Category: Devotionals

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

Today is my dearest friend’s 65^th birthday. We met in 7^th grade and have remained close friends through the last 53 years. Over the years, we have shared so much together! After high school, we went to separate colleges, but our friendship remained strong. When I married, she was there as my maid of honor. When my children were growing up, she was there. When I went through my battle with breast cancer, she was there. When death invaded my life, she was there. Whenever I needed her, she was there.

The Bibles says, “A friend loveth at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17), and that is my friend, Lorrie. Without her, my life would not be as blessed as it has been, and I cannot imagine going through it without her by my side even though we live 2500 miles apart!

God has been good to me to give me such a wonderful friend, but I have another friend who is also very special to me. He means more to me than I can ever say in mere words. Like Lorrie, He has remained a true and steadfast friend throughout the years. I met Him on March 10, 1968. That was the day I asked Jesus to become my Saviour. At that moment, He became my very best friend, and I love Him dearly! Since that time, He has never left my side. He has helped me grow to love Him more and more through the years as I read about Him in His Word. He has been with me through good times and bad, times of sorrow and times of joy. I cannot imagine my life or where I would be today without Him.

Since I met Him, He has been with me through every single moment of my life… my school years, my wedding, the birth of my children, my struggle with cancer, the death of my parents and in-laws, raising my kids… you name it, Jesus was there, and I know He will be with me from now and throughout all eternity. He promised me that, and He always keeps His promises. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The love that Jesus has for me never changes. It is an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) In fact, Jesus loved me so much that He sacrificed Himself, shedding His precious blood on an old rugged cross, so I could have everlasting life with Him in heaven forever. John 15:13 states, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That’s my friend; that’s my Saviour!

I have been doubly blessed in my life when it comes to friends. First, I have had the love and support of Lorrie, my dearest and truest friend on earth, for more than half a century. I pray for many more years of friendship with her. Second, I have the eternal love and support of a Saviour who gave Himself for me that I might have an earthly life rich and full of God’s blessings and the blessed assurance of everlasting life with Him one day in heaven for all eternity! John 10:10 records the words of Jesus when He said, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Because of Jesus, I have a life that is amazingly wonderful here and a future life that He has promised to be even more incredible! Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” How blessed of God I have been!

I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith, and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear:
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill,
When crowned at last in glory, I’ll see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.
He’s the “Lily of the Valley,” the Bright and Morning Star;
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul!

(from “I’ve Found a Friend in Jesus” by Charles W Fry)

“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” – Proverbs 27:9

**********

Have you met my dear friend, Jesus? I’d love to introduce you to Him!

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” – Mark 9:23

Believing in someone is a lot like loving someone. Both involve making a decision that will influence your behavior toward a certain individual. The decision to believe in someone or love someone is actually a choice that you make, and it is influenced by a number of factors.

The factors that influence a decision to love can be physical attraction, common interests, positive personality qualities, etc., and when some of these factors demonstrate longevity, it may lead an individual to decide to love someone. This is important because there are times when individuals can be very “unlovable,” and if a decision has been made to love that person, then the love remains even in moments when love is not “felt.”  Clearly, love is a decision.

Believing in God is also a decision one makes, and like love, there are factors than influence that decision. Perhaps one begins to question things to which God is the only reasonable answer. Maybe something “miraculous” has occurred in someone’s life, and he/she chooses to believe in God. When many positive things happen in a person’s life, it is easy to believe in the Bible, but when serious problems dominate one’s life, the decision to believe in God may not even be considered. When the going gets tough, and it seems as if God is not answering our prayers in the way we think He should, it is our decision to believe that keeps our faith intact. There will be many times in our lives when our faith is shaken, but if you have made a decision to believe in God and the Scriptures, your belief in Him remains. You may not understand, and it may trouble you greatly, but your decision to believe is unshakeable. Why? Because like love, our belief in God is based on Scriptural facts, not on our feelings.

Sadly, in our world people make decisions that come and go. We see that in marriages. A couple makes a decision to stay together until “death do us part,” yet when temptation enters their lives, the marriage crumbles and the decision to stay together “through better or worse” fades away. To help prevent our belief in God from slipping away, He has given us several ways to help increase and solidify our faith in Him.

• Proverbs 3:4 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” We need to trust God completely. Relying on human intellect to explain or rationalize the natural world is impossible. The Bible tells us that God’s ways are much higher than our own. (Isaiah 55:9) When we understand this, we begin to understand that there is so much that is beyond humanity’s capabilities or reasoning. Through that, we find the decision to believe in God makes perfect sense.
• Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is critical to study the Word of God. As He speaks to us through it, our belief in Him becomes more secure. Take time to know God just as you would take time to know someone whom you would eventually decide to love.
• Proverbs 8:17 – “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” God promises that those who diligently look for Him will find Him.
• James 1:22 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Use the measure of faith that you have and build upon it by doing what God tells you to do in His Word. As you reap the blessings of following God’s Word, the reality of God in your life brings validity to your belief in Him.
• Malachi 3:10 – “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” When we put God’s Word into action in our lives, we trust Him to do as He has said. In a sense, we are proving God. Our faith is strengthened when we see God provide for us as He said He would.

Abstract ideas, such as love and belief, cannot be seen to verify their existences. Like true love, true belief is based upon facts, not feelings, and both grow as more evidence is presented to support them. To allow our belief in God to grow, we must seek out supportive evidence through the Bible, the testimonies of others, the ministries of the church, and the illuminations from the Holy Spirit. As our belief in God becomes stronger, we will come to the realization that truly “… with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

‘All things are possible,’ this is his word.
Receive it, ’tis written for you:
Believe in his promises, God cannot fail,
For what he has said, he will do.

Nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God,
Nothing is impossible when you’re trusting in his word;
Hearken to the voice of God to thee,
“Is there anything too hard to me?”
Then put your trust in God alone and rest upon his word,
For ev’rything, O ev’rything!
Yes ev’rything is possible with God!

(from “Nothing is Impossible” by Eugene L. Clark)

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” – Isaiah 43:10

**********

“God said it. I believe it. That settles it for me.” -unknown

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am not quite at the place that the apostle Paul was when he wrote this portion of Scripture. In fact, I am not even close! I have yet to actually “glory” in my infirmities. I tend to do more grumbling, but I am learning that in the weakness of my humanity, the strength of Christ is that upon which I must depend!

When I remember that God is with me no matter what is happening to me or around me, and that regardless of how it seems, He is in complete control, I can rest in His strength. When I forget that, I am frustrated, upset, and often fearful in my own futile attempts to control the circumstances surrounding me.

Once I remember who I am and who God is, my perspective changes, and I do what I need to do to have victory in my life. I go to my heavenly Father in prayer! God then gives me grace to endure whatever I am facing, and He empowers me to act according to His perfect will. Because of this, I am able to truly “rest” in His power. It is only at that point that I can “glory in my infirmities” with gladness in my heart that God’s strength will be manifested through my weakness.

When you’re a child of God, His grace is always available, sufficient for all things, and never-ending!

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

(from “Amazing Grace” by John Newton)

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

*********

There’s no other word for God’s grace, but amazing!

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” – Romans 12:12

This past week, I taught my Sunday school class about the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial, whereas joy is independent of what is happening around or to us. Therefore, when “rejoicing in hope,” we have the continual joy in us that is founded upon the hope of our salvation in Jesus Christ. No matter what is going on in our world, our homes, or our jobs, the joy of the Lord remains unfazed. Philippians 4:4 tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Knowing Christ as one’s Saviour brings us eternal joy in our souls!

Because we have the joy of the Lord, we can endure through the difficulties of life. Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, we can patiently go through the tribulations of every day living, whether it be something minor, major, or even catastrophic. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to be patient, but with the understanding that God is always with us and will deliver us from all situations, we can purpose in our hearts to be long-suffering to whatever comes our way, trusting God to take care of us. Psalm 40:1 records David’s words, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” God will hear, and He will deliver.

Lastly, due to the joy in our souls and the patience we have to get through life’s trials and tribulations, we should be in constant communion with God, and we do that through prayer. Does that mean we need to spend all of our days on our knees? No, but we should have a heart with an attitude of devotion that is steadfast in prayer. That is, we should have an almost sub-conscious attitude toward prayer, where in our daily activities it is as natural to talk with God as it is to speak with another individual. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “Pray without ceasing,” and with His joy in our hearts, and His promise of always keeping us in His protective hand, we should always be in sweet communion with Him, 24/7, through prayer.

Because we have the joy of the Lord, assurance of deliverance from tribulations, and an open line of communication with the Almighty God, we can rejoice and be glad every day of our lives!

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.

(from “Near to the Heart of God” by Cleland B. McAfee)

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans 15:13

**********

It’s good to be a child of God!

“Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.” – Ezekiel 7:23

Sounds like Ezekiel has been visiting a few of our cities here in America. In actuality, he is writing prophetically about Israel, however, it sure sounds like he’s talking about current situations in our country, doesn’t it? We certainly have had our share of “bloody crimes” and “violence” in recent days. So much, in fact, that even in Christian circles, you can hear talk about the “end times” and the “imminent return of Christ.”

While it may be that Jesus will come again soon, the truth is that “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) Because of this, it is imperative that we all be ready when He does return because it truly could be at any moment. To be caught unaware and unprepared means a person will be left behind to face seven years of God’s judgment upon the earth.

Is the time close? Biblical scholars say there are no more biblical prophecies that must be fulfilled before Christ comes again. All that needs to happen is for God the Father to tell His Son to go and bring His children home. At that moment, the dead in Christ will rise, and all those who are living and have trusted Jesus as their Saviour will follow. This is what is referred to as the “Rapture of the Church.”

The next time Jesus comes, it will not be announced by angels to a group of shepherds on a hillside, and the Lord will not reside with mankind for 30+ years. Instead, the Bible tells what will happen when He comes again to those who have trusted Christ as Saviour. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 states, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Unlike His first coming, where a host of angels sang of His birth, this second time will be heralded differently. The Bible informs us, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) It is at that moment, the rapture will happen, and it will be so quick that there will be no time for anyone to make a last minute decision to accept Christ as their Saviour. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that the “rapture” will begin and end in the amount of time it takes the eye to twinkle. That span of time, according to mathematicians, is thousands of times less than one second!

For years, we have been told to look for the signs of His coming. Titus tells us, until that day, we should live “… soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:12-13)

Maybe it’s time to stop looking for the signs, and start listening for shout and the trumpet!

From the lofty courts of Heaven came a bud on earth to bloom
Knowing when He left His Father that His fate would be the tomb
But the grave it could not hold Him
Angels rolled the stone away, now the mighty Rose of Sharon is still blooming yet today
 
But the next time He comes, He won’t have to die for me
The next time He comes, there won’t be a Calvary
The next time He comes we’ll begin eternity
For when He comes again He’ll be coming for me

(from “The Next Time He Comes” by Harold Lane)

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:3

**********

When Jesus comes again, He’ll be coming for me. Will He be coming for you?

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” – Psalm 139:16

It’s pretty amazing to think that God thought about me before I was conceived. He “saw” me in His mind’s eye and planned everything about me, then brought it to pass. I marvel that men can say that life begins at birth, when it clearly states that I existed in the mind of God prior to being born, and He had a plan for me before my life began in my mother’s womb. This is demonstrated in Jeremiah 1:5 where God told Jeremiah that He had planned for him to be a prophet before he was born. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

There is no doubt that before our conception, we were alive in the mind of the Lord. Through His divine power, His thoughts became substance, and the physical part of our being came into existence. Even that, in and of itself, is miraculous! How does one tiny cell become billions of cells that differentiate into all the different tissues and organs that make up the  human body? Divine creation is the only explanation! It’s pretty humbling to think that the One who designed and created the universe and everything in it, thought about each of us as unique individuals and then created us in His image! “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) It’s wonderful to be a child of God!

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

(from “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” by Adelaide Addison Pollard and George Coles Stebbins)

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” – Psalm 139:14

**********

Before I was, I was, and I will forever be… with my Lord!

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38

Looking around at this world, I see and hear about lots of things that are very depressing. I hear about global warming and how our earth is suffering drastic changes due to man’s pollution of the atmosphere. I see hatred, anger, and intolerance between religions, races, nations, and government leaders. I have lived in cities where the crime rates have skyrocketed, and I have witnessed individuals living inside their cars or cardboard boxes. I see acres and acres of trees cut down, destroying natural habitats and environments to make way for urbanization. I’ve seen smog so think it was dangerous to go outside. I’ve heard people mock God and His Word in my country, and I’ve seen places of worship covered with vicious graffiti on their walls. I’ve seen believers attacked for their faith, and I’ve heard of horrible persecutions and murders of Christians in other lands.

This is the world that Jesus left heaven to come to. For all eternity past, He had dwelt in heaven, surrounded by angels who loved Him and worshipped Him with songs and praises continually. The entire place was filled with the glory of God. There was no hatred, no destruction of the environment, no war, no homeless people, no racism, no poverty. It was perfect… it is perfect still! It’s where God’s holiness can be found everywhere! This is what Jesus willingly left to come to earth to live as a man who did no wrong, be betrayed by a friend, mocked, ridiculed, and eventually executed on a rugged cross as a lowly criminal.

Jesus left the glory of heaven for one reason. He came to become our Saviour. 1 John 4:14 states, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” Jesus was sent by His Father in heaven for a specific purpose, and He chose to obey the will of God. At any point in time, He could have said it was over… finished… not worth the effort. But He didn’t. He waited until God’s work truly was finished. He waited until He hung on the cross and took the weight of all the sins of the world upon Himself. And when He did, His beloved Father turned away, unable to look upon His Son, who bore the sins of all mankind. 1 Peter 2:24 states, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” For the first time in all eternity, Jesus was separated from His Father. That is when the work was completed, and Jesus finally announced, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Sin’s price had been paid by the Son of God, who shed His precious blood on Calvary, suffering and dying a heinous death to become our Redeemer.

The story didn’t end there though. 3 days after His death, Jesus rose from the grave! Through His resurrection, He proved He really was God’s Son who had the power to forgive sins and become the Saviour of the world. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31)

I am so glad Jesus chose to come to earth from heaven to be my Saviour. One day soon, I will see Him and be able to thank Him for saving my soul from death and hell, for in His coming to earth, He purchased my redemption and gave me eternal life. One sweet day, I will be with Him in His glorious heaven where He is preparing a place for me. Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

Jesus will return again, and by the looks of things, it won’t be long. I can hardly wait to see Him!

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus
Sing his mercy and his grace
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

(from “When We All Get to Heaven” by Emily D. Wilson and E.E. Hewitt)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

**********

No longer do I look for the signs of Jesus’ coming; now, I listen for the trumpet!!

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

Every once in a while, I go fishing. I don’t catch a lot, but I keep trying. At first, I am excited. I put the bait on my line and cast it as hard as I can to get it far out into the water. Then I wait… and wait… until finally, I reel the line back in, just in case there is a fish on the hook that I didn’t feel. Never is, so I check the bait and recast. Out goes the line, and the baited hook drops into the lake once more. A little bit later, I reel it back in. No fish. The cycle continues. Cast it out, reel it in. Cast it out, reel it in.

Kind of reminds me of what I do with spiritual burdens. The Bible tells me to cast my cares upon the Lord. I do that quite easily. The challenges of life often bring me to my knees, and I readily cast all my concerns and worries to Him, but just like when I’m fishing, I reel those problems right back to me, shoulder them, and head off into my daily activities with this massive burden on my back. It makes it difficult to do anything else because I am so weighed down with those same cares and woes I had previously brought to God!

The dictionary defines the word “cast” as “to throw something forcefully in a specified direction.” Notice the definition never refers to retrieving what is thrown. That which is cast is to go in one direction, and that’s it. See my problem? I take my burdens to the cross, but often before I leave, I pick them right back up again and then go on to the rest of my day.

I need to cast my cares upon the Lord, period. Give them to Him. I know He can handle them all much better than I can. He’s proven that again and again in Scripture. Truly casting my cares upon Him is an act of faith on my part. When I take my burdens back, I am demonstrating a lack of belief that God will handle them, and I am doubting His Word. I need to not be a “double minded man” (James 1:8), but instead I need to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) to protect myself against the attacks of the enemy and fortify myself with prayer and the Word of God.

When worries creep into my mind, I need to pray immediately, casting ALL my cares upon Him, then run to the Word of God as quickly as I can and read it for assurance that God’s got it covered. Jesus told us “…with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). There is nothing God cannot handle. I must allow His truth to replace the lies that threaten to overwhelm me. In that way, I can “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

(from “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank E. Graeff)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

**********

Got worries? Give them to God! Time to be “care-free” in Jesus!

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33

I do not like confusion. When things or situations bewilder me, I am very uncomfortable, and at times, that discomfort borders on fear. The uncertainty of today’s world can be extremely confusing! One day, the CDC and the WHO say one thing, and the next day, they say the opposite. We have a Constitution that guarantees certain rights to this country’s citizens, but more and more of those rights are taken away by the very people voted in to uphold them. Now, we have legal tender that is not being accepted in certain places of business. I’ve even heard people wonder as to why God is allowing these things to happen. When clarity of purpose is missing, confusion quickly moves in to fill the void.

However, we must remember that confusion NEVER comes from God. As today’s verse states, “…God is not the author of confusion…” In fact, He is just the opposite. Isaiah 45:4 states, “They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.” Confusion comes when our focus is not upon God, but upon circumstances and outcomes. Uncertainty comes when we depend upon man for guidance and wisdom, when our dependence should be upon the Lord. “Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.” (Isaiah 41:29)

What is the solution? How do we find clarity in the world around us when it seems that chaos reigns supreme? We turn to the Lord. Psalm 71:1 explains how to do this. “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” The ways of God are so much higher than the ways of man. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) When I choose to place my trust in God, I also must realize that by doing so, I still may not understand certain things or situations, but I know who controls them all, and I purpose to anchor my faith in Him. Proverbs 3:5 reminds me to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I know God has a plan and purpose… it’s written out in Scripture. I know that He uses governments, rulers, individuals, and seemingly  insane situations to accomplish His will.

When I trust God, I choose to follow in His footsteps, knowing He will never lead me astray. He will always take care of me, and He will forever be in control of EVERYTHING! So, no matter how mixed up this world seems, I know God’s got it covered. Nothing takes Him by surprise… the word “oops” is not in His vocabulary, therefore He is the solution to my confusion today and forever!

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

(from “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa Stead and William Kirkpatrick)

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” – Psalm 118:8

**********

The first defense against confusion is the helmet of salvation! Do you have yours?