Excuses to Not Trust

Excuses to Not Trust

Exodus 4: ¹⁰ Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

 

¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? ¹² Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

 

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After GOD showed HIS power three times, Moses said to GOD that he was not a good speaker. GOD replied to him in a comforting way.

 

My Observations:

• Moses ended up being one of the greatest leaders in history, yet he had insecurities.
• Moses was ambivalent to the calling of GOD.
• GOD reveals that HE knows when people are sick and is involved with health.

 

When GOD’s calling collides with human free will, it seems to be a battle. Moses had a comfortable life and wanted to simply live with his wife and kid(s). He didn’t seem like he wanted to protest, fight or face any issues, yet GOD was sending him to face a human who was powerful, antagonistic and worshipped as a god.

 

Moses may have gotten scared. Wouldn’t you? BUT GOD said something we all can learn from “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” GOD does not seem harsh here, rather HE is concerned about the people in Egypt and seems to want humans to interact with human problems. HE carefully allows free will to be managed by humans, but intervenes enough. GOD wants our trust.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS conversation regarding Moses’s excuse?
• Has GOD ever clearly given you a promise that you started making excuses not to trust?
• What thing is GOD withholding to compassionately develop a greater trust in HIM?

Depend on the Promises

Depend on the Promises

Galatians 3: ¹⁵ My friends, I am going to use an everyday example: when two people agree on a matter and sign an agreement, no one can break it or add anything to it. ¹⁶ Now, God made his promises to Abraham and to his descendant. The scripture does not use the plural “descendants,” meaning many people, but the singular “descendant,” meaning one person only, namely, Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is that God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to keep it. The Law, which was given four hundred and thirty years later, cannot break that covenant and cancel God's promise. ¹⁸ For if God's gift depends on the Law, then it no longer depends on his promise. However, it was because of his promise that God gave that gift to Abraham.

 

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“I will” are powerful words from GOD.  When HE makes a promise to humanity, HE has already done what HE said HE will do. Since I am stuck in time, I can only see what HE has already done in my life and what was written down in others. I cannot see the future.

 

• I have to have faith to believe in GOD’s promises
• I need to know what GOD’s promises are to believe them.
• Once I know what HIS promises are, I should live my life according them already happening.

 

GOD made promises to Abraham and JESUS before the Law was given to Moses. Paul explains something that is often overlooked. We try to live by “the Law” and forget about the “Promise” GOD made to Abraham before the Law was written. The primary promise is that JESUS would save the world and be “the blessing” everyone needs.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s promises to me have never been broken.
• My insecurities or lack of faith cannot affect GOD’s promises for me.
• Nothing can stop GOD’s love for me because HE promised to do so through JESUS.

 

Insecurity blinds to GOD’s promises. I mean, when GOD says “I will never leave you or forsake you” I have to believe this is a statement that has already take place. HE has never left me nor forsaken me for the entirety of my life.

 

To believe in GOD’s promises takes faith. I have to stop trying to figure out everything and let go of requiring evidence and “signs” daily. GOD said “I love you” and HIS promise should be enough. I gladly depend on HIS promise to “make my paths straight.”

 

Challenge

• What is GOD’s promise in this passage?
• Have you ever doubted GOD’s promises for you?
• Why do you think the writer is trying so hard to take the focus off “the Law” and place it on JESUS?
• Will you seek to know what GOD’s promises are for you so you can live an abundant life for HIM today?

Voluntary Open Heart Surgery

Voluntary Open Heart Surgery

2 Corinthians 6: ¹¹ Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. ¹² It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. ¹³ I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!

 

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At one point, I would do anything it took for this particular organization. I would arrive early and leave late. All day long I focused on their needs, shunning precious time with family and most of all, GOD time. But one day the leaders of the organization changed for the worse as blame and insults became the norm. It was no longer the same place of merit and honor. My heart wasn’t into it as much.

 

• My hurt heart was closing.
• My eyes were opened to the blindness of “success.”
• My feelings toward giving my all had changed.

 

Paul warns the people to open their hearts wide. His emphatic appeal was probably prompted by the dull reactions to the message he and others had provided through the words GOD placed in their hearts. He could see the people as they turned their hearts away from valuing the message that JESUS is LORD.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me keep my heart open to HIM.
• GOD wants me to let the HOLY SPIRIT in my heart so HE can make room for others.
• GOD wants me to appeal to others to voluntarily open their heart to JESUS so HE will send the COMFORTER to live in their heart.

 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” is what GOD said to one of the prophets to tell everyone. Since the heart is capable of hurting others or being hurt, it is easy for me to close it when I perceive the world around me is going to make things worse.

 

BUT GOD sends people to me that HE wants me to trust. Their message, while mixed with their sin, comes from HIM. GOD uses imperfect people like me to spread HIS perfect message of true love. I gladly open my heart to the HOLY SPIRIT and speak with flaws, but from the heart.

 

Challenge

• What is the warning that comes from the writer?
• Have you ever practiced closing your heart so often that you do not know what it looks like to have an open heart?
• Why does the writer look at the group as his children?
• Will you open your heart, knowing the HOLY SPIRIT will enter it and protect you from harm, especially from those who intentionally try to poison hearts today?

Big or Small

Luke 9: ¹⁸ And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

¹⁹ So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

²⁰ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

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Ashamed of asking for forgiveness I decided to shrink away. “I’m tired of feeling pitiful” I thought to myself. Things weren’t going as well as I would have liked them to and to top it off, I was being told to confess how wrong I was to this “GOD” thing. I decided I had enough. I would try to fix things on my own.

• There were times when I thought very little of GOD.
• There were times when I thought GOD was just like other humans.
• There were times when I thought I could fix “me” better than GOD.

JESUS asks two very important questions to HIS disciples “Who do the crowds say I AM?” and “Who do you say I AM?” The disciples answered, “The crowds say YOU are special, but still only a human with gifts.” Then Peter said “YOU are THE CHRIST of GOD” which was the right answer.

• JESUS wants me to know HE is THE CHRIST who redeems the world.
• JESUS wants me to know HE is the only way to salvation in this life and eternity.
• JESUS wants me to know HE is THE SENT ONE from GOD.

If I can leave GOD then my view of HIM is extremely small. In reality, I can never get away from HIM because HE is too large to get around. HE is all knowing, all seeing and is everywhere. HIS power is infinite and HIS love the same.

When I think HE cannot forgive me “this time” then I have forgotten how large HIS love truly is. The same goes for my doubts of HIS deliverance from trouble, or HIS disbelief in the plan to prosper me. I make GOD small when I do not believe. BUT GOD is forgiving and says to me “All I need is a little faith and I will do the rest.” I am glad GOD is infinitely huge and loves me.

• Who do you say JESUS is?
• Do you feel your problems are larger than HIS love for you?
• Will you allow HIM to be larger than any human plot against you?

No Surprise

Matthew 24: ³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

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Walking down the crowded hallway, I felt excited. I was finally at my next school and this time things would be better. I was finally away from the thugs at my old school. When the day was over we were given warnings about the travel path home. “Take only these specific safe routes when walking through the neighborhood” they told us. “Aw man! This sounds worse than my old school!”

• At one time I panicked when I heard warnings.
• At one time I got nervous when I heard something could go wrong.
• At one time I was frightened at the mere sound of danger.

JESUS told HIS disciples what was to come and the future did not sound bright at all. There would be wars, famine and lying claims of the Messiah. Then HE said “such things must happen.”

• GOD wants me to know things will go wrong in my life but HE is there.
• GOD wants me to expect trouble so I will know to pray instead of falling apart.
• GOD wants me to be aware of my surroundings so I can rely on HIM instead of freezing out of fright.

Understanding that something could go wrong made me more prepared as I walked through the shadows of thugs. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” enables me to go without fear through troubled times, not around them.

• Are you going through troubled times?
• Are you filled with fear?
• Can you ask GOD to lead you through the times, knowing these things have to happen?

Because You Trust

Jeremiah 39: ¹⁵ While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: ¹⁶ “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. ¹⁷ But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. ¹⁸ I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’”

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Nervous about what I was trying to accomplish I tried to move ahead, but something kept coming up. Each time I tried to put one step forward, something would come up and it seemed like I was just standing still. “How am I supposed to do this?” I exclaimed. I mean it seemed like I was facing nothing but opposition.

• Sometimes I cannot see my way out of the situation.
• Sometimes the situation seems so bleak that I cannot fix it or even dream of a solution.
• Sometimes the odds seem so overwhelming that I cannot even think I could get myself out of it.

Many times I have faced something that seemed so overwhelming that I felt like just giving up. “Why continue” or “Why try” would be the words of despair that I was tempted to believe in.BUT GOD had other words for me.

• GOD says to me “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.”
• GOD says to me “Trust and obey and you will live long and prosper.”
• GOD says to me I will save you because you trust in ME.”

Trust is different than faith. I mean it takes faith in order to “trust” GOD. It means I look to GOD for the truth, for HIS direction, for HIS way instead of mine. Trust means I don’t listen to myself rather I look to GOD’s word for the correct answer. When GOD says something I can trust that it will most definitely, exactly, positively come true. When HE says HE is always with me, I can “always” trust that HE “is” there, for HE has never let me down.

• Where are you looking for your answers?
• Do you trust GOD or are you following your own instincts?
• Will you start putting your trust in GOD today?

Mindful Trust

Isaiah 26: ³ You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

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Seized with fear I stared at the wheel one more time. I puffed out three quick breaths, pushed off with my left foot and found myself gliding down the sidewalk on my bike. I rode past three or four houses without falling this time and when I fell, I got up excited. The next time I got on I was at peace and I could ride even further.

• Sometimes fear takes away my peace.
• Sometimes worry makes me doubt.
• Sometimes anguish makes me think I cannot overcome “this” circumstance.

I am so happy that I learned how to ride a bike but it took pain to do it. I flipped over the handlebars on a few occasions and came into the house with a bloody lip on others. I had to go through the pain in order to have peace.

• GOD takes me through storms, so I need to have trust in HIS plan.
• GOD takes me though painful situations and heals me from my bumps and bruises.
• GOD takes me through difficult circumstances, providing peace along the way.

Just like riding a bike, having peace takes practice. Instead of getting worried about the situation I had to learn how to have peace in the middle of the storm. I started small by not worrying about misplacing my security shirt I fashioned into my carry around buddy; to not worrying about the fact that someone broke into my car to now worrying about larger life events.

GOD grows my peace the more I trust HIM instead of the thing I worry about. HE may have a good reason for allowing whatever to be removed or destroyed. HE helps me grow and gives me peace. I trust in HIS plan.

• Are you worried?
• Are you nervous?
• Can you take three deep breaths and decide to follow GOD?
• Will you put your trust in HIS plan for you today?

Hope Trust and Praise

Isaiah 12: In that day you will say:

“I will praise you, Lord.
    Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
    and you have comforted me.
² Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.”
³ With joy you will draw water
    from the wells of salvation.

⁴ In that day you will say:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done,
    and proclaim that his name is exalted.
⁵ Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
    let this be known to all the world.
⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
    for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

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As I heard what seemed to be the tenth piece of bad news, I felt worn down. I mean this problem and that problem were not getting resolved. Where can I put my trust?

• GOD wants me to put my hope in HIM.
• GOD wants me to believe HE is my comforter.
• GOD wants me to understand I do not have to be afraid because HE is ALWAYS with me.
• GOD wants me to let HIM be my strength and defense.

Praise is what I should do on a daily basis. In the middle of complaints and problems, I should yield myself to praise and excitement! GOD is absolutely amazing and wonderful! 

Time Machines Do Not Exist

Psalm 76: ⁷ It is you alone who are to be feared.
    Who can stand before you when you are angry?
⁸ From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared and was quiet—
⁹ when you, God, rose up to judge,
    to save all the afflicted of the land.
¹⁰ Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

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“You know what’s really disappointing, I trusted you” were the words that turned me around. After losing the trust of my supervisor I felt miserable. Now I was being watched carefully on a job that I hated anyway. What hurt the most is I had trust placed in me, lost it and could never gain it back.

• Sometimes I blow it with people and I cannot gain their trust back.
• Sometimes I make permanent mistakes with people and I cannot win them over.
• Sometimes I burn bridges with people and they cannot be rebuilt.

It seemed like GOD was angry at my slothful ways. I was definitely on the wrong path and this incident with my supervisor proved it. I had to wake up and place my fear back in GOD rather than fearing a shrinking bank account. I had to get restraint.

• GOD allows me to be as wild as I want to be, but HE would rather have me fear HIS ways.
• GOD allows me to not follow HIM, but HE would rather that I fear HIS wrath.
• GOD allows me to get angry at HIM, shake my fist at HIM and threaten to move away from HIM, but HE would rather have a peaceful loving relationship with me that has power.

I do not have a time machine to go back and fix all the ills I have created in life. GOD allowed me to feel HIS wrath in a very small way many times. BUT GOD is the ultimate forgiver. HE chastens me rather than destroying me. HE adds restraint to my ways that tend to run away from HIM and HE holds on tight. I can now praise HIM for holding onto me instead of letting me run further away from HIM.

• Are you looking back at past mistakes?
• Do you think reviewing the past will help you right now?
• Can you let go of the past and hold onto GOD?
• Will you stop looking into the future and look at the here and now?
• Will you fear and praise GOD today?

Keep Hoping

Psalm 31: ¹⁶ No king is saved by the size of his army;
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
¹⁸ But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
¹⁹ to deliver them from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
²² May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

  

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Tears flew down my face as I ran away from the Christmas tree without the toy I hoped for. Fear struck my heart as I stared in the place where my now stolen bike used to be and my hopes of riding were gone. Disappointment ran through my body as yet another job sent a rejection letter to my apartment and my hopes of moving back to the city seemed impossible. Why hope?

• When my hope is on what I want I get disappointed.
• When I place my hope in getting more of what I want I get my hopes crushed.
• When I place all my hope in what I think I get highly embarrassed when it does not come to pass.

Looking back, there were a lot of things I really, really wanted. I hoped and prayed and they did not come to pass. Then I sat and said once, “Why hope?” I mean I don’t get my way so why even have a hope. BUT GOD spoke to me peacefully.

• GOD said to me “My ways are not your ways.”
• GOD said to me “I have a wonderful, delightful plan for you that is much better than you can ever imagine”
• GOD said to me “Stand still and watch MY deliverance.”

Each time I try to use my might, wit or connections I find myself wanting, hoping, desiring until it hurts. BUT GOD wants me to focus on HIM in order to have peace. HE wants me to place my hope in HIM and let HIM decide my path. My hope needs to be place in HIS plan so my peace can be made whole. GOD wants me to keep trusting HIM.

• Are you uneasy?
• Do you feel a bit shaken?
• Can you place a small portion of your trust in GOD?
• Will you take a step towards HIM today by praising HIM?

Confident in the Day

Psalm 21:  Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in the Lord;
    through the unfailing love of the Most High
    he will not be shaken.

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“Stunned” was a fitting word as I received news that I was no longer in college. I sat on the couch and stared. I had not said a prayer in years! I think I just said “help!” to GOD. Then I had a feeling come over me, “Go and beg the dean for, yet another chance.” How humiliating! I put pride aside and asked for help. I was reinstated and got stellar grades.

• There have been times when it seems like the giant in front of me is larger than life.
• There have been times when it seems like the world is moving and I am on pause.
• There have been times when it seems like my situation cannot be fixed so I should just shut the door, crawl into a ball and rock back and forth.

Life has dealt many disappointing blows, whether it was a job, person, place or thing that I wanted, many times my expectations have not been met. In other words the answer has been “NO or WAIT!” when I want the answer to be “YES and NOW!” What should I do?

• GOD says to me “Put your cares and concerns in ME and I will give you rest.”
• GOD says to me “Tell me your frailties and I will build your faith.”
• GOD says to me “Identify the thing that you do not trust ME to do and I will build your trust.”

The problem with “trusting” in my desire is what if GOD says “NO” then I would have wasted time, money and effort. BUT GOD says something different. GOD says “I see your efforts and I’M pleased.” Money, time and situations are all HIS, so when I expel any of these on what HE told me to do then it is not a waste.

JESUS expelled an enormous amount of energy explaining to HIS creations that HE is GOD and they could trust in HIM. The result was HIS own creation murdering HIM for not following the Bible as well as them. HE rose from the dead and said to me and everyone else, “See, even death could not hold ME, you can put your trust in me even when you don’t know how.

• Are you worried?
• Do you feel empty?
• Can you tell GOD you have no more energy and let HIM fill you?
• Will you learn to flow with where GOD has you and get up and focus on GOD?
• Can you stop believing the lie that the world is in peril and be unshakable, at least for today?

GOD Explain YOURSELF!

Job 40: ⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s,
    and can your voice thunder like his?

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“Why?” is usually the question that begins my tantrum with GOD. “Why did this person die or why did I lose the thing that was precious to me?” I ask these questions to GOD as if HE owes me an explanation. It’s alright to question, but sometimes I was actually mad at GOD.

• Sometimes I get mad at GOD for not giving me my way.
• Sometimes I wonder if there is a purpose to serving GOD if I can’t get my way all the time.
• Sometimes I demand that HE explains HIMSELF so I can reconcile what’s going on.

Here I am the created telling the CREATOR to explain HIS plan HE has for me. Even if HE did explain, I probably would not like the explanation. Looking back on the pouting, I can see a better plan has emerged each time. Through many disappointments, toils and snares I can actually see why GOD took me through situations that enabled me to grow.

• GOD does not owe me an explanation but wants me to know HE loves me.
• GOD does not owe me my way but wants me to know HE has a plan to prosper me.
• GOD does not owe me pleasure or comfort yet HE sent the COMFORTER to give me peace when I am frazzled.

GOD does not owe me anything, especially when I am trying to justify myself, yet HE loves me so much that HE threw my sins away and cleaned me up to be acceptable to HIM. GOD loves me.

• Are you trying to justify why you should have something?
• Do you think your righteous acts deserve something from GOD?
• Can you do things for GOD without expecting something in return?
• Will you stop trying to get GOD to explain HIMSELF and start having faith, trust and hope?

Rely on GOD

2 Chronicles 13: ¹⁸ The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

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Judah was part of Israel, yet they had separated from the group and it brought upon fights. Israel was not following GOD at the time but was much larger in number. They had Judah surrounded on all sides.

The people of Judah cried to the LORD and GOD intervened. HE fought on Judah’s behalf and they were victorious.

GOD fights my battles.

GOD listens to me when I cry out to HIM.

GOD can defeat any problem I face so I must cry out to HIM daily.

Relying on my own power is always a mistake. Relying on GOD means I am still in the battle, but I know the battle is won by HIM.

GOD Does Big Things

2 Chronicles 9: ²² King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

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Sitting on my couch worried if I would ever graduate, I took a rare moment and prayed. I mean things were a mess in school and all around me in my life. I could not see how I was going to get out of the mess that I was in. At the time the mess seemed insurmountable, yet one year after I graduated with a high paying job.

• Sometimes the road seems dark.
• Sometimes the path seems invisible.
• Sometimes the trail seems so narrow that I can’t see it or feel it beneath my feet.

Life has many murky times. There are times when I feel like throwing up my hands and giving up or times when I want to panic and flail my arms around screaming for help. BUT GOD does things a bit different.

• GOD made me and said “You are beautifully and wonderfully made.”
• GOD created me and said “I have a plan for you, plans to prosper you.”
• GOD saved me and said “No one can pluck you out of MY hand.”

In the darkest times GOD stands there as the ONE and only light. When GOD does something HE does it big! HE gave Solomon so much wisdom that humans were baffled. GOD does the same thing for each of HIS humans. HE made me with a special purpose and HE knew I would sin, yet HE chose to save me and build a wonderful plan for me.

GOD never does anything small in my life. All I need to do is trust HIM.

• Have you received bad news?
• Do you think your world has crashed around you?
• Can you look to GOD for HIS great deliverance?
• Will you put your trust in HIM today?

Trust because the battle is not mine

1 Chronicles 5: ²⁰ They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 

²¹ They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, ²² and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.

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Looking in the engine, I had no clue what I was searching for. The car wouldn’t start, that was the bottom line. I sat and wondered, “Would I ever get out of THIS circumstance?” As my friend turned the ignition, I heard a rumble in the engine that gave me hope. Suddenly a plastic part blew off of the engine and hit me in the face cutting my eyebrow. This situation seemed hopeless.

• Sometimes when things go wrong, I feel like giving up.
• Sometimes when things look bleak, I feel like sitting in a corner and giving up.
• Sometimes when things aren’t going so well, I feel like throwing up my hands and giving up.

As I got up off the ground I collected myself and looked in the engine once more. I replaced the loose part and begged GOD for some help even though I wasn’t really following HIM. My old car started and I was able to get my friend home and get myself bandaged up. The car seemed to work fine.

• GOD will listen when I cry out to HIM.
• GOD will help when I trust HIS plan and HIS promises.
• GOD will help when I believe He has ALL the power and I have none.

What I noticed is “They cried out”, “They trusted”, and “They reaped benefit of GOD fighting the battle.” Their hands still had to be in the fight and they could not give up, but against all odds they won because GOD was on their side. I now add “Prayer” and “Trust” to my faith.

• Are you in the middle of a battle?
• Do you think the battle is yours?
• Can you cry out to GOD and remain fighting?
• Will you add “trust” to your faith so GOD will answer your prayers?

When faith seems to fail

2 Kings 2: ⁹ So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them.

¹⁰ “What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?”

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“I will go” were my words as I volunteered for a short term mission’s trip. I mustered up all the faith I had at the time, in order to do this. Once I got on the trip things started off smooth but I was assigned to ride with the guy who drove a camper. He couldn’t keep up with the caravan and eventually got lost. We couldn’t speak the language and did not have a GPS, map or a clue!

This was the beginning of the trip! We had many missteps. We were constantly late, once four hours. The last straw was when I set up the equipment, it didn’t work. “GOD, why have you brought me to this place only to fail?!”, I cried out.

• Sometimes I get to a place where things seem bleak and I cry out.
• Sometimes I step out on faith only to meet a greater challenge when I get there.
• Sometimes I take a chance and my risk is met with tougher circumstances.

Faith takes trust in GOD, but sometimes when I used up all of my faith, I run into a situation where I can’t see my way beyond the next circumstance. Looking back, I realize I may have given up a bit too soon on many difficult situations.

• GOD said “MY ways are not your ways.”
• GOD said “Trust in ME for I shall never leave you nor forsake you.”
• GOD said “Believe in the one who can not only kill the body but destroy the soul.”

GOD has delivered me through many bleak situations. HIS power and might seem to overturn even the gravest circumstance. HE easily plows through any problem. When I step out on faith, I should expect to come up against the enemy’s attack. I must add trust to my faith and watch GOD work HIS plan, which includes the tough situation.

• Are you facing a difficult situation?
• Do you feel like you have stepped out on faith only to face a larger situation?
• Can you add trust to your faith and watch GOD deliver you?
• Can you praise GOD for the future victory today?

Growing Up

2 Kings 2:⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

¹⁰ “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. ¹² Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

¹³ Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.¹⁴ He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

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Graduation had come and gone. As I stuffed ALL of my belongings in my car, I realized, “I am on my own.” I mean my parents used to tell me what to do, and then the university had my schedule pretty much locked up. But now, I had to figure things out myself.  “How am I going to do this?” I thought.

• GOD knows the unknown for which I’m walking.
• GOD holds my future.
• GOD executes HIS plan and has great thoughts for me.

Elisha asked for special gifts and abilities but was unsure that he received them. I can imagine how he felt when the person who was performing miracles was whisked away in a whirlwind. He probably felt like asking “Now what?” That’s the way my life is. I have started many new chapters and the script is never written for me. BUT GOD’s plan is awesome.

• GOD wants me to succeed.
• GOD wants me to be thoroughly blessed.
• GOD wants me to grow in HIM, trusting HIS ways and believing in HIS future.

The answer to “Now what” is an exciting adventure if I’m willing to accept the road of faith.

• Are you unsure of your future?
• Do you think GOD has left you?
• Can you start walking and let GOD guide your steps?
• Won’t you add TRUST and FAITH to your daily walk and let go of having to know everything?

Trust takes dependence

1 Kings 17: ⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ⁹ “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” ¹⁰ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

¹² “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

¹³ Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

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“Open Immediately” were the all too familiar words on the envelope. This time it was from the bank stating my rent check had bounced and my account was now negative. I sat and wondered what I should do. My landlord was going to call soon and I only had a few dollars in my pocket.

I hadn’t been to church and someone on campus asked me to go.  I went and they said “give,” well at least that’s all I could hear since I was broke. I nervously reached in my homemade wallet and gave one of my last dollars. I didn’t even know why I did this at the time. A miracle did not happen that day.  I went home dejected. BUT GOD worked everything out in HIS time.

Sometimes I can’t see what GOD is doing.

Sometimes I think GOD has left me to work everything out by myself.

Sometimes I think my troubles are punishment and I can never get out of trouble with GOD.

Complaints roll off my lips when things don’t quite go my way. I mean, “I’m not really doing bad things” I rationalize to myself in my protest to GOD. HIS reply was very simple.

• Trust in ME and I will never forsake you.
• Believe in ME and I will supply all your needs.
• Follow ME and your path will be made straight.

GOD wants total dependence on HIM.  Bank accounts, insurance and conveniences sometimes blind me and others around me to GOD’s saving grace. HIS mercy came with a great price, namely the loss of HIS SON. BUT GOD didn’t stop at JESUS’ death. HE raised HIM from the dead and placed HIM over everything.

By belief that HIS SON is GOD and is now alive, I am adopted in HIS all-powerful family. Now, my circumstances can be directed by the ONE who made everything. I can depend on GOD.

• Are you worried?
• Do you think you have the power to overcome your circumstances?
• Can you ask GOD what HE wants you to do today?
• Won’t you put your trust in GOD today and let go of your worries?

Committed versus Perfection

1 Kings 15: ¹¹ Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. ¹² He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. 

¹³ He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁴ Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.

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Tired of things going “wrong,” I decided to dedicate my life back to GOD. I mean everything else had failed, why not try this. I actually felt a load fall off of my mind. I could breathe again.  A couple of years into my renewed life things seemed to go extremely well.

But one year I hit a small blip as a family member’s health came into question. Then I got news of a friend who was dying. My car was broken into and other areas of my life were shaken.  “Wait! I thought life would be easy if I were to put my trust in GOD!” I huffed in disappointment. Maybe I’m not trying to live for HIM hard enough! I wonder if I need to give up on GOD.

• GOD understands the times when I feel discouraged.
• GOD understands the times when I feel like giving up.
• GOD understands the times when I feel disappointed.

Many times I thought “Nothing should go wrong because I’m living for GOD.” That statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Because I’m living for GOD, things will go seemingly wrong.

• GOD says there will be many trials in my life but HE wants me to trust HIM anyway.
• GOD says HE wants a simple relationship with me, not one where I expect the wrong things from HIM and get disappointed at the drop of a hat when HE doesn’t yield.
• GOD says love one another as I have loved you.

Sometimes I overcomplicate my relationship with GOD.  When things go wrong, I try to analyze my previous moves so I won’t fall into that type of trouble again. BUT GOD knows that when I live for HIM, the enemy will try to tear me down, accuse me and break my faith. GOD wants me to be committed. This means accepting there will be trials and keeping my trust in HIM.

• Have you lost your trust in GOD?
• Are you wondering where GOD is with you right now?
• Can you put your trust in HIM that HIS plan includes this trial?
• Can you help someone increase their faith in GOD today by telling your story?

What does strength look like?

2 Samuel 3:¹The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

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³⁶ All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. ³⁷ So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

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Everyone stood up when this guy walked in the room.  I was slow to rise as I was befuddled as to what was going on. We just stood there waiting on someone else to say something. I have no idea what was said but was happy when the guy left. “Don’t you know that was the vice president of something” they exclaimed.

From that day forward I tried to pay attention to what actually made someone powerful. I thought it was obtaining a title so I climbed the ladder to get one. I found out titles make people weaker because they can lean on them.

• When I use a title as my strength, I am weak.
• When I value someone’s title more than others, I am weak.
• When I think a title will give me more power, I am weak.

Once again David showed me what strength looks like. One of his generals murdered a person who defected and joined David in the quest for the kingdom. Abner was David’s enemy only because he was loyal to Saul, but Abner wanted the kingdom to follow David once Saul died.

David’s general murdered Abner in revenge but tried to cover it up saying Abner was acting as a spy. David cried and would not eat when he heard of the news. He actually cared.

• I learned that strong people care about others rather than the position.
• I learned that strong people don’t care about the competitive advantage rather they do what is right.
• I learned that strong people aren’t afraid to weep in public and are courageous enough to call out what is wrong.

Titles don’t make me strong, GOD does! In my weakness HE is strong. HE is pleased when I care about others and seek HIS face. HE wants me to value HIM rather than positions. GOD wants me to elevate HIM as the true measure of strength.

• Are you acting weak?
• Do you seek revenge?
• Do you believe that things would be better at the next level?
• Won’t you look to GOD as your source of strength rather than the title you aspire to?