Tag Archives: trusting God

October 16, 2023 · 5:47 AM

Seeking God’s Plan

We recent,y had a guest speaker at church who is also a professor at a Christian college. He told the story of how one of his classes asked him, “What do you think Christians struggle with most?” He then posed it to the audience and fielded responses. Some said loving others, obedience, overcoming temptation, etc. All the usual suspects were called out. He then said he asked his class for two days to ponder the question. As he thought about it, there wasn’t an answer for Christians as a whole because Christianity is made up of unique individuals with their own propensities and struggles. As I’ve thought about my own personal answer to that question, I’ve also thought about us as a whole and how we are good about praising God, but then forgetting what He’s done in the past, as well as, making decisions without involving Him or seeking His plan for us.

In 1 Samuel 13 King Saul been king for a couple of years and had seen God miraculously deliver him and the army in battle. In this instance, he had attacked a garrison of the Philistine army and then called the warriors to him for battle. While the arrived, he waited for Samuel to arrive to sacrifice and to seek God’s guidance and blessing. He began to see the Philistine army arrive in force and panicked. He made the sacrifice himself and the kingdom was taken from him. He acted much like israel did when leaving Egypt. They had seen God’s hand deliver them with the plagues, yet they forgot and began to doubt God at the Red Sea. Psalm 106:12-13 says, “Then Israel believed in [the validity of] His words; They sang His praise. But they quickly forgot His works; They did not [patiently] wait for His counsel and purpose [to be revealed regarding them]” (AMP). In each of these instances the consequences of forgetting and acting without waiting on God had dire consequences.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (NLT). Is this something you struggle with too? The consequences are too dire for us to continue trying to execute our own plan without seeking what God’s plan is. There’s too much at stake when we forget what He’s done in the past for us. James 1:5 tells us He will give us wisdom if we seek Him for it. In Matthew 6 Jesus told us to seek God’s kingdom first then everything else will fall into place. Let’s work on keeping our eyes and hearts focused on God even when our current circumstances want to make us doubt and forget what He’s done for us in the past. Let’s ask Him what His plan is for us and then give Him the freedom to execute it because His plan and purpose for us is what’s going to succeed. You probably won’t overcome your struggle overnight, but you can focus on getting a little bit better each day.

Photo by Glitch on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 28, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Keep Failing

Several years ago I decided I was ready for the next step in my career. I wanted to be the General Manager of a retail store. I put on my suit, rehearsed answers of my achievements, thought of people I had helped get promoted and confidently walked into the interview. The District Manager followed the script for a little while then said, “I hate these questions. They don’t really tell me anything. Tell me about a time when you failed.” I sat there with a blank face. My heart was pounding. I thought, “A failure? Why does he want to know about my failures? Is he trying to keep me from the job?” As I searched for a good failure, I asked him to repeat the question. I then gave him a failure when everything turned out good, but he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted one where I crashed and burned because he wanted to see how I responded to it.

Our past failures are something that so many of us try to hide. In fact, we are so afraid of failure that we typically won’t ever put ourselves in a position to fail at doing something. We try to stick with what we know so that we’re always succeeding. What my District Manager wanted to see if I had learned that failure is the greatest teacher. It is also our path to grace. If we never fail, we have no need for grace. If we never try to do something beyond our abilities, we also keep our faith small by never trusting God to do something through us. God rarely calls us to do things that we can do in our own strength and abilities because He knows pride is always knocking on our door waiting to take credit for our successes. However, when we do things beyond our abilities, it forces us to seek and rely on Him.

James 1:5 says, “And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace” (TPT). God doesn’t ridicule your failures. He’s not waiting to strike you down when you fail either. He sees them as opportunities to grow us and to lavish His grace on us. When we’re called to something greater than our abilities, seek His wisdom first, then step out in faith and do it. If you fail, it doesn’t mean you didn’t hear God or that He didn’t come through for you. It quite often means you and God have two different definitions of failure and success. Don’t let what you think is a failure keep you down. Get back up, trust His grace and keep walking in faith because to keep playing things safe is truly a failure.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio.

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 13, 2023 · 5:37 AM

Understanding Later

As a parent, you often have to make hard choices for your kids. There may be certain music you won’t let them listen to or movies you won’t let them watch. There are games you prevent them from playing that all their friends are playing. It could be a party or get together that you keep them home from. You’re doing it for their good and their future, but many times they don’t understand. They accuse you of all kinds of things when you make tough decisions. You hope that one day they will understand and appreciate what you did for them even though it was uncomfortable at the time.

I’m sure Joseph didn’t understand when he was attacked by his brothers, sold into slavery and put in prison in a foreign country. At the end of the story we see that all his troubles were about maturing him and putting him in position to save his family. His great grandfather faced some difficulties as well. Abraham was asked to move away from his family and the life he had always known. He wasn’t even sure where he was headed until he got there. God’s promise to him was 25 years slow in the making as well. Because he obeyed and was uncomfortable during a season, he was able to see and live in the land God would give his descendants. All throughout the Bible we see where God asked people to do uncomfortable things without them understanding in the moment. He was asking them to trust Him with their future.

In John 13, Jesus and the disciples were in the room about to have the Passover dinner when Jesus put on an apron, got a bowl of water and began washing their feet. Peter protested and didn’t want the Messiah to do such a lowly task. In verse 7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later” (GNT). We usually don’t understand much of what God does for us in the moment. It’s often uncomfortable or even painful, but He has a plan. In every case where I went through difficult situations and I look back on it years later, I can see the hand of God protecting me, positioning me and growing my faith. If you’re there now, trust His plan and know that while you do not understand now what He’s doing, you will later on in this life or the next.

Photo by ROB WILSON on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

September 11, 2023 · 6:13 AM

Releasing Anxiety

I heard a stat the other day where a survey said that 84% of Americans are stressed out or anxious constantly. These feelings usually come from a worry or fear of the future. We play out scenarios in our head of things that are coming, but it’s only the worst case scenarios. We are also stressed by not being able to control situations or outcomes. These things get our mind caught in a loop of thoughts that produce a stress and anxiety that we can’t escape. It’s tough to break this cycle of bondage. We often don’t look at stress or anxiety as bondage, but that’s what it is because it immobilizes us, takes over our mind and keeps us from living out God’s plan for us.

In John 14, Jesus was giving the disciples some final words before He was crucified. He knew what the future held, but they didn’t. He knew they would panic and scatter so he wanted to reassure them. He started off the chapter by saying, “Do not be worried and upset. Believe in God and believe also in me” (GNT). In times where we’re feeling overwhelmed, trust in God and His plan. His will is going to happen no matter what, and it’s a good plan. Just as He was reassuring the disciples here, He wants us to be reassured He’s in control. He spent this entire chapter trying to get them to think long term rather than to focus on the moment. Then concluded in verse 27 with, “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” He put a bookend on the conversation reminding them of His peace and to not worry or be anxious over what’s going to happen.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “People may plan all kinds of things, but the Lord’s will is going to be done.” There is nothing you or I or anyone else can do to prevent God’s will from happening. You can’t mess up His plan either because He causes everything to workout for good. When the cycle of anxiety and stress try to put you in its prison cell, put on the Helmet of Salvation and begin to pray, “Lord, I know you are in control. I give this situation to you in exchange for your peace. Give me wisdom in what to do so that I accomplish your plan for this. Give me the mind of Christ so that I won’t be worried, upset or afraid. I know you have a plan. Use me in whatever way you want. Amen.” Releasing what you can’t control to the One who can control is how we find peace. His will is going to be accomplished no matter what. Give it to Him and ask Him to use you in it. He will exchange His peace for your anxiety and stress.

Photo by Chris Linnett on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

August 31, 2023 · 5:30 AM

An Open Hand

To me, one of the most challenging things God has spoken to anyone in Scripture is in Genesis 12:1. “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you’” (NLT). He was 75 years old at the time. He was well established, and yet God asked him to pack everything up and go to a destination that would be shown to him at a later time. His faith in action is inspiring to me. The Bible later says that his faith was counted at righteousness. That’s a faith we should all aspire to have.

Fast forward to the New Testament and Jesus spoke something very similar to all of us. In Luke 14:33 Jesus said, “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” Every one of us who follows Christ is given the same call that went out to Abram. I believe it’s God’s reminder to us that this place is not our home. Everything we have here is temporary and we can’t take it with us. We must be willing to let go of earthly things so we can receive from God the spiritual things He has for us. We can only do that if we have an open hand.

My wife and I try to be intentional with keeping an open hand with the possessions we have. When your hands are open to God, He can place things in them and take things out of them whenever He wants. Faith like Abraham’s is trusting God with all you have and with the direction of your life. You may not get to know the destination, but you still have to pack up and leave if He asks to walk away from everything that’s familiar to you. God’s greatest blessings are stored up for those who are willing to give Him whatever He asks for and for those who follow Him wherever He leads. What are you willing to let go of should God ask for it? Are you holding onto to earthly things too tightly? Pray that God would help you keep an open hand and heart then watch what He does.

Photo by jörg meier on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 28, 2023 · 5:51 AM

God Of The Impossible

Have you ever had a situation in your life where you thought that it was impossible even for God to do something about? You may not have put it in those exact words. You might think, “It’s too late to do anything about. No one Can help.” Or you could just decide not to pray and waste God’s time with it. I’ve done it myself. I have mentally put limits on a limitless God. It happens to us more often than we think because it’s usually every day situations where we limit God. Our thoughts and our words simply exclude Him from the equation. I’ve learned that I have to catch myself and say, “God this looks impossible to me, but I know it’s not impossible for you.” I’ve seen Him do the impossible many times and still my default is to dismiss His abilities until I stop and put it in His hands anyway.

In John 6 Jesus took the disciples across the lake and up a mountain to teach them. At one point Jesus looks up and sees a large crowd headed toward them. Jesus asked Philip where they could buy enough food to feed so many people. Philip saw the crowd and didn’t answer the question. Instead he told Jesus that it would take almost a year’s salary to feed them. Then Andrew spoke up in verse 9, “There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But they will certainly not be enough for all these people” (GNT). These men had seen a year’s worth of miracles from Jesus and both mentally limited His abilities without thinking about it. One didn’t tell Him where, but instead told Him what it would cost. The other saw how little they had and professed it wouldn’t be enough. Both found out that even a little in Jesus’ hand could do the impossible with leftovers too.

In Mark 10:27 Jesus was speaking about another situation, but had to remind them, “This is impossible for human beings but not for God; everything is possible for God.” There are so many things that we face that are impossible for us that we often dismiss them as even impossible for God. Remember that He spoke this universe into existence. There was nothing, and then there was everything. If He can do that, He can take care of whatever you’re facing no matter how impossible it seems. Philippians 4:19 says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (NLT). Don’t limit our God. He is the God of the impossible.

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 23, 2023 · 5:46 AM

Believing In Healing

From the time my son was born he had an allergic reaction to milk, gluten and eggs. We didn’t find out the problems he was experiencing were from that until he was four. Several years later we were visiting family in Mexico when an uncle asked why they were having to change the menu every time for him. He then asked if he could pray for him. After the prayer my son asked, “Am I healed?” I said, “I believe so. There’s one way to find out. Drink a glass of milk.” Either we believed or we didn’t. He drank the milk and didn’t have a reaction. The next day we were looking at a menu to see what he could eat. He replied, “I thought I was healed. I want a cheeseburger.” Hecate it with no problems. We gave him a normal diet after that. A few months later the doctor ran tests again. The results showed that those allergies that were once off the charts were gone.

In John 4:46 Jesus went back to Cana where He had turned water into wine. A government official approached Him with a request to heal his son who was dying. Jesus pushed back to test him saying that people just wanted to see a miracle to believe. The man insisted that Jesus come heal his son. Verse 50 says, “Jesus looked him in the eyes and said, ‘Go back home now. I promise you, your son will live.’ The man believed in his heart the words of Jesus and set off for home” (TPT). A day later on his journey home, he was met by some servants who told him his son was better. He asked what time he got better and it was the same time Jesus spoke the words and he acted in faith heading for home. This was the second miracle Jesus performed in Cana.

In Mark 11:24 Jesus said, “This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—be convinced that you have received it and it will be yours.” If you look closely at the miracles of Jesus you’ll see that two things happened. The first is that there was usually an act of faith on the part of the person receiving the miracle (they turned and left, they washed their eyes, they touched His garment, etc.). The second thing was that Jesus told them their activated faith had made them whole. I don’t know what you’re praying for, but I’ve seen Jesus heal with my own eyes and have the blood work to show it. I know He can do it for you. If you need more faith, ask Him to help your unbelief. Get someone else to believe and pray with you. Then find out what act of faith He would have you do to walk in your healing. He is more than able. Plus He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What He’s done in the past, He will do today and tomorrow. Believe and trust Him.

Photo by Worshae on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

August 22, 2023 · 5:44 AM

Construction Zone

If you’ve ever worked in construction or had it done, you know it can get messy. I like to tell people to just close their curtains until we’re done, but they don’t. On every one of our jobs we’re going to disrupt their schedule. We’re going to tear up their yard. There’s also going to be a lot of trash piled up because new things come in boxes and the workers create their own trash as well. Things get a lot worse than they were before it gets better. It can be discouraging to the homeowner to see what looks like a chaotic mess. We gave them a picture of what’s coming, but it’s hard to see that design in the middle of construction. The homeowner has to learn to trust the builder and the process by which new things are constructed. No matter how difficult and messy it is during the process, they’re happy when they see the end result.

In Nehemiah 4, the workers in Jerusalem were in that messy middle. They had been doing construction on the walls that had been torn down. They knew they needed them for protection, but they were getting weary with the process. They were also being opposed as they worked because their enemy knew what rebuilding the walls meant. In verse 10 it says, “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves’” (NLT). Between the rubble, the mess and their enemies, they were beginning to be discouraged in the process. Nehemiah reminded them that God was at work, concentrated their efforts and posted guards around the workers who were now armed. They were able to complete the construction of the wall and enjoy its benefits because they didn’t give up in the middle.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV). You and I are God’s construction zone. We’re being made new and transformed by Him so we can do what we were created to do. It can get messy in the middle of His processes of regenerating us. There’s rubble from our old life, disruption of our schedules and an enemy trying to discourage us and stop the work. Don’t give up in the process. God has a design that will come together beautifully when you’ve gone through His construction process. The construction process is only for a season, but the end result is worth all that you go through. God is working in your life. He’s making all things new and preparing you for what’s ahead. Give Him creative control of your life and let Him be the foreman who makes decisions. He will do a greater job building your life than you ever could.

Photo by Danny Lau on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 14, 2023 · 5:45 AM

Trusting God’s Voice

When you’re going through a difficult time, there are a lot of voices that will try to direct you. Some will be the cliché voices that feel very patronizing and insincere. Some will express confidence in you and tell you that you can make it through. Some will tell you to trust God and that they are praying for you. Then there are the voices of doubt that sneak in wondering where God is in the situation and why hasn’t He shown up. You get to hear them all, but which do you entertain? Which voices do you allow to echo in your mind? The longer it goes on, the louder the voices of doubt and anger seem to grow. It can be difficult to maintain your trust in God the more dire the situation gets, but you must keep trusting Him and His plan no matter how hard things get.

In 2 Kings 18 the Assyrian army had besieged Jerusalem even though King Hezekiah had paid money for them to leave Israel alone. The king sent his commander in chief to talk to the officials about surrendering since they were controlling the water flow into the city. In verse 19 – 20 he said, “This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?” (NLT). He spoke in Hebrew so all the people could hear and be afraid. He wanted them to lose heart and quit trusting in God, but Hezekiah didn’t listen to that voice. He sought out a prophet to speak to him on behalf of God. He kept his faith and God did the impossible in the most dire of circumstances because he continued to trust God.

In 2 Corinthians, the Church was under attack. They were being persecuted for their faith. The different voices were coming in and trying to take their focus off God. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 Paul reminded them, “For we live by believing and not by seeing.” Our trust is in God whom we can’t see, not in the circumstances we can see. It’s hard to keep our eyes on Jesus when the voices tell us God doesn’t care and that He has abandoned us to fight this alone. I’ve heard those voices. They’re very loud at times, but we must keep directing ourselves back to the Bible. It is God’s Word to us. Faith comes by hearing it so read it out loud. Make it the voice you hear above all the others. Let God’s words be the ones to build your faith and keep your eyes on Him despite what your circumstances are showing you and the voices are telling you. God is there even though you can’t see Him working or feel Him. He’s working all things out for your good. Trust His voice above all others.

Photo by Eliecer Gallegos on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 2, 2023 · 5:43 AM

The Difference In A Day

My wife and I were just talking about the difference a day can make. I try to teach people the importance of doing a few things each day to help them attain their lifelong goals. The plan for that is that by doing them each day, in ten or twenty years you achieve something huge. However, God doesn’t need ten or twenty years to change your situation. He can do it in a day. When life gets hard or you need God to intervene, He can do in a day what would take you years. The Bible is full of these kinds of stories. Joseph went from being forgotten in prison to being second in command of Egypt in a day. David went from being homeless and running for his life to being king in a day.

In 2 Kings 6 and 7, Samaria was in a desperate situation. The king of Aram had besieged Samaria and their supplies had run out. People were resorting to cannibalism to survive. The king was mad at God and decided to take it out on Elisha. When he and his army officer arrived, he told Elisha that God had brought this misery on them. Then Elisha told them the next day flour and barely would be cheap. In verse 2 the officer said, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” (NLT). That night the Aramean army heard chariots, became afraid and ran away leaving all of their supplies behind. The prophets words came true. God opened the windows of heaven and supplied their need with more than enough.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Whatever your need is, no matter how great or how desperate, God can supply it in an instant. Don’t look at Him with a limited view the way this army officer did. God can step into the darkest night and light it up. He can move in the most hopeless situation and bring restoration. Elisha looked to God in a desperate situation as the solution and not the problem. How do you view God in impossible circumstances? Do you see Him as the cause or the answer? Have faith and trust Him to turn it around in a day while you do what’s necessary to move in the right direction. He has the entire universe available to give you in order to meet your need. He can do it in a day. Only have faith.

Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,