy Spirit through conviction. It leads to death.

True repentance brings about sorrow for the way we have we have grieved God and others. It moves the heart of God with compassion and brings about a heart change in us. Psalm 103:13-14 says “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”

When we are in a sweet place of brokenness, the heart of God is moved and fills us with His grace.

Never Rejected, Never Unloved, Never Alone

Have you ever felt rejected, abandoned and unloved? Jesus will never leave you. 

He is incapable of suddenly deciding that He doesn't want you. Nothing you can do will cause Him to reject you. Believe what God's Word says about Him and about you.

You are defined by the love and acceptance of the One, who formed your inward parts - the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He thinks you are worth loving, cherishing and keeping.

Find your identity in Him. Apply His love to your wounded heart and let His word renew your mind and penetrate deep in your heart. 

Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; "He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:5, No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalms 94:14 "For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance."

Isaiah 42:16  "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Ephesians 3:17-19 “ That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Don't Worry

When we focus on a problem, it grows, multiplies, overwhelms and robs us of joy and peace. But when we focus on the Lord - on His word, love, grace, power, glory, and might - our problems become so small we can hardly see them.

Whatever has happened this week that has caused your focus to shift. It's time to refocus our attention to the only One who can calm the storms of our lives.

Lord, teach us to bring all things to You. When worry threatens to overwhelm, help us to commit our problems into Your hands and rest in the knowledge that You are sovereign and mighty. May the focus of our hearts and our lives upon You this day. In Jesus name, Amen!

"Do not fret.....Psalm 37:1

"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

“ Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. “ 1 Peter 5:7

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“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” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Iron Sharpens Iron

Let our hearts be united in The Holy Spirit and bear the image of our Heavenly Father...

Let us support and encourage one another in our supernatural union...strengthening and spurring each other on to good deeds...carrying our brethren's burdens in brotherly love and with mutual edification...as true imitators of Christ and in fulfillment of His Law.

Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 13:1
Continue in brotherly love.

1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Galatians 6:2

Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ.
Philippians 2:4

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 Thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Ecclesiastes 4:10
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.