Trust Brings Blessing

"For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.

He gives us grace and glory.

The LORD will withhold no good thing

from those who do what is right.

O LORD of Heaven's Armies,

what joy for those who trust in you."

Psalm 84:11-12 NLT

Fear grips her heart as the headlines scroll across the screen.  She ponders all that is happening and her chest tightens with anxiety.  Projecting forward into the future, she foresees calamity entering her own world and she cannot breath.  

It's easy to fall into such a trap while living in a world that is filled with things to dread and worry about.  Tragedy could strike at any time, so precariously balanced is my fragile life.  I want to trust God in all things, and I know that's what He wants from me, but it means letting go of the fear of the unknown, releasing my desire to have some semblance of control, and turning from the oh-so-familiar anxiety which I wear like a comfy sweater.

There are some things I can learn about God that will help me to trust Him.  And when I do place my faith in Him, there will be such joy!

Sun.  Without it, the inhabitants of earth would have no light.  It brings warmth to an otherwise cold planet, also serving as the center of orbit for this solar system, holding the planets on course.  Plant life uses it's radiation and heat to grow and produce and without it, there would be no life as we know it.  The sun is the source of life-giving energy as well as the center of our universe.

On a much grander scale, God could be compared to the sun.  He is the source of all good things and without Him, life would not exist nor would it be able to endure.  God made everything, and if it wasn't for Him, I would not be here thinking the thoughts I'm pondering about Him (Genesis 1).  Even though I'd like to think I'm pretty important in the scheme of things, mankind wasn't even brought into existence until the final day of a week filled with creative invention.  While I'm not an afterthought, I am certainly not the center of the universe.  That is God's rightful place.

As the source, He is also good so everything that comes from Him is good (James 1:17, 1 John 1:5).  This means I can trust what He gives, knowing that it will be beneficial to me and my life.  I need not fear anything with such a God as this in my life!

When I understand that God is the source of life and all good things, I can trust Him with my life.

Shield.  I scrambled for shelter as the hail stones pelted my exposed sin.  I had been caught out in the storm as I rode my bike home from school one day and while the adventure of it all had been exhilarating, I was glad to reach the protection of my home.  

Life can be like that sudden hail storm I experienced as a child.  I find myself out in the midst of difficulty, feeling like I'm exposed and vulnerable to the harm that often comes from every angle.  God wants to serve as my shield, my safe place in the midst of the hard times, the heartache and the struggle (Psalm 46:1-3), but I must enter into His shelter.

When I understand that God is my ever-present help in times of trouble, I can trust Him with my life.

Generous.  His character is kind and big-hearted.  He wants His children to experience all the goodness He has to give.  He is not stingy, giving only what is needed, nor is He conditional, withholding until I get my act together.   Instead, it is His desire to lavish heavenly gifts upon me as His well-loved child.

The thing is, I often look elsewhere for meaning and purpose, depending upon other sources to give me what I need.  Sometimes it's my own ability to provide and protect that I rely on.  Other times it's the people I respect as dependable and able to take care of me.  Then there are times I even believe good will come if I just let it, not even considering the source of such good things.

If I put all my eggs in God's basket, inclining my heart toward Him and expecting Him to give me what I need, I'll find Him come through every time (Matthew 6:32-33).  If I live as if He doesn't exist, as if my actions don't matter, then I'm not open to what He has to give and I'll miss out on all His blessings (James 1:5-8).

When I understand that God is a generous God who wants to shower me with blessings, I can trust Him enough to walk His way. 

It is hard to trust God, I'm not going to sugar-coat it.  But gaining a larger view of God helps make it easier.  When I understand that He is the source of all good things, my protection and a generous God, I will begin to see that I can place all my weight on Him, trusting Him implicitly.  You see, this God is truly trustworthy, and when I trust Him, I'll find much blessing in return.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can place all that worries me into the hands of a God who is able to handle it.

How do I hold back from letting God have free-reign in my life?

When do I forget all good things come from God?

     

His Dwelling Place

"How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of Heaven's Armies."

Psalm 84:1 NLT

I long for the dwelling place of God where I will be blessed and find peace and security.  Where is this blissful place?  In heaven on high, in the mansion Jesus is preparing for me?  Must I wait until this life is over to enter into His courts?  Or does the psalmist speak of the here and now, that I can enter into such a wonderful place in this moment?

Submit.  "Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise." (v 4 ESV)  Growing up, there were rules for those who lived in our house.  We were expected to clean up after ourselves, to share the load of daily chores, and to each take our turn in cooking and cleaning up the kitchen.  As children, we also were to submit to the decisions our parents made with the understanding that they were acting on our behalf, looking out for our best interest.  It was a pretty good system and I don't ever remember questioning whether or not my needs would be met or if I was protected.  I lived at peace under my parents' roof.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, it is no different (1 John 3:1).  I live in His kingdom, in the here and now (Luke 17:21).  With God as my Father, it is my duty as His child to let Him have His way, to trust Him with the details of my life and to agree to His best for me.  Instead of running after things that are outside of His dwelling place, I can learn to be content with Him and what He provides for me (Matthew 6:31-33).

I live in God's wonderful dwelling place when I submit to my Father in all my ways.

Strength. "What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD. . ." (v 5 NLT)

Living in this world throughout my life, I have learned to depend upon myself, to lean on my own understanding about how the world works, and to do for myself.  I've become quite independent and am too proud to ask for help and let someone else do for me.  With such a mindset and way of living, I often feel pooped out and discouraged.  It's hard to live by my own strength.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, there is a better way (Isaiah 40:31).  God never runs out of steam or feels depressed or downhearted.  In contrast, no matter how positive my attitude is, I will at some point reach the end of myself, but God has no borders.  He is without parameters nor does He have limits.  His power is unequaled and the end of it can never be found.  Therefore, when I trust in Him for my strength, I'll never run out and I'll find joy in such abundance.

I live in God's wonderful dwelling place when I let Him be my strength no matter what I face in life.

Value.  "A single day in your courts is better than I thousand anywhere else!" (v 10 NLT)

Throughout my life there have been many other places for which my heart has yearned.  I wanted success, notoriety, someone to love me, purpose, all the things that I thought would make my life meaningful.  I ran after them with gusto, sure that once I reached my goals I would finally have peace and contentment.  I never saw the value of God and the place He had prepared for me in His presence.

My Father has been drawing me toward Himself for my whole life, challenging me to taste and see that He is good (Psalm 34:8).  Now that I have seen the great plan He has for me and the security that comes from buying into His purposes for me, I want more of Him and no longer see what was so great about those other foolish pursuits (1 Peter 1:1-3).  What once held great value to me now means nothing (Philippians 3:8).  Finally I can see that His courts are better than anything else this world has to offer, and there is no place I'd rather be than sitting at His feet.

I live in God's wonderful dwelling place when I appreciate the value of living in His presence.

This world is dark and evil, and its hard to go on living in such a place.  I long for something better, and it overjoys me to realize I can enter into His dwelling place right now.  I can find His blessing in the here and now when I submit to His best for me, lean on His strength, and come to appreciate the value found in His presence.  In these ways I will find His dwelling place right here on earth, and my heart will sing His praises!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can receive this wonderful dwelling God yearns for me to enter.

When do I insist on having my own way, which turns out to be much inferior to God's best?

How am I leaning on my own strength and growing weary?