12-8-15 How to TRUST the Lord
Over the years, there has been one recurring question that has been asked in the face of life-changing difficulties. It is simply "HOW can I trust the Lord?", with the emphasis being on the little three letter word 'HOW'.
The more clearly we see sovereignty of God, the less perplexed we are at the calamities of men. We will begin to understand the answer to our question regarding how to trust God when we seriously ask for his wisdom and earnestly desire to understand the heart, mind, will and purpose of God. We must desire only that which accomplishes the plan and purpose of God for our lives.
In the review of scripture which follows, the first goal will be to learn the mind of God on the matters of man, according to his Word; the second goal will be to apply what we know in matters of daily living.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy just judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.
Psalm 37:3-7a ( emphasis mine)
How then can we trust God? Using the action words out of Psalm 37, may I suggest this way to wholly trust the Lord in times of suffering:
T Take the gift of salvation (Trust) vs. 3 This is CONVERSION
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, Oh Lord, to receive glory and honor
and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 6:44 For whosoever cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away, behold all things are
become new.
Practical suggestion: Mark the dates of your personal salvation in the front of your Bible as a constant reminder of the grace of God on your behalf.
R Rejoice in the Lord (Delight) vs. 4 This is MEDITATION
A new song of praise, an unprecedented joy, peace, and contentment come only from God. When I place my joy, affections or expectations and any other person or circumstance, I have stepped out of God's will. The end result of that misplaced confidence and trust will be personal misery and practical uselessness.
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God: for my expectation
is from him.
Psalm 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise
unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and sHALL
trust in the LORD.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, ye may abound in hope, through the power
of the Holy Ghost.
Psalm 43:5 Why art thou cast down, oh my soul? Why art thou
disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet
praise him, who is the health of my countenance,
and my God.
Practical suggestion: Each morning, in your Scripture study time, jot down the Christlike
attitudes (how to think), behaviors ( how to walk) and communications (how to talk) that God
shows you in that passage by which you can glorify God by being like Christ.
U Unleash your life to the Lord (Commit) vs. 5 This is SUBMISSION
God will be glorified as I become more and more like Christ, through the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit. I must evaluate my attitudes, behavior and communication to make sure I am conforming to the character and nature of God as seen in Christ Jesus, the express image of God. I must be sure that I do not hold onto any independent agenda apart from that which he is doing for His eternal glory and my eternal good.
Psalm 31:15 My times are in thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8 But now, oh LORD, now art our father and we are the
clay, and now our Potter; and we all are the work of my
hand.
Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
hast thou made me thus?
Luke 22:42 Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:
nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Practical suggestion: Commit all things to God in prayer. Place the following statement on a 3 x 5 card and date this statement of your total submission
to God's plan for your life:
"God has every right and my permission to rearrange my life
at any time, in any way, in order to accomplish His purpose
for its influence, to His glory."
Date _______________________
S Sacrificial life of obedience / service (Rest) vs. 7a This is APPLICATION
I am to begin to function in present ways of Christ likeness by personal obedience to God's eternal will and by a practical ministry to the eternal needs of others. As I see ways in which that is lacking, it is essential to deal with the basic heart issue a simple habit patterns. My first priority must be vertical toward God; only then can I effectively live in the horizontal realm of human relationships. The central component of long – term change is to make realistic plans for structure with accountability unto future godliness. Real rest comes to the child of God when there is peace WITH God by spiritual birth and the peace OF God by active spiritual growth. There is no real rest of the believer who attempts to live in his formerly familiar arena of self–focus, self-interest and self-service.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart and with
all they soul and with all they mind
Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in thy word:and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.
T Total responsibility for obedience on Him (Wait) vs. 7b This is CONFIDENCE
God is God – sovereign, perfect, eternal, holy. He is an absolute control of my life. He is orchestrating every person and event to accomplish his will and purpose for my life got got got that of being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am fully responsible and accountable to him alone, in the matter of living to please him and profit others. The results of my obedience and service must be left to do is righteous judgment, for His eternal glory.
Ephesians 1:11 In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of
peace, not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Practical Suggestion: At every time of struggle, thank God for working all things together
for His eternal glory to bring us to that expected end in progressively
conforming us to Jesus Christ.
Therefore, to re-cap for ease of sharing with another:
1. Trust in the Lord (Verse 3) Take gift of salvation Conversion
2. Delight in the Lord (Verse 4) Rejoice also in Him Meditation
3. Commit thy way unto the Lord (Verse 5) Unleash your life to Him Submission
4. Rest in the Lord (Verse 7a) Sacrificial life of obedience/service Application
5. Wait on the Lord (Verse 7b) Total responsibility for obedience on Him Confidence
Practical Suggestion: One way that I have found helpful to easily communicate this
acrostic is to use m and to explain the five aspects. The thumb
is always number one, being the most important aspect of
receiving Christ, by faith. The index finger is Rejoice, the middle
finger is Unleash, the ring finger is the Sacrificial submission and
service, and the pinky is the by-product, the outcome of receiving
Christ, finding joy in Him alone, taking my hands off of my life,
and doing that which is right for His glory.
( NOTE: You will always want to be spelling out the 5 aspects on the
hand that allows the listener to follow left to right).
(c) 1992, 2015 N. A. Collins
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