How to Become More Like Jesus

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 60:1–62:5 
Philippians 1:27–2:18 
Psalm 72:1-20 
Proverbs 24:11-12

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Phillipians 2:12-13 (ESV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for  it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Every child of God needs to grow. And our growth will not be complete until we are like Jesus. While that will not be completely true of us until we are perfected when we walk through death's door and stand before Him, our aim in this life should be to continually head in that direction.

So how does that happen? How do we become more and more like Jesus as the time passes? Are we supposed to dig in and find the self-discipline to become more like Him? Or do we sit back and wait for God to do the work?

The answer is ... both! It is our job and God's job to make us more like Jesus and our Verses for Today state that clearly.

In verse 12, we are clearly told to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This refers to the fact that when we were saved, Jesus came to live within us. So that perfection and the complete righteousness that we have within us needs to be "worked out" so that the outside of us more and more resembles the inside of us.

In verse 13, we come to understand that our growth does not originate with us. Any desire, self-discipline, and effectiveness that we have that helps us to become more like Jesus originates with God. 

Let's dig a little deeper for a few moments: Realize that any growth that we have toward Christlikeness is because we put ourselves in a place where God can grow us. 

For instance, someone who wants to develop his muscles begins to lift weights. He may think that lifting weights is what is causing his muscles to grow but he would be wrong. Lifting weights would actually accomplish nothing if his body wasn't responding positively by repairing and building his muscles after each workout. Working out with weights is simply an activity that puts the guy in a place where growth can happen.

That's how it is with us. Reading the Bible doesn't make us more like Jesus. Praying doesn't do it. Silence and solitude doesn't do it. And any other Christian discipline does not grow us in the area of holiness. It simply puts us in a place where God can grow us. They are necessary for growth but, in reality, it is God who grows us, not our activities.

Read your Bible, friend. Pray. Serve. Fast. Worship. Journal. But realize that these Christian activities don't grow you. They simply put you in a place where God can grow you.

So pursue Christlikeness today. Engage in the spiritual disciplines. And realize that it is God who is working in you to help you accomplish that goal. It is you AND God.

When you stumble and fall into sin, simply call out for his forgiveness, receive it, and then join Him again on your route to holiness. Believe me, friend, He is working with you in this. He wants you to be more like His Son. So join Him in becoming more like Jesus.

One last thought: If you want to grow in Christlikeness and want to know how to engage in the spiritual disciplines, I would highly recommend the book, "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life," by Don Whitney.

God and injustice

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 57:15–59:21 
Philippians 1:1-26 
Psalm 71:1-24 
Proverbs 24:9-10

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 59:15-16 (NLT) "... The LORD looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

We serve a big God. He does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3) and nothing can stop Him (Job 42:2). If God weren't such a loving God (1 John 4:8,16), we would have legitimate reason to be terrified of Him. But, because He loves us so much, we have reason to "fear" (stand in awe) of Him. We can love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). 

So, each morning is an invitation to wake up and enjoy another day with our God. Regardless of what the day brings, we can enjoy relationship with Him knowing He's fully in control of all things and loves us immensely.

But, if we aren't careful, we will read through those previous paragraphs and think that our relationship with God is self-centered. It is ultimately for our therapy. It makes us feel good as an end in itself. 

And that would be so far from the truth.

God is not 'man-centered.' He is 'God-centered.' Each day is an opportunity to discover what God is doing and join Him in that activity.

Well, what is God up to? As we enjoy Him today, what might He be doing around us? In my Bible reading a few moments ago, I came across an answer to those questions.

Isaiah 59:15-16 (NLT) "... The LORD looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him."

One of the things God might be doing around you today is to seek justice for those who are oppressed. Whether it is a fellow student who is being bullied, or an elderly parent who got scammed by a salesman, or someone who is mistreated because of the color of their skin.

Wherever injustice can be found, you can be sure that God is looking for someone to intercede.

Now, Christians typically don't fight for our own rights. We follow Jesus' example (Philippians 2:3-8) and periodically give up our rights for the benefit of others. But, when it comes to other people whose rights have been violated - well, that's a different matter.

Friend, if you see injustice today, ask yourself what God might be doing in that situation. With your mind informed by regular intake of Scripture, ask what God might desire to happen in that situation. And then ask what He might desire to do through you to intercede on behalf of the oppressed.

If you do this, you will be moving away from a 'me-centered' theology to one that is 'God-centered' and 'others-centered.' These are much more biblical and are the essence of the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:34-40).

Why responding to God quickly is so important

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 54:1–57:14 
Ephesians 6:1-24 
Psalm 70:1-5 
Proverbs 24:8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV) "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The second part of our Verses for Today is wonderful, isn't it? We are told that we can turn away from sin and back to the Lord and He will completely forgive us. Further, we are told that the Lord will do so because He is compassionate - He really cares for us!

But, the first part of our Verses for Today should cause us to sit up and pay attention.

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;" (Isaiah 55:6)

Friend, this verse clearly tells us that there is a limited time in which we can return to the Lord. There is only a certain amount of time in which "he may be found" "while he is near."

Clearly, from this verse (and others that say the same thing), we realize that there may be times when we cannot return to the Lord.

Sometimes, folks say "no" to the Lord so many times that their heart becomes calloused to Him. They have completely shut down the Spirit's work in their life (1 Thessalonians 5:19). So, they will no longer feel a desire to return to the Lord.

Sometimes, folks grow into old age and dementia sets in. They can no longer return to the Lord because their mind is no longer cooperating.

Sometimes, folks can get so locked into a sin that to get out would be so painful and the consequences so dire that they are essentially entrenched in that lifestyle.

Friend, if you are in sin and God is calling you back into a love relationship with Him, then repent and return today. Right now! Because there may come a time when repentance is no longer an option.

To be sure, your salvation is not on the line. If you are one of God's children because you have put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, then you are Heaven-bound. But, your life will have little to show for it and there will be far few rewards to receive on the day of judgment if you live apart from Him. But, even greater still, you will have foregone the ability to enjoy your God while you are on this earth.

So, repent and return, friend, while God is calling. Don't wait. Do it now.

Encouragement from God's help

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 51:1–53:12 
Ephesians 5:1-33 
Psalm 69:19-36 
Proverbs 24:7

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 69:32 (NLT) "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The joy of letting go

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 48:12–50:11 

Ephesians 4:17-32 

Psalm 69:1-18 

Proverbs 24:5-6

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Part of my duties as a pastor is counseling. Folks will visit my office or call me on the phone with a problem and I will seek to direct them according to God's Word.

In my experience, it seems as if forgiveness is one of the biggest problems that we all deal with. Sometimes, as I talk with someone in crisis, it will be discovered that their root problem is that they cannot forgive a parent or someone who they thought was a friend. Or, they are upset at the Lord for allowing a tragedy to happen when He could have kept it from occurring. Or, they cannot forgive themselves.

As unforgiveness takes root, it ferments and settles into anger. And unresolved anger eventually settles into anxiety and depression.

Our ability to forgive others and ourselves is not small matter. It is essentially a matter of obedience to God and, if we are disobedient in this area, could have a dramatic negative impact on us for the rest of our lives.

So, given how much God loves us, it's no wonder that He calls us to forgive. But, on what basis? And how completely must we forgive those who have hurt us?

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

We are to forgive each other because we have been forgiven by God. And we are to thoroughly forgive others because we have been completely forgiven by our Lord.

The forgiveness that Jesus has offered to us is the standard.

Did we horribly offend Him? Yes! Romans 5:8 makes it clear that He offered forgiveness while we were in opposition to Him and His laws.

Did it cost Him something to forgive us? Yes! Romans 4:25 says that Jesus had to die for our sins. Forgiving us cost Him His life.

Does He ever bring up our offenses after He has forgiven us? No! Psalm 103:12 makes it clear that God has cast our sins so far away that He will never consider them again.

So, friend, this is how completely we are to forgive others and ourselves. Based upon what Jesus has done for us, we are to forgive.

If you forgive, you are the one to benefit. If there is someone that you are struggling to forgive, why not ask God to help you to release that situation to Him? If you are still struggling, seek out a Christian pastor or counselor who can help you. 

Friend, life is to short to hold onto offenses. Follow Jesus' example and let it go.

You're the only Jesus some will ever see

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 45:11–48:11 
Ephesians 4:1-16 
Psalm 68:19-35 
Proverbs 24:3-4

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today reminds us that salvation isn't just about where we will spend eternity. It is about how we will spend today.

We aren't simply saved so that we can go to Heaven. If that were true, we'd depart for our eternal home as soon as we trusted in Jesus for eternal life.

But, instead, God leaves us here. We are left to show a lost world what it looks like to follow Jesus. We are left to show how good our God is so that they might also consider following Him.

Yet, all too often, Jesus-followers aren't following Jesus. We need the same instruction and reminder that Paul gave the Ephesian Christians.

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,"

Are you walking worthy of your calling? Will you depend upon the Lord today to do so?

Friend, you are the only "Jesus" some will ever see.

"You're the only Jesus
some will ever see
And you're the only words of life,
some will ever read
So let them see in you
the One in whom
is all they'll ever need
'Cause you're the only Jesus,
some will ever see"
("You're the Only Jesus" by the Imperials)

Enjoying God's presence

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 43:14–45:10 
Ephesians 3:1-21 
Psalm 68:1-18 
Proverbs 24:1-2

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 68:3 (NLT) "But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy." 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

We are saved and live by grace

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 41:17–43:13 
Ephesians 2:1-22 
Psalm 67:1-7 
Proverbs 23:29-35

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Typically, we understand that Ephesians 2:8 & 9 go together. Many Christians can quote these two verses by heart. But, all too often, we fail to realize that verse 10 is a part of the package. Let's briefly look at these three verses.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read that we are saved by God's free gift of grace. We cannot earn it and we certainly don't deserve it. It is a gift. Anything we do to try to earn salvation undermines our ability to receive it. 

To be saved from the penalty of our sins, we simply fall at the mercy of the court. We acknowledge our sinfulness and that we have repeatedly broken God's perfect laws. We ask for forgiveness and that's when Jesus steps in to pay our sin debt to the Father. It's all grace. We can't do anything to get saved except to simply receive it.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So how do we live the rest of our lives after we are saved by grace?

Well, of course, it continues to be by grace. We can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5). We may think, "Well, I can get up and walk across the room without God." But, friend, who gave you those legs? Who is giving you your next breath of air? Who is enabling your body to have the energy to get up and walk rather than drop dead in the next moment? Friend, you and I can not do anything apart from God. We are dependent upon Him and His grace every moment of every day.

But, grace doesn't mean that we are passive. It doesn't mean that we sit back and claim no responsibility for our lives after He has saved us. What should we do after we are saved by grace and as we live by grace?

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

God has saved us "for good works." He has saved us so that we can serve Him. He has saved us so that we can pursue holiness enabling us to be more useful to Him. He has saved us so that we can demonstrate to a watching world in sin what it looks like to follow Jesus.

Friend, we are saved by grace and we live by grace. But, as we live by grace, we must also realize that we have been "created in Christ Jesus for good works" and that "we should walk in them."

So, today, as you depend upon Jesus for every single thing that you need, look for what God is doing around you and join Him. You have been created to follow Him in word and deed. Focus on that today.

What you do today matters ... a lot!

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 39:1–41:16 
Ephesians 1:1-23 
Psalm 66:1-20 
Proverbs 23:25-28

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 39:8 (ESV) "Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.' For he thought, 'There will be peace and security in my days.' "

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

If we read our Verse for Today by itself, we would think that it is a very positive, happy verse. Hezekiah spoke to the prophet and said that what God had just said through the prophet was great news that would guarantee "peace and security in my days."

Yet, when we visit the neighborhood that this verse lives in and read the context, our Verse for Today will break your heart.

Previously, Hezekiah had some visitors from a far off (and seemingly insignificant) land called Babylon. Hezekiah didn't seek God's will before showing these envoys all of the wealth of Judah.

When Isaiah, God's prophet, heard about it, he went to pay Hezekiah a visit. He clearly implied that Hezekiah's reckless actions were foolish. He told Hezekiah that there would come a day when the nation from which those envoys came would march an army to Judah and take everything that they saw. Babylon would plunder Judah and "some of (Hezekiah's) own sons" (Isaiah 39:7) would be taken away as captives.

What did Hezekiah think of these words? How did he react when he heard that there was coming a day when Judah would be plundered and his own posterity would be taken as slaves?

Isaiah 39:8 (ESV) "Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.' For he thought, 'There will be peace and security in my days.' "

Hezekiah didn't give a rip about his posterity. He was simply satisfied that he could live and die in peace. His self-centeredness is utterly nauseating.

Friend, do you realize that you (like Hezekiah) can make decisions today that will affect your children, your grandchildren, and beyond?

If you are a half-hearted Christian, you may think that simply trying to be a moral person is good enough. You attend church periodically. You at least dust off your Bible once a week to take it with you to church. You offer up a prayer every now and then before meals or when life gets tough. Your relationship with God is apathetic at best.

But, your children are watching. They see that the relationship you have with the Lord isn't real. They see that it's just a thin veneer and not the real thing. So, they won't be drawn to it. They will get out of church and forsake God when they get the chance because they will have come to the conclusion that it isn't real. And then they will raise your grandchildren who might stray even farther who will then raise their children...

Decisions you are making today will affect generations of men and women who will come after you. Don't be like Hezekiah who only cared for himself and didn't care for his posterity. Care enough for your descendants to passionately pursue God today and the rest of your life.

Taking our cares to God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 37:1–38:22 
Galatians 6:1-18 
Psalm 65:1-13 
Proverbs 23:24

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 37:14 (ESV) "Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Have you ever felt overwhelmed at what seemed to be impossible circumstances? Maybe things even seemed utterly hopeless?

Sometimes, life can do that to us. We live in a broken world, after all.

Well, what is to be done? Friend, as we read in our Bibles today in Isaiah, we continue the story started yesterday in Isaiah 36. It gives incredible hope! It is a truth that we all need to remember.

Sennacherib, the supreme ruler over Assyria, sent his army to attack Hezekiah and the land of Judah. The battle wouldn't have even been close. There was absolutely no way that Judah could prevail.

What was Hezekiah to do? Throw up his hands in despair. No one could have blamed him if he did.

But he didn't.

While he was filled with despair and feelings of hopeless, he took the matter to the Lord. A letter had been written to clarify just how hopeless the situation was ... but Hezekiah took that letter to the Lord.

"Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:" (Isaiah 37:14–15)

Did God already know what was in the letter? Yep.

Did Hezekiah inform God of anything He didn't already know. Nope.

But, God was pleased when Hezekiah brought the matter to Him, opened up the issue, told Him all about it, and explained what needed to happen.

Essentially, Hezekiah bore his soul to God. He expressed his fears. He expressed his feelings of hopelessness. But, he also said that God must move and that God could absolutely do something about the problem.

And God did!

Friend, do not settle into despair when life gets tough. It's easy to do. I have done it all too often. But, Christians have the powerful resource of prayer in times of trial.

Will God answer us quickly? No necessarily.

Will God grant our requests every time? No.

But, that's where faith comes in. We go to Him, tell Him what's going on, and then trust Him with the results.

Let's strive to live in victory today. If you are a Jesus-follower, then your Father is the infinite Ruler of the Universe, after all.

"But God told me..."

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 33:10–36:22 
Galatians 5:13-26 
Psalm 64:1-10 
Proverbs 23:23

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):


Isaiah 36:10 (ESV) "Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.' "

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I acknowledge that the Verse for Today that I have chosen is a little unusual. But, I hope that by the end of this post you will understand it's significance.

The context: King Hezekiah was king of Judah and was in the fourteenth year of his reign. Judah was essentially a buffer between the two world powers at that time - Babylon and Egypt. So, it was in the best interest of these two powers to control Judah.

Our Verse for Today was quoted by the Rabshakeh (a high ranking military official). He was standing outside the city walls of Jerusalem yelling those words to the residents of Jerusalem.

"Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.' " (Isaiah 36:10)

The Rabshakeh was a pagan military leader. He did not serve the God of Heaven. Yet, he claimed that Yahweh had told him to travel to Judah and destroy it.

So, the question becomes: Did God actually speak the the Rabshakeh? 

Well, given the details of Isaiah 37, we realize that the Lord could not have spoken with him because the prophecy did not come to pass. But, that didn't stop him from claiming that the Lord had given him a message.

Friend, there is no shortage of people who will claim that the Lord has revealed something to them. 

On a few occasions, people have come to me and said, "The Lord told me to tell you...", and then they proceed to give me the secret message. As they are speaking, I can't help but wonder - "I'm on good terms with the Lord. It seems that He could have simply revealed the message to me."

On other occasions, I've heard two people, who are discussing what they believe to be God's will in a matter, present conflicting messages as they each claim to have heard a different message from the Lord. It is possible that God would give conflicting messages to two different people? Of course not.

The question is still the same as before: "Did God really speak to them?"

Friends, God still speaks. There is no question about that. But, it is my concern that people are whimsically using that phrase all too often. 

So, please be careful when saying that God has revealed something to you. If you believe that God has spoken to you about a matter, make sure that it aligns with Scripture. Then, consider talking with a mature believer about what you sense God has said asking for their input. You may even want to take a few more precautions in your desire to be sure of what God has said (if, indeed, He has spoken to you). 

Then, still be cautious when saying that the Lord has spoken to you. You may have heard from Him and then maybe you haven't. You may have heard from Him but you may not have properly interpreted what He has said.

So, be careful not to take God's Name in vain by using it in connection with something that He never said.

Enjoying God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 30:12–33:9 
Galatians 5:1-12 
Psalm 63:1-11 
Proverbs 23:22

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 63:1-4 (ESV) "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I have chosen a larger than normal passage for our Verses for Today. Each verse was so special that I just couldn't decide which one to leave out. So, I included them all.

Essentially, the Psalmist is speaking of how much he craves and enjoys his God. Just like someone who is dying of thirst would crave water, so he craved to enjoy his God.

But he's more specific than that. There is a concrete, objective reason why he enjoys his God so much. In verse 2, the writer recounts how he has meditated on his God in the sanctuary and been overwhelmed with thoughts of God's power and glory. In verse 2, the writer acknowledges that thinking about and experiencing God's love for him is better than anything life has to offer.

These are just some of the reasons why the Psalmist is enjoying his God.

Friend, are you enjoying God? Do you crave Him like someone craves water who is dying of thirst? Do you meditate on His attributes (power, glory, love, etc.)?

Christianity certainly has it's God-given aspects of religion. But, ultimately, it is a relationship! It is an invitation into a relationship with the God who made us. And that relationship will never, ever reach a point where we grow bored of it. There is always more of God to learn about and enjoy.

So, today, reengage in the adventure. Know and enjoy your God. He's been reaching out to you and simply waiting on you to reach back.

Confidence in God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 28:14–30:11 

Galatians 3:23–4:31 

Psalm 62:1-12 

Proverbs 23:19-21

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 62:5-7 (ESV) "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

A

One Benefit of Trusting the Lord

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 25:1–28:13 
Galatians 3:10-22 
Psalm 61:1-8 
Proverbs 23:17-18

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In December 2004, I did something stupid. I mean really stupid!

I took my family to visit family and friends in the Lexington, Kentucky area a week before Christmas. As we prepared to make the 200 mile trip back home to Princeton, Kentucky, my wife and I were hearing of a major winter storm that was blasting western Kentucky. The well-below freezing temperatures made the major amounts of snow and ice stick to the roads.

But, I was a man on a mission and I was going to get my family back home. The first half of the journey was a breeze. The roads were clear and the driving was uneventful. However, as we reached the halfway point, I noticed that snow and ice were collecting on the Western Kentucky Parkway. I kept driving.

Eventually, the Parkway was completely covered. The only hint that there was a road under the snow and ice were the tracks made by previous drivers. I also began to notice that there were a growing number of vehicles on the side of the Parkway. I kept driving.

Soon, my wife was asking (begging) for me to stop. She sensed the danger. She knew that if we slid off the road, we could get seriously hurt. Besides, the Western Kentucky Parkway is very desolate in spots and it would be awhile before someone could come to our rescue. I foolishly kept driving.

Truth be told, my wife was nervous because she saw a situation that was beyond the abilities of her husband to manage. I was nervous, even though I tried not to show it, because I knew that we were only a moment away from danger, every inch of the way home.

But there were 2 boys in that car that weren't nervous at all. They played together. They slept. They may have even argued. They weren't the least bit worried about the danger that I had put my family in.

Why weren't they scared? Because they trusted me. They believed that daddy had things under control. And since they trusted in me, they were able to rest. They didn't get upset or uptight. They were at peace.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Friend, if we are anxious about life and are not experiencing peace, then it is probably a trust problem, pure and simple. If we truly believed that the Lord is in control and that He has promised to work everything (yes, even the bad things) for our ultimate good, then we wouldn't get so uptight.

So trust the Lord more. Keep your thoughts on Him. Read about Him in the Bible. Pray to Him. Invite Him into the moments of your days. Know that whatever you are going through, He's got it. Trust Him!

How will you know if you are truly trusting the Lord especially when life gets hard? Are you in perfect peace? That's how you'll know.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er.
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!