Tag: He will act

4.t. Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Job 5:8  “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13    And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Psalms 50:15     and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalms 77:1-2   I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.

Jonah 2:1-7   Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,  saying, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Psalms 37:5    Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

1 Peter 4:19   Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

What great words of comfort, hope, and confidence.  It is easy to read these in our comfort, blessings, and prosperity.  It is easy for us to hold true and faithful in times without trials or troubles.  These words may come to us while in good times and give us comfort in thinking about “the possibility of trouble landing on my doorstep” and how we would then, in faith, call out to Jesus. However, trouble has a way of sneaking up on us.  It hits us from the blindside.  It grabs us from behind and tries to choke us out.  It does not play fair or give any respect to who we are.  Trials and troubles come upon all mankind, good and bad.

We can see from these scriptures that men called out to God in their time of trouble.  Trials have a way of humbling the soul before God or driving a hatred deep within.  The difference is the condition of the heart, mind, and soul of the person.  The heart holds things dear to the soul.  If the heart is holding dear to things of this world over the things of God trials will either push them away or draw them closer.  When the heart is holding dear to things of this world the study of God’s word and spending daily time in scripture and desiring to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit’s leading are not anywhere near their heart.  Be mindful of this because it very well can be the place where you are close to being and not even know it.  Our sinful nature and with Satan’s lies and deception we can slip into this void of darkness unknowingly.  Each of us needs brothers and sisters to spur us on to good works, faithful living, God-honoring, reliant, trusting, and obedient lives.  When we do this for each other we grow in knowledge and understanding.  Our desire for things of God increases.  Our hope and faith become more firm.  Our lives become beacons of the light of Jesus Christ to those in darkness.  Trials and troubles have the possibility to darken our souls.  Let us be faithful to each other and hold each other accountable to walk worthy of our calling to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

163. First or second choice?

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.

Psalm 37:3-5   Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

John 15:5    I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 27:14   Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 37:4    Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

1 Corinthians 10:12-14   Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall

John 8:31-36 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Is our first choice to trust God, to seek God, to rely on God????? Do we do it on our own pushing forward without waiting for God’s perfect plan?  When do I put myself first and God second?  Do I even know how to put God first?  The real question I should be asking is “do I trust Him”, Do I rely on Him, Do I seek Him and his perfect plan and purpose for my life?  To be honest I would have to say yes and no.  I struggle with waiting.  I struggle in the limbo stages of life.  I struggle with not knowing?  All of these struggles happen when I truly am in a place in my life where I need to trust in, rely on, and cling to God.  Therein is where the problem is.  I place more significance in needing and wanting God present and working in my life when things are a bit of center than when all systems are good.  If my choice for God is on reserved for times of need then what kind of wretched man am I.  Should not my choice be for wanting to honor, glorify, serve, worship, follow, obey, and rely on Him ALL OF THE TIME?

If I don’t establish God first in all things at all time then I will find myself not being fueled up for all times of life.  Fuel for life comes from His word but the use of that fuel is a choice, a disciplined choice, an intentional choice, and a commitment that is heart, mind, and soul deep.  There cannot be times where  I am content enough today without it being all about God, or where I allow myself to think that I can coast today, or that I am good enough today on my own.

Never is it right to think we serve, honor, follow, and obey God on our terms as an alternative way to live for those moments of trying times.  If we think this way He will always not be an intentional first choice in our life and more than likely not even a close second.

Here is a hymn that speaks of realizing the heart, mind, and  soul-deep need for Jesus each day:

I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford. I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee. I need thee every hour, stay thou nearby; temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. I need thee every hour, in joy or pain; come quickly, and abide, or life is vain I need thee every hour; teach me thy will, and thy rich promises in me fulfill. I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.