Do We Trust God?

There is this old hymn that sings: "I love you, Lord; You Heard my cries, and pitied every groan; Long as I live, when troubles rise, I'll hasten to your throne"

Isaac Watts wrote this, declaring his love for the Lord, he rushes to the Lord when the relentless waves of life crash upon him, and our merciful God acknowledges his pain.

O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." (2 Chron. 20:12)

This scripture synchronizes beautifully with Isaac's hymn; when in trouble our first response should be to seek shelter in the Lord, instead of worrying about what could go wrong, or questioning God asking him “why me?” The Lord should be a strong tower looked to for strength, and commendation.

How many times has trouble risen in our life and the first action we took was phoning a friend? Or maybe we took on a posture of dissatisfaction, complaining that God has turned a deaf ear to our discomfort.

Every trial is not meant to be the end of you.

Every pain is not a malicious attack from a brute of a God.

He is not a bully; he loves you with an everlasting love, and draws you with loving kindness.

When trials and tribulations come knocking at your door remember to look unto the hills from which your help comes from; remember in the past how God has delivered you?

When you had a stack of bills resembling a mountain, and God provided. He has opened doors in your heart that no man can shut.

What looks like detainment from the promises of God is actually a preparation for the installation of your destiny.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deut. 31:6)

Don’t be a victim to self-inflicted amnesia, overlooking all that God has brought you through.

Don’t let his provision slip from your memory.

He has not fallen off the throne.

He has not forgotten about you.

He sits high but he looks down low.

He is the Balm in Gilead.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

Let this serve as blessed assurance; passing through the vein of suffering inquires a promise to a greater outcome.

In light of this we still worry, we still seek out a blueprint to our God given purpose that we can tangibly see, recruiting little faith.

Are we loving God from a place of trust?

Boldly declaring love for God positions the mind, body, and soul to follow and trust him through strife, and opposition.

It may not make sense to pray, having faith in a God that you cannot see working behind the scenes, as your loved one is on their deathbed. It may seem to be a waste of resources to tithe from a check that barely covers your expenses.

Will you do it anyway?

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (James 2:26)

I would never accuse you of not loving God…but I do dare ask the question, how deep is your love?

Do You Trust God?

Nothing is more heart-wrenching than getting what you prayed for and not being prepared to properly steward it. We must trust the process of sanctification, and put our faith in Jesus Christ. His ways are higher than ours, trust him today.

Thinking Point's

Are you fully trusting the Lord with your: heart, finances, relationships, marriage, children, career, etc.? How can you better show that you trust God?

Action Point's

Make a list of scriptures to read when you find yourself straying away from trusting God. Journal about a time that God delivered you in the midst of a storm.

Delight In The Lord

Psalms 37:4  "Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of your heart"

Imagine this, It’s a hot day around 90 degrees and the air conditioner promptly malfunctions, needing repair. Hot, and bothered you decide to take a trip to the community pool. Upon arrival, you're told by the employee that the pool has reached maximum capacity.

Now, officially bummed but determined to cool off, you venture to the nearest fast food chain; only to find the ice cream machine broken down for repairs.

"Is this day really happening, why am I on the struggle bus?"

Thankfully, a phone call from an amazing friend ends with a much needed invite to their air-conditioned home. You gladly accept. Your friend greets you at the door and you're delighted with a gush of cool air as you make your way inside.

We all can relate to moments like this, where every effort is matched with resistance. Life is very similar to this scenario, as we tend to search for comfort... only to be left uncomfortable.

You could work hard every day only to live paycheck to paycheck.

You may knock on doors for opportunities only for them to be slammed forcefully in your face. We may open our hearts to individuals, only to be left disappointed in the end.

No matter the downfalls we pick ourselves up and continue striving towards our goals for: wealth, success and love. Unfortunately, in these pursuits we may grow weary, and fragile.

Can i pose a question? What if our desires are indeed aligned with our purpose, we are simply undergoing adversity for us to change our strategy?

David's life echoes strategy given from the spirit of God. The way in which he fulfilled his purpose cemented his identity as a man after God's own heart.

We know David was an underdog. His dad, Jesse, did not initially address David as one of his sons to Samuel. He was disappointingly an afterthought.

Upon being chosen, he became a mighty warrior and later a King. We also know that David sinned, and gave into his earthly lusts.

With all of his imperfections, he still holds the reputation of being a man after God's own heart. You may ask how was a murderer, and an adulterer... a man after God's own heart? I would simply reply his sincere intent to please, trust and serve God no matter the circumstance.

David's love for God did not cease his battle with flesh.

I can admit that I am guilty of hiding from God when I blatantly sin. On the other hand, David was man of confidence that owned up to his faults and delighted himself in praising God through life's toughest moments.

When he was right he praised him.

When he was wrong he praised him.

He was wise enough to know there is no hiding from God.

What reason would there be to hide from a merciful and graceful God? Why hide when we have the option to repent. Why stay upset when we can find reconciliation in prayer, and worship.

If we know in the end that we will have the victory, wouldn't it be less painful to initially expose our mess to God rather than "avoiding" him.

"We cannot out-sin God's forgiveness" -Beth Moore

This is one of my favorite quotes as it simply reminds me of his love and patience. We do not need to flee from our Father because he is loving, and wants what's best for his children.

Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." (Hebrews 12:6)."

How do we walk out the purpose God has for our lives?

Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4).

God wants us to take pleasure in pleasing him.

This would entail: praising him on top of the mountain and in the valley, freely donating your surplus or your last dollar to those in need, praying for that sister you strongly dislike.

You might have to uncomfortably ask someone for forgiveness, or practice abstinence before the Lord sends your husband or wife. Facebook and Instagram may have to take the backseat to prayer.

God expects us to be obedient with a sincere and humble heart. 

The greater news is that when we genuinely serve the Lord, he rewards us with the desires of our heart. With every sacrifice, he fashions us with the gift of unrelenting grace.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

God will open doors beyond what you can tangibly see right now. When we drop our will and pick up his, we activate our faith.

Jesus did not die on the cross for us to continue living in spiritual shackles. He did this for our freedom. There is no greater delight than this.

Similar to the scenario at the beginning, when you're searching for relief, God delivers an unexpected blessing to bring you delight. God wants us to live empowered by his glory. He is ready to turn your life around today, will you say yes?

Thinking Point's

What is holding you back from yielding to God's will for your life?

How are you delighting yourself in the Lord?

Action Point's

Journal about the thinking points. Write down a prayer asking God to help you yield to your purpose, and connect with him daily.

Are You a Noise Maker?

Clanging symbols resonate with me as they echo, and continue a notable sound after being clapped once. This same visual Apostle Paul uses when writing his letter to the Corinthians.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1). Paul wanted them to understand the fullness of being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Love has to be at the root of everything we do.

Are your efforts merely distractions; do you serve as noise that provides no healing for the battered, or the wounded?

Are your efforts resounding: self, self, and more self? Are you serving to make yourself feel better, or for the greater purpose of love?

Ministries crumble for disregarding this basic principle, to love always. Nothing matters if we cannot love others even in the midst of their sin. The stench may be from committing adultery, sleeping around, underpaying employees while taking glamorous vacations, backbiting, theft, addiction, or selling illegal drugs.

The foundation of being a believer of Jesus Christ will always be love.

I know it hurts to forgive the drunk driver that took your family member’s life, but you must. I know it pains you to love someone that maliciously took your virginity, something so sacred, but hear me out, God says you must forgive.

He says, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph. 4:32).

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7).”

This woman had been caught in the act of committing adultery, and their fleshly response was to sacrifice the sinner. Jesus could have responded in flesh and condemned them for their hypocritical behavior, but instead used this as a teaching moment.

Where do you need to offer compassion? Is it your sibling that you have yet to forgive? Has your heart hardened towards someone God would have compassion for? Do you have a stone in your hand, ready to aim and throw?

Can I tell you something...your ministry is null and void if you cannot pass the test of loving someone that has wronged you.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing (1 Cor. 13:2-3).

Imagine being in that circle of accusers, you being one of them, holding up a stone ready to launch it forward onto the adulterous woman.

You hear the words of Jesus, and instead of you walking away you stand there still ready to aim. This is how some of us look in our spirits; we take the posture of a condemning sinner, full of pride, and great rhetoric.

Even after hearing the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we are still negligent of our own sin, ready to cast our stones onto others.

Today let’s take time to write a list of people we need to forgive, or of people we need to extend grace to. Is there someone you can’t stop gossiping about?

Ask Jesus to give you a heart for them, and instead of talking about them, pray for them.

Let’s pray together,

Lord forgive me for not freely extending forgiveness

Show me how to show love to those that have wronged me

Show me how to show love to those that have wronged the people I love

Show me how to show love to those that have wronged innocent people

Please give me a heart for people that don’t believe the way I do

Please give me a heart for those that have committed sins of:

murder, theft, addiction, lust, molestation, rape, racism, fascism, adultery,

selling of illegal drugs, domestic violence, genocide, sexual abuse, abortion (used as a method of birth control), lying, cheating, manipulation, idolatry, covetousness, jealousy, false testimony, and any other sin I have not mentioned.

All of this equals the same in your eyes.

Forgive me for throwing stones, that should’ve been aimed at me

Lead me to the way everlasting

Work on my heart Lord, for I cannot do this without your help

In the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, who is mighty to save, and quick to forgive

I pray today, to be more like you, Amen.