Category: Devotionals

“The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.” – Psalm 118:14

This is certainly an usual season in our lives, isn’t it? Not only are we contending with an aggressive virus, but we also have disunity in our country that is propagated by our governing officials! As we slowly begin to emerge from a national quarantine, we are heading into a presidential election in which candidates are clearly on different sides of the fence. There is a crisis in our land, and people are afraid.

Fear is widespread on several fronts.  First, there is still the fear of the coronavirus. Many still practice social distancing and wear masks, while others choose to ignore these recommendations, thereby causing the mask-wearers to be uncomfortable in public places. Secondly, as November 3^rd draws near, there is the rising fear of which political party will be in control of America. One side fears a “socialistic-type” government, and the other side trembles in fear at the possibility of a more conservative government that will continue on for another four years.

There is a continued fear of civil unrest, distrust of law enforcement, and instability of our economy. There is fear that we will not be able to buy the things we want or get the medical care we need.

Fear is everywhere, and there is no real end in sight to these situations that generate fear in our hearts. So what do we do? How do we combat our fears? We eliminate our fears by remembering who God is, and what He can do. 1 John 4:8 and 16 remind us  that God is love. In His great love, He has redeemed us (John 3:16), thus  making us His own, and He promises to take care of us. 1 Peter 5:8 tell us we should be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” We do this through prayer and Bible reading. Spending time with God helps alleviate fear when we share the with Him, and then allow Him to speak to our hearts through His Word.

When we remember that God loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, to have an eternal relationship with us, we can be assured that He will take care of us. Once we are convinced of His everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), we can release any fears we have because we know that the God who gave His Son for us will most assuredly take care of us in any situation.

1 John 4:8 states, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” God’s love for us is that perfect love.

Regardless of what we awaken to on November 4^th, we do not need to fear because God is the One who still controls all things. Nothing takes Him by surprise, and everything is always under His watchful eye. His will is what will be accomplished regardless of what humanity chooses to do. God cannot be thwarted. Take comfort in knowing that God’s plans will come to fruition no matter what happens, and He will take care of those who belong to Him.

If you find yourself becoming overanxious, take time to draw nearer to God. Read His Word and let it soak into your mind. Allow His Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance those verses from the Bible that will soothe your spirit and strengthen your faith in Him.  It is Jesus who holds tomorrow in His hand, and He will never fail you.

Earthly friends may prove untrue,
Doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you
One who will not fail.
 
In life’s dark and bitter hour,
Love will still prevail;
Trust His everlasting pow’r
Jesus will not fail
 
Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails,
Heav’n and earth may pass away,
But Jesus never fails.

(from “Jesus Never Fails” by A.A. Luther)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

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No one cares for you like Jesus. Give Him your fears, and let Him give you His peace.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” – Psalm 84:5

So often, especially now on my health and wellness journey, I am reminded of Philippians 4:13 which states, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” When I think about this verse, it reinforces the fact that I am not alone in any struggle I face. God promises to strengthen me through His beloved Son. Today, however, as I read the key verse, I realized that God has chosen to BLESS me through His strength. This realization is so amazing to me. When I think of the enormity of what it means – what it truly means to be blessed of God – I am astounded that He would choose to bless me!

As I shared my thoughts with a friend, she commented that in Matthew 5 (her devotional for today) recorded the words of Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount. In referene to individuals, He used the term “blessed” 9 times! And then, Jesus told them to rejoice!! God’s blessings should cause us all to rejoice!!

What does it mean to be blessed of God? Here are a few examples of individuals in the Bible whose lives were blessed by the Lord.

• Abraham – “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” – Genesis 12:2-3
• Isaac – “And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.” – Genesis 26:24
• Jacob – “And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.” – Genesis 35:9-10
• Ruth – “And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.” – Ruth 3:10
• Mary – “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” – Luke 1:28

When I read the Biblical accounts of these people (and many more), I realized that to be blessed of God is a big deal! When I read a verse that tells me I am blessed of God, I realize it is so much more than the Lord meeting my daily needs or providing a few luxuries in my life. It means that God Himself, the Creator of the universe, has chosen to bestow His favor upon me. GOD’S FAVOR!! I cannot even comprehend the enormity of what that encompasses! However, coupling my limited understanding of that does mean with the knowledge that I am so undeserving, my heart is filled with an overwhelming gratitude to the One who loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) that spans eternity.

Being blessed of God… it is too amazing to even put into words!

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; 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.

(from “I Need Thee Every Hour” by Annie S. Hawks and Robert Lowry)

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” – Jeremiah 17:7

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Rejoice in the Lord always!! Again, I say rejoice!

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”- Philippians 4:13

Some of you are following my health journey that began during the coronavirus quarantine. It has been 5.5 months now, and I am thrilled to report that I have lost a total of 51.2 pounds and 33.5 inches overall. That is so amazing to me! I have battling with my weight since I was a teenager, and frankly, I have never had success like I have had on this health journey! It is phenomenal!

My journey began this year on May 1st, and the last few months have been life-changing for me in several ways. First, my physical health has greatly improved. My lab values from my physical in August were all within normal limits for the first time in forever! I have less knee and hip pain, and I have more energy than I thought possible. As I have remodeled my eating habits, my overall well-being has been enriched by the healthy practices I have incorporated into my lifestyle.

In addition to the physical benefits, my spiritual life has grown as well. I have spent more quality time with the Lord. My devotional time has been more focused, and my prayer time has been more intimate. As I take time to really listen to God through His Word, I am gaining so much more from my personal Bible reading time.

When I reflect on my health journey, I often return to my “whys,” that is the reasons for which I chose to embark on this venture. There are multiple reasons, but two very important ones constantly remain in the forefront of my mind. First, I want to be an active part of the lives of my three grandchildren. Perhaps one day, I’ll even be a great-grandmother! 2 Timothy 1:5 states, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” I want to be to my grandchildren what Lois was to Timothy, which leads to my next “why.”

I want to be the best me I can be spiritually. I want to have a deep, abiding relationship with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For me, to know Him means to make time to read His Word, listen to what He has to say to me through it, and communicate with Him on an on-going basis. I want Him to be first in my life in all areas… my writing, my health journey, my entire life! The Bible tells me, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23). Putting Him first is not always easy for me; sometimes my humanity gets in the way. My health journey is helping me remember to put God first.

So, what have I learned? Perhaps the greatest lesson for me has been that I REALLY CAN do all things through Christ. When I choose to make Him the priority in my life, there are no limits to what I can accomplish with God at my side. He is omnipotent (“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26). There is nothing I can inquire of Him that He doesn’t know. He is omniscient (“…God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” – 1 John 3:20). There is nowhere I can go where I am alone and on my own. He is omnipresent (“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3)

I have also learned that when God answers my prayers, it increases my faith; when He delays His answer, I am learning to be patient and trust Him, and when He doesn’t answer, it is for my protection and redirection. Thus, I am learning to be trust Him more and more, realizing that God only does what is best, right, and good for me. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” – Psalm 91:2.

I am learning that when I do delight in the Lord, He does give me the desires of my heart… exactly as He said He would (Psalm 37:4), but He is NOT a genie who magically grants all my wishes! His ways are so much higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:9), and that it is my responsibility to trust Him in all things (Proverbs 3:5) regardless of how He chooses to answer my prayers. I am trusting that HOW God answers my prayers is a true demonstration of His great love for me! (Jeremiah 31:3)

Lastly, I am reminded that I am a work in progress. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Each day takes me one step closer to my completion, and that is exciting, but I still have so much to learn! “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” So happy that I am in the Potter’s hand!

So, what’s next? A healthy BMI. Physically, that’s my Body Mass Index, a height-to-weight ratio that indicates levels of obesity. I am still in the “overweight” range, but on my way to the “healthy” range. Spiritually, it is my Believing More Index. That’s my faith-to-application ratio that indicates levels of applying my faith into my life. I am working on that, too, and looking forward to that day when my faith becomes sight! “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”- Titus 2:13

My health transformation has been so amazing, and I am excited to continue on… growing less physically and growing more spiritually! Please pray for me as I journey forward!

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true
Change my heart, O God, may I be like You

You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true
Change my heart, O God, may I be like You

(from “Change My Heart, O God” by Eddie Espinoza)

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:21

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May I be a vessel of honor fit for the Master’s use.

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11

I remember hearing people say that they could never be a Christian because that meant that their lives would be dull and boring. My assumption was that the “dull and boring” supposedly would happen once sin was not a part of one’s life. This way of thinking is based upon the belief that in order for one’s life to be exciting, it has to be free to engage in sinful activities.

I have been a Christian for a long time, and I have never found my life to be “dull and boring.” In fact, my life has been pretty amazing! I have a husband who has been faithful and true to me for more than forty years. I have been blessed with two children, who brought me great joy in life (as well as a few heartaches now and then). Now they are grown, successful, and have given me three amazing grandchildren to love and cherish. I have had blessed careers, first as a nurse, then a teacher, and now a writer. I have a church family that loves the Lord, and we serve Him together in many different and exciting ministries. I have traveled to many different places in the world, seeing the wonders of God’s creation up close. I’ve seen whales, bears, redwood trees, erupting volcanoes, and majestic waterfalls, to name just a few! I have walked in the footsteps of Jesus, experiencing the wonders of the land of Israel firsthand. I have strolled through the temple mount in Jerusalem, stood on the Mount of Olives, and sailed on the Sea of Galilee. I have been on the grounds of the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus taught, and I have been swimming in both the Dead Sea and the Red Sea! My life has been anything BUT dull and boring!

I cannot list all the amazing experiences God has blessed me with throughout my life, and these are not anything compared to what God has planned for my future!! One day, He will call me home to heaven where there will be eternal joys of which I cannot even begin to conceive of at this time. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Dull and boring? I think not!

I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth every need
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet
I am free, yes, free indeed!
 
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

(from “Joy Unspeakable” by Barney Warren)

“…I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

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There is nothing more exciting than living life with Jesus!

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

As a child, I remember several occasions in which I would be attempting to do something complicated, but without having much success. Stubbornly, when my mother or father offered to help, I would refuse their aid, stating defiantly, “I can do it myself!” I never could. Eventually, I would humbly seek one of my parents for their assistance to complete whatever task was at hand.

Sometimes I am the same way with God. In today’s verse, the disciples lamented to Jesus that there was no way a man could get to heaven, and He basically told them that it was God who provided the way for man to get to heaven. There was no work a man could do that would merit his entrance into the presence of God. It could only happen through Christ Himself.

• Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
• Titus 3:5 – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

For man to think he can earn his way into heaven is erroneous and prideful. Mankind cannot do anything to make himself “good enough” to go to heaven. Isaiah 64:6 states, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Jesus Himself stated in John 14:6 that there was no other way to God but through Him. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The disciples were right to be concerned, but upon hearing that God had provided the way, they could rejoice knowing that what God had promised, He would do.

One way God said to get to Heaven,
Jesus is the only way.
One way to reach those pearly mansions,
Jesus is the only way.
No other way, no other way,
No other way to go.
One way God said to get to Heaven,
Jesus is the only way.

(from “One Way” – author unknown)

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” – Romans 11:6

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God’s gift of eternal life  in heaven is just a prayer away!

“And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” – Genesis 9:16

Whenever I see a rainbow, it thrills me! I love to see the spectrum of colors arcing across the sky. Sometimes, I even see a faint double rainbow above the first!

I can only imagine how Noah and his family must have felt when they stepped out of the ark and witnessed the first rainbow in the clouds. How beautifully the colors must have been in a bright blue expanse purified by the rain! And then when God gave His reason for the rainbow, what a moment that must have been. From then on, every time Noah saw a rainbow, he must have marveled at the goodness of God.

These days, it is good to know that I serve a God who keeps His promises! Hundreds of years have passed since Noah saw that first rainbow, and the Lord has always kept His Word. He has never broken one single promise, and because of that, I have the assurance that He never will. Therefore, when I read His promises in the Bible, I know without a doubt they will come to pas

There are so many promises that God has given in the Bible. Here is a sampling of a few that I am reminded of each time I see HIS RAINBOW in the sky.

• H – Heaven
  • Ephesians 2:5-6 – “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
• I – Iniquity Forgiven
  • Exodus 34:7 – “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…”
• S – Salvation
  • Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• R – Receive Us
  • John 14:3 – “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.”
• A – Always With Us
  • Matthew 28:20 – “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
• I – Inheritance Incorruptible
  • I Peter 1:4-5 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”
• N – Needs are met
  
  • Philippians 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• B – Blessings
  • Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man shall abound with blessings…”
• O – Overcome
  • Revelation 3:5 – “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
• W – Wisdom
  • James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

In one promise to Noah, God has promised me everything!

Standing on the promises of Christ my king,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
 
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

(from “Standing on the Promises” by Russell Kelso Carter)

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:20-21

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God is faithful to always keep His Word.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9

Before Jesus left earth to return to heaven, He gave us a job to do. One verse that records His directive is Mark 16:15. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

There are a myriad of ways a person can share the gospel of Christ. For me, I aspire to share Christ through my novels, my blog, and various ministries at my church. There is nothing that thrills my soul more than leading someone to Christ. However, there is one person that was so challenging to me that I became “weary,” and my efforts to share with her the gospel waned.

I was 12 years old when I accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I was so excited about it that I told anyone who would listen to me. My mother was the one I most wanted to tell. She had been raised in Japan as a Shintoist, and I desperately wanted her to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour. I spoke to my mom countless times, explaining as best I could of how Jesus was God’s Son who came to earth to take the punishments for everyone’s sin. I explained how He died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. I explained about the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, and I quoted verses like John 3:16 and Romans 10:31. Through all of our discussions (quite one-sided, I might add), my mother listened politely, but she never made a decision to trust Christ.

As I grew into adulthood, our conversations about salvation were less frequent, and truth be told, I had little hope that my mom would ever trust Christ as her Saviour. When my mother was in her 50s, she developed some very serious health issues and was in and out of the hospital. On more than one occasion, she had come close to dying. I was afraid she would die without Christ, and I wrestled with the Holy Spirit as He prompted me repeatedly to share Christ with my mother one more time. I agonized over what to say, afraid that my mom would reject both Jesus and me. Finally, I could resist God no longer.

As I walked into the hospital, I seriously doubted my mom would accept Christ, but I had no rest in my soul, and I knew I wouldn’t have it unless I obeyed God. So, with a deep breath, I entered her room. As always, she was happy to see me, and we initially chatted about trivial things. I was so uncomfortable with what I knew I had to do. I had witnessed to my mom for years without any results. Perhaps part of me was afraid this would be her last chance to accept Christ, and I feared this conversation would end as all the others.

But it wasn’t. This time, when I shared the story of God’s amazing love, my mother listened, and then she made the decision to accept Christ’s forgiveness and trust Him as her Saviour. By the time she had finished her simple prayer for salvation, tears were streaming down both of our faces. Hers were from the realization that she was now a child of God, sins forgiven and would one day live forever with Him in heaven. Mine were from the immense gratitude I had for my Lord, shame at my lack of faith, and awe at how He worked in my mom’s heart. After all these years, He answered my prayer, even when my faith had dwindled to near-non-existence. I was greatly humbled as I remembered Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Why this long story about my mother? Because it took more than 25 years before my mother made her decision for Christ, and it took me just as long to realize that God’s timeline is not the same as mine. If we persevere, we will see results. How do I know this? Because that’s what today’s verse is all about. I experienced it with my mother as well as in other occasions in my life. The Bible tells us that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Don’t give up on someone just because they don’t respond immediately to your witness for Christ. Keep praying for them; keep showing them Jesus through your own life, and keep believing. We are called to be the laborers for the Lord, but He is the one who is responsible for the harvest. “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) If you are faithful to your work for Him, He will be faithful to answer.

In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful in his time
Lord please show me everyday
As you’re teaching me your way
That you do just what you say in your time
 
In your time, in your time
You make all things beautiful in your time
Lord my life to you I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to you a lovely thing in your time

(from “In His Time” – author unknown)

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7

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Have you almost given up on someone? Listen carefully. Maybe God is calling you to share Jesus with them one more time.

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” – Psalm 119:114

When I was a young child, there were times when sounds in the middle of the night would  frighten me. I would imagine all sorts of things as the cause, and to protect myself, I would pull the blankets on my bed up over my head. I suppose I hoped that if there was anything to be feared lurking in the shadows, it wouldn’t find me under the covers, and I would be safe.

I am an adult now, yet sometimes odd noises in the darkness of night make me pause, and my heart quickens just a bit as I ponder what it could be. I no longer hide under the blankets on my bed. Instead, I seek solace from another safe haven. I rely on verses of the Bible that I have memorized over the years. Some are Scriptures that I learned as a child in Sunday school, while others are verses that I have come across as recently as the past week.

God’s Word is truly a refuge for me. Whether I run to the Bible because I am fearful of my safety, apprehensive of situations I cannot control, or feel the oppression of forces in the spiritual realm, I know that the Scriptures will provide all I need to feel safe and secure. Why?  Because they reassure me of how much God loves me and promises to care for me.

Here are just a few fearful circumstances and some of the verses upon which I depend for inner peace.

• Nighttime Noises
  • Psalm 4:8 – “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
• Health Issues
  • 2 Corinthians 12: 8 – “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.”
• Financial Woes
  • Philippians 4:19 – “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• Personal Direction
  • Psalm 23:3 – “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
• Spiritual Understanding
  • Psalm 119:130 – “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
• Uncertainty of the future
  • Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD< thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

The Bible tells us that we need not allow fear to overwhelm us because God is always with us, and He never fails us. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) No matter what the future holds, we can be assured that God Himself holds tomorrow in His hand.

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead
 
Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

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As a child, I ran to my father whenever I was afraid. As an adult, I run to my heavenly Father, who is faithful to love and protect me.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

In what or whom do you place your trust? Some people place their trust in money or education or people. There are many other things that one’s trust can be place into, and here are a few examples and the problems with putting one’s trust in them.

Science – People have put their trust in science for centuries. One of the beliefs that science supported was the concept of spontaneous generation. This belief, that life could begin “just because” was upheld by scientists for hundreds of years. It was proven to be false. When I was in high school, science taught me about the nine planets in our solar system. Today, there are only eight. Hmm… how many planets are there really? Trusting science has been proven to be undependable.

Government – There was a time when people believed the government was nearly infallible. Decisions were made for the good of the people and the nation. Today, there is conflict between those very people that have been elected to represent us. What one political faction believes is right one day, the next day they vehemently oppose it. Political figures are known for speaking falsehoods, and many times it is merely to promote their own agendas. Placing one’s trust in the government is not the wisest thing to do.

Money – Many people place their trust in the economy. Clearly, those in 1929 had grossly misjudged where to put their trust as they faced the onset of global depression when the stock market crashed. Today, the value of the dollar vacillates daily. There is no guarantee that the money you have today will be worth anything tomorrow.

Misplaced trust can spell disaster for individuals. So in whom or what should our trust be placed? Trust should be placed in that which has proven itself to be trustworthy. There is only one sure place to put our trust. That is in God.

Throughout all time, God has never lied. He has never had to rewrite His Word due to an error. He has never misrepresented Himself. Here are just a few verses in the Bible that tell us why God is trustworthy.

• Psalm 19:7 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
• Psalm 33:4 – “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”
• Psalm 18:30 – “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
• John 17:17 – “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

There are many other verses in the Scriptures that speak of God’s trustworthiness. He has always kept His Word, and He always speaks truth because He is truth. God is the only One in whom you can and should place your complete trust.

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

(from “Trusting Jesus” by Edgar Page)

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” –  2 Samuel 22:31

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Putting your trust in God will never disappoint you!