October 26 Trusting God
Bible Verses
Jer 17:5-10 Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness in an uninhabited salt land.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
Jer 17:13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame, those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.
Acts 26:16-18 (Paul’ vision) Rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
Acts 26:22-23 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.
2 Cor 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds…. (2 Cor 10:17) Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord
Devotional Thoughts
It’s always been a bit of a nebulous concept, “Trust in God,” it’s easy to say, but what does it really mean? Jer 17:5-10 Jeremiah compares trusting in God and trusting in man. When we trust in man he says we’ll be like a shrub in the desert. It will be like we are dwelling in the parched places, in an uninhabited salt land. What quality of life does that word picture represent? Survival is difficult. Food is scarce…. and there is no help available (uninhabited land). Jeremiah tells us, that is what life is like when we are depending on and trusting in man and/or self.
In contrast, trusting in God is like a tree planted beside the stream. Life is characterized by absence of fear, even in the scorching heat. Because your roots go down to the source of nourishment, your leaves are still green even through all around, the scorching sun has made a drought. Not only are your leaves still green, you have enough nourishment, that you are even able to produce fruit.
It’s like Paul said (Acts 26:22) “To this day, I have had the help that comes from the Lord.” Jer 17:13 the Lord truly is our hope! He is the fountain of living water. In Him we will receive all the nourishment we need for our leaves to remain green, and even to produce fruit when all around us is dry.
We are in a battle for our mind. It’s almost comical when you think about it. Satan would have us believe that OUR strength is what will produce green leaves and fruit… but the reality is OUR strength only produces drought.
On the other hand, times of drought and scorching heat, causes us to dig down and seek the nourishment from the stream beside which we are planted. From that source, we are sustained! But it’s all from the Lord!
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. Our weapons have divine power to destroy strongholds! (2 Cor 10:3-4)
(Desert Song)
This is my prayer in the desert when all that’s within me feels dry. This is my prayer in my hunger and need, my God is the God who provides.
I will sing praise, I will sing praise, no weapon formed against me shall remain. I will rejoice, I will declare, God is my victory and He is here!
Prayer Outline:
1. May we continue to learn to rely less on self and more on Him
2. I pray you will find Him to be your source. That you be refreshed by his living water daily, even when everything around you feels dry.
3. I pray you will not be deceived by the enemies lies. Satan has it all backwards. It’s when we are weak that He is strong.
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