Trust in the Lord

Photo by Carol Moore

A Christian thought to ponder...

Do you think our nation's leaders' will solve all of our current problems? Do you think the global elites have all the answers to our problems? Do you think Donald Trump has all the answers to our problems? Do you think Joe Biden has all the answers to our problems? How about Klaus Schwab, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum? 

The answer is NO. I got news for you, these leaders and global elites have created the problems we are presently in, and they plan on creating more crises and dilemmas. They only answer to themselves. Only the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is the answer to all of our problems. Only He can save us from the crises the elites created. It is only the Lord you can trust. Why? Because humans are untrustworthy. It tells us in Psalm 118 not to trust in man but to trust in the Lord.

 Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man."

We are all inherently born with sin and are imperfect. Our hearts are full of stains and impurities. Only one person is perfect, sinless, and pure of heart. His name is Jesus. Only Jesus can save us, no mortal man. We are told in Psalm 146:3, "Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation." You will not find salvation in any man or woman, machine, device, tree or stone. You will find salvation in Jesus Christ alone. He is our Savior. The apostle John tells us in John 3 that He died on the cross so that those who believe in him would have everlasting life. 

 John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Trusting in Jesus means believing in Him for our salvation, devoting ourselves entirely to Him, and abiding in His word. As it shows in the following verses, we can lean on Jesus for wisdom, strength and rest. We need only to trust in the Lord.

WISDOM 

We are to seek the Lord for wisdom. In Proverbs 3:5, it instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean on him for wisdom. 

 Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 

STRENGTH

We can lean on Jesus for strength. In Isaiah 26, it tells us the Lord is our everlasting strength. He will strengthen us when we are weak. Just call on his mighty name.

Isaiah 26:4. "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:" 

REST

He shares our burdens and will come alongside beside us and carry our load. When we place everything into his hands and rely on him for everything in our lives, we will find rest for our souls. In Psalm 62:1, it tells us our souls can rest because he is our Deliverer, our Savior. 

Psalm 62:1 "My soul rests quietly only when it looks to God; from him comes my deliverance." 

Our Deliverer is dependable, reliable, and trustworthy. Psalm 16:8 tells us to constantly trust in the Lord as He is always by our side. 

Psalm 16:8 "I constantly trust in the Lord; because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended." 

Trust in the Lord. He is sovereign and in control. The wicked people of this world may think that they are in control and are winning, but they will soon find that their wicked and corrupt plans will come crashing down all around them. Their ending is as the fate of Sodom and Gommorah. So, do not place your trust in the world and all that it holds, but put your trust in the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, 

You are our Rock and Anchor, sovereign and in control, and are faithful and trustworthy. Thank you for Your steadfast love that never ceases. Give us the grace to trust You more. Help us to make a commitment to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Steady our trust in You so that it may never waiver, no matter what trials come our way. Help us to lean on you for strength. Help us place our burdens into your hands and rest in you.

Amen.

Struggling to Have a Heart like Jesus

stock photo by Lightstock

Struggling to Have a Heart like Jesus

A Christian thought to ponder ...

Have you ever had God speak to you through certain passages within the Bible, through a study, a devotion, a sermon, or even through a song? Usually, the message is about something you need to correct within yourself. Well, more than anything in this world, I want to have a heart like Jesus. Today, I followed a rabbit trail and discovered something amazing and enlightening. For the first time, the light clicked on, and the Lord revealed an amazing truth to me.

I have always had this emboldened image in my mind as to what a person with a heart like Jesus should be like - a bubbly, outgoing, sociable person who had an angelic glow. A person who was always giving and serving. In my eyes, I have failed in achieving to be like such a person. I thought, I will never have a heart like Jesus, for I am so imperfect. I am at a loss as to what my gifts are, and I am not sure where to serve as I am shy, I lack the gift of speaking, I lack knowledge of the Word, and I have health issues. I am dirt poor which makes it hard for me to give or do anything to help out. How can I do His will and have a heart like His when I failed in all these areas? I thought to myself, Lord God, I am not perfect, and it is way too hard of a struggle for me to become like this person.

However, the Lord uses the struggles we go through in life to shape and mold us into being just like Him. I let the enemy’s tactics that plague this world throw fear, shame, doubt, ignorance, and envy at me to bring me down and interfere with what the number one goal of every Christian should be – to have a heart like Jesus and to be Christlike in all ways. Why? Because I have been so hung up on the struggle to become like this perfect person that I forgot that there is no perfect person. Jesus was the only perfect person that ever walked on this earth. None of us will ever be perfect. If we were perfect, none of us would have to seek God for help, guidance, comfort, and wisdom. It is important for us to remember Philippians 4:13 (KJV), “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The Lord will provide us with the strength to get us through the struggles in our lives. As we depend on Him and seek Him daily through His Word and prayer, the more we will begin to be more like Him and to have a heart like His. If we lack the will and diligence and are bound and determined to have our feet in two worlds (this world and the world in which our Lord resides), we will never discover what it means to have a heart like Jesus and the enemy of this world will hold us back and will delight in seeing us fall and crumble.

The enemy knows I will never measure up. We all fall short of the glory of God. But to strive to be like Jesus and have a heart like Jesus can be shown in many ways daily and throughout our lives; For instance, it can be a smile, a hug, a touch, a prayer, an anonymous donation, providing a meal, or a helping hand. These little acts of kindness can touch someone's heart and show someone that they are thought of and loved. Sometimes we are limited in what we can do or say because of a disability, but that does not matter to Jesus. It does not mean we do not have a heart like Jesus or that it will prevent us from having one. We need only abide his commandment as it states in John 13: 34-35 (KJV), “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.”

It is important to remember that the enemy does not want us to love one another, be like Christ, or do God’s will. The enemy wants us to be torn, confused, and inflict emotional pain upon one another. The enemy’s goal is to keep us from loving like Christ. We need to guard our hearts against the enemy, seek the Lord daily and ask him to put a hedge of protection around all of our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

We will continue to walk through this world, facing struggles as we strive to be more like Christ, but if we cast our worries upon Him, obey, and do His will, He will take care of our hearts.

Father God,

Please give us a heart that overflows with love for each other. A heart that is like Yours and one that long’s for Your will and not the enemy’s will. Help us to protect our hearts from the enemy’s attacks that would prevent us from having a loving heart like Yours. Enshroud us with Your love; help us to make You the focus of everything in that we do daily. Guide us, direct us and help us in our time of need.

Amen.

Love to you all and God Bless!

Carol