Tag: trust

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Trust in the Lord Forever

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security. Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.  (Isaiah 26:1-4,NASB)

The 26th chapter of Isaiah is called “Song of Trust in God’s Protection.”  The prophet tells of a time in our future, when the nation of Judah will be reestablished in the land of Israel.  In the context of the time, Judah had yet to be defeated by, and exiled to Babylon. 

In the portion above, Isaiah looks forward to that day when Judah will be reestablished in a secure land.  Who will provide security?  God will!  The city gates will be opened so “that the righteous nation may enter, the one that remains faithful.”  (I’m not sure, but this sounds to me like the New Jerusalem!)  

Isaiah 26:3 image.  Composed by Claudia Hoyes.  Found at https://my.bible.com/bible/100/ISA.26.3

Next, the prophet speaks of peace, and how to achieve it:  “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.”  So the formula for finding perfect peace, “Shalom,” is to place one’s trust in the Lord God Almighty.  Finally, Isaiah tells us to “Trust in the LORD forever.”  Why?  Because “in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.”

God is my Rock.  I will trust in Him forever!  Although I have ALS, He has not failed in one good promise to me.  He’s promised eternal life to me because I’ve placed my trust in Jesus Christ, His Son.  When I get to heaven, I will see perfect peace, Shalom! 

Worship:  “Trust in You, by Lauren Daigle
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Confidence

Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.  (Proverbs 3:25-26, NASB)

There are many instances in the Bible where people are told to have courage.  Situational courage is called for on many situations.  When angels appear, people are told to not be afraid (angels must be a scary sight!).  In the excerpt above from Proverbs, King Solomon, speaking to one of his sons, gives a tutorial on faith in God, and the resulting confidence. 

Solomon says, “Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes.”  He had been taught well by his father, King David, who was in many tight spots himself.  The source of David’s strength?  God Himself!  Solomon continues, telling his son why he should not fear:  “For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.”  Trust in the Lord is our ultimate confidence.  Because of His promises, we should have no fear.  (The primary mode of transportation in those days for most people was on foot.  Many of the roads were treacherous, hence the comment about “your foot from being caught.”)

Courage - Standing Tall - Trusting God
“Courage,” found at Bible.com, https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/29488-courage-standing-tall-trusting-god

God is good.  Because of His promises, we should have no fear.  As Jan Catton has reminds me, “No fear, only faith.”  I have placed my faith, hope, and trust in the Lord! 

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Worship:  “Confidence,” by Sanctus Real

This past Wednesday (10 August) was the one-year anniversary of my first post on Dead Man Not Walking.  It took a few days to figure out what I could do, and how quickly, but I figured I could do an essay every three days.  I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.  With the ALS, I lose a little bit each day.  I’m having trouble controlling a drooping eyelid.  When it closes, I can’t control the computer, and I can’t type.  My eyes also tear uncontrollably at times, and when that happens, I may look one way, but the computer thinks differently (many times I have been typing only to have all my work deleted).   But God is good! 

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Trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.  (Proverbs 3:5-8, NASB)

King Solomon, son of King David (so the book of of Proverbs begins) writes here in Chapter 3 about “trust in the Lord.”  He says you should do so “with all your heart.”  The Hebrew word for “all” there means “all!”  There’s no ambiguity in the meaning.  I’m to be whole-hearted in my trust in my God.  Further I’m not to count on my own confidence in situations.  I’ve seen where that goes.  “I’ve got this, God.”  No, I didn’t!  We’re to acknowledge Him in EVERYthing we do.  Why?  So He “will make your paths straight.” The straight path is used often in the Bible.  The shortest distance between two points.  The path of least resistance.  God wants to be involved in the minute details of our lives.  Business decisions, whether to retire, finances, moving the family.  He promises He’ll put us on the right path if we consult with Him.  Trust Him with all your heart. 

I did a Bible devotional just prior to the New Year called “Practicing The Presence Of God: Old Habits For A New Year.”  (By Dwell, found at the You Version app, or bible.com)  The study focused on the writings of a 15th century monk named Brother Lawrence.  He was a soldier before he joined the monastery, where he became a cook.  The premise of his life was that everything centered around God.  Whether cooking a meal, or cleaning pots, whatever he did, Brother Lawrence talked to the Lord about it.  His writings talk about his absolute joy in his relationship with God.  Brother Lawrence trusted in the Lord with all his heart, and God made his paths straight.  A book compiles Lawrence’s writings, and it’s called “The Practice of the Presence of God.”  I’d like to try to get it on Audible. 

Image, Proverbs 3:5-6. Found at Keith McGivern, https://medium.com/@keithmcgivern/trust-in-the-lord-with-all-thine-heart-and-lean-not-unto-thine-own-understanding-in-72c2c8ce2df1

King Solomon goes on in the text to caution the reader to be humble; and to “fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”  The result will be “healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”  In my mind, humility, fear of the Lord, and resisting evil are indeed spiritually healing.  Those three are vital to having a personal relationship with the Father.  Solomon says that “fear of the Lord” is the prerequisite to wisdom.  

I’m still praying for physical healing from my ALS.  Since there’s no known cure, that would take a miracle from God.  But that’s the business He’s in.  Nothing is impossible with Him!  Should God decide to heal me in 2022, I have a list of things I’m going to do.  Number 2 is binge eating all the foods I’ve been missing, for a week, followed by a diet.  But the first thing I’m going to do is make Sue a cup of coffee. 

Whether He heals me or not, it all comes to trusting in the Lord.  Despite my ALS, I trust Him thoroughly.  He has made my paths straight.  He gives me hope for whatever is going to happen tomorrow.  God can do the same for you. 

Worship:  “Trust in You,” by Lauren Daigle