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!

A cure for fear

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 10:1–11:16 
2 Corinthians 12:11-21 
Psalm 56:1-13 
Proverbs 23:6-8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV) "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I love reading through the book of Psalms. While the Apostle Paul's New Testament letters are intellectually stimulating and written to the mind, David's psalms (and the other psalms) are emotionally stirring and written to the heart.

Psalm 56 is no different. In it, we read of David who was lamenting the fact that he had enemies against him. It appears that these enemies were the Philistines who had taken him captive. They intended great harm for him.

Yet, while he had more than enough reason to be afraid, he refused to succumb to that emotion. Why?

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4)

Do you see how he was able to combat legitimate reasons for fear? He put his trust in the Lord.

What did that look like? What does it mean to "put my trust in the Lord?" Here are a few ideas:

• He rested in the fact that nothing could happen unless God allowed it.
• He rested in the fact that even bad things were intended by a gracious God for his good.
• He rested in the fact that people are infinitely weaker than God and can only do what He allows.
• He rested in the fact that God was working out a wonderful plan even in the bad things that happened to him.

On and on we could go but you get the idea.

Will you trust in the Lord today? If you do, you will fear less. Rest in your Father's care. Your faith will be well placed.

The answer to anxiety

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Chronicles 1:1–2:17 

Acts 23:11-35 

Psalm 3:1-8 

Proverbs 18:14-15

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 3:5-6 (CSB) "I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Anxiety is a huge problem in our society. 

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, "(a)nxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population."

But, while we may not struggle with clinical anxiety, many are continually struggle with worry, stress, and the resulting loss of sleep, sluggishness, discouragement, and many other symptoms. 

Is it any wonder that one of the largest sections of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is when Jesus told us 3 times "don't be anxious" (Matthew 6:25-34).

Well, it's easy to tell someone "don't be anxious." But, it's quite another to give them a substantive reason for not being anxious.

And Jesus, being the infinitely wise God, has given us that reason.

The answer to anxiety is trust.

If I were in the back seat of a car on an interstate where everyone was traveling at least 65 mph and I didn't trust the driver, I would be nervous. Every time he changed lanes or got even reasonably close to another car, I would get anxious.

But, if I were a child in the back seat of the car and my dad or mom was driving and I fully trusted them, I wouldn't even care about the traffic. I wouldn't be nervous at all. Because I trusted my parents.

Trust frees us from the vise of anxiety.

Trust is the answer to anxiety that Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount. If you read Matthew 6:25-34, you can see that He is clearly saying that we need to trust our Heavenly Father.

In our Verse for Today, we see the same reasoning.

Psalm 3:5-6 (CSB) "I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side."

The Psalmist was able to sleep even if thousands of people were against him "because the LORD sustains me." He was trusting in the Lord and His provision. As a result, He was able to lie his head on his pillow at night and enjoy restful sleep.

Does trusting the Lord guarantee that everything will go well for us and that we will find the results pleasant? Of course not. We live in a broken, Genesis 3 world. Bad things are going to happen.

But, even in those bad times, we trust the Lord. We realize that nothing can happen to us unless it passes through His hands. He either actively wills what we experience or He passively allows what we experience. But, everything has to be approved by Him.

Added to this is the fact that He has promised that everything that we experience is intended to make us more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29).

So, trust Him. Whether life gets easy or gets hard, trust your Heavenly Father's heart.

God is faithful when we are not

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 12:20–13:34 
Acts 9:26-43 
Psalm 132:1-18 
Proverbs 17:6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 132:11-12 "The Lord swore an oath to David, a promise he will not abandon: 'I will set one of your offspring on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I will teach them, their sons will also sit on your throne forever.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verses for Today convey God's desire. In actuality, they were a promise.

God said that if David and his descendants lived in complete obedience to God's laws, then the royal line of David would continue to sit on Jerusalem's throne forever.

Well, it doesn't take a Bible scholar to realize that Israel is currently led by a Prime Minister and not a king. He resides in Biet Aghion and not Jerusalem. David's descendant isn't currently reigning on Israel's throne ... there is no throne.

So, when we read Psalm 132:11-12 carefully, we realize that it is a conditional promise. There were certain stipulations. If David and his descendants did their part, then God would be obligated to do His part. But, since David and his descendants did not do their part (they were disobedient), God was not obligated to put one of David's descendants on his throne forever.

But, God did anyway!

This is the nature of a gracious God!

He gives us good things even when we fail miserably to hold up our end of the bargain.

Even though David fell into horrible sin and his royal descendants continued to disobey God's commands, David's decedent will reign forever. God sent His Son, Jesus, born of the virgin Mary (a descendant of David - see Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-38) to be the King of kings who would rule forever. The future Heaven that the righteous will enjoy includes a "New Jerusalem" (Revelation 21:1-2) and a throne upon which Jesus will reign.

So, the conditional promise in Psalm 132 was violated by men but graciously fulfilled by a loving God.

Friend, God is still the same. You will fail Him. You will sin against Him. You will stumble and fall ... daily. But, if you have been saved and entered into a relationship with Him, you have already been a recipient of His grace. And His grace toward you continues. Even when you fail, He is faithful. 

So, rest in His grace and faithfulness today.

Trusting God in the moments

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 11:1–12:19 
Acts 9:1-25 
Psalm 131:1-3 
Proverbs 17:4-5

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Acts 9:6 "But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

As I came across our Verse for the Day in my reading, I couldn't help but see a biblical truth - that God typically doesn't give us His long term plans.

In Acts 9:6, we read that when Paul was converted, the Lord spoke with him and told him to get up and go into the city. After Paul had exercised that much obedience, God would give him more instructions. God just wasn't going to give too many details to Paul at the moment.

And this isn't an anomaly. It's the way that God often speaks with His followers. 

In Genesis 12:1, God essentially told Abraham to leave his hometown, just start walking, and God would tell him when he arrived at the desired destination.

In fact, the Psalmist said that God's Word simply shows us what to do in the moment and the not-too-distant future. It's not intended to provide us with a Long Range Plan.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." (and I might add ... its not a massive spotlight for far down the road.)

So, why is this the case? Well, let me share why I think God often operates this way...

If God gave us a long term plan, we would find very little reason to trust Him for the resources or for our next steps. So, He often desires for us to live moment-to-moment. This typically happens when life gets turned on its head and bad things have happened or we have stepped out on a huge step of faith. In doing so, we have plenty of reason to trust God in the moments.

So, does this mean that we aren't to come up with long range plans? Goals? Of course not. Nehemiah demonstrated what it looks like to assess a massive project, strategize, and organize the resources to get a large task done. But, even then, we see that God gave Nehemiah two enemies who gave him more than enough reason to trust in his Lord. The book of Nehemiah is peppered with verses that tell us that he was praying often.

So, it's not wrong to come up with long range plans. But, realize that God often puts us in situations where we must trust Him in the moment not knowing what the next moments will hold. Those are gifts from Him, though. They give us reason to increase our faith as we trust in Him.

A Know-So Salvation

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 16:1-18:28
Luke 19:1-27
Psalm 87:1-7
Proverbs 13:1

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 19:9-10 (CSB) "'Today salvation has come to this house,' Jesus told him, 'because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In Luke 19:1-10, we read about Zaccheaus, 'the wee, little man, and a wee, little man was he' (talk about being politically incorrect! HA).

In this story, we come to see that he had a heart change. He was saved from his sins and God's wrath. That's what Jesus said: "Today salvation has come to this house."

Being saved happens in the realm of our mind and heart. But, since it happens there, it tends to be subjective.

By that, I mean that it may seem difficult to understand if we are truly saved. After all, how can we KNOW that we are saved? Wouldn't it be wonderful if God sent down a spiritual birth certificate from Heaven?

Well, first and foremost, we need to investigate whether we have placed our trust in Jesus to make us right in God's eyes. His finished work on the cross on our behalf is the object of our faith. There needs to be a time in our life when we stopped trusting ourselves and our own perceived self-righteousness and, instead, placed our trust in Jesus to forgive us and save us (see John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

For the purposes of salvation, that's it. That's all that is required. When we trust in Jesus, we enter into relationship with God and will one day spend eternity with Him.

But, how do we KNOW we are saved?

The story of Zacchaeus is one of the multitude of stories and principles in Scripture that tell us. It's a change in our behaviors. Jesus noted that Zacchaeus was going to give half of his possessions to the poor and was going to pay back fourfold those he had defrauded.

These actions didn't save Zacchaeus. They simply demonstrated that he had really been saved. His new heart was demonstrated in God-glorifying actions.

So, are you saved? Have you placed your trust in Jesus to make you right in God's eyes?

If so, fantastic! But, here's another question: Can others see Jesus in you? Do your actions reveal that you really are a child of God?

Because someone who claims to be a child of God and yet is not becoming progressively more like Jesus and less like the world needs to read the sobering warning given by Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?' Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23 CSB)

A story of passion and conquest

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 13:1-14:15
Luke 18:1-17
Psalm 85:1-13
Proverbs 13:7-8

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Joshua 14:12 (CSB) "Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I have some 'favorite' Bible stories and Joshua 14:6-15 is definitely one of them!

In it, we see in our mind's eye an 85-year-old man step into Joshua's presence. These two men were special. They were the only 2 spies (out of the 12 that Moses sent into the Promised Land) who came back with a positive, faith-filled report. The other 10 expressed doubt that they could take the Land but Joshua and Caleb resolutely believed that God could be counted on to do what He promised (see Numbers 13:26-33).

The Israelites believed the 10 faithless spies and rejected Joshua and Caleb's words. That one act doomed the nation of Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. 

Now, in Joshua 14, Joshua and Caleb are the oldest of all the Israelites and they have seen God conquer most of the Promised Land through them just like He said he would.

But, there's one particular area that was still a splinter in Israel's eye. It hadn't been conquered yet. It was the area where the Anakim lived - the people who were so tall that they made the Israelites feel like 'grasshoppers' (see Numbers 13:28-29, 33; Joshua 14:12). The 10 spies used those particular people as the excuse to doubt God's promise.

Well, for 45 years, that act of faithlessness had turned Caleb's stomach. He knew God would have given the Israelites victory but they doubted and were, therefore, put on the shelf of 'do-nothing' until they learned their lesson.

So on this day, Caleb approaches Joshua and asks specifically for the land where the Anakim still lived. He wanted to kick some Anakim booty to vindicate God's name. He believed that God's glory was diminished among the Israelites when they doubted that He would and could do what He said He would do. So, Caleb wanted to show that an 85-year-old man with a promise from God could do what a whole Israelite army didn't think He could do.

Well, did Caleb succeed? Did he let the Anakim know that the God in Heaven could do whatever He pleased?

Knowing that Caleb had fire in his eyes, was jealous for God's glory, and wasn't going to back down from the fight, all we need to do is read the last sentence of this story...

"...After this, the land had rest from war." (Joshua 14:15)

I can picture Caleb sitting under a shade tree drinking a cold glass of tea and, with a broad smile and a twinkle in his eye, saying under his breath: "I knew God could do it!"

Are you a person filled with faith and passion? All you need to do is ask God to develop within you a jealousy for His glory. Find some precious promises of God that He has given to you. And then engage in the spiritual warfare against our satanic foe.

We NEED people like Caleb in our spiritually apathetic days!

The source of happiness

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 11:1-12:24
Luke 17:11-37
Psalm 84:1-12
Proverbs 13:5-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 84:10-12 (CSB) "Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verses that I have chosen for today are incredible! To keep our focus on them, I will only add two very short insights:

1. The Psalmist acknowledges over and over in this Psalm that our craving for happiness can be met in the Lord. (Christianity is not merely a religion, it is a relationship.)

2. Regardless of what "bad" things happen to us and around us, if we recognize that our God is good and that our craving for happiness can be met in Him, then we are in a much better position to deal with the trials that come our way.

A right attitude in the face of trials

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20
Luke 9:28-50
Psalm 73:1-28
Proverbs 12:10

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 73:25-26 (CSB) "Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verses for today are so heart-warming, aren't they? They sound like they were uttered by someone who doesn't have a care in the world ... until you read the rest of the Psalm.

I love the realness of the Psalms. The writers don't gloss over the difficulties or seeming inconsistencies of life.

In Psalm 73, the writer is struggling to understand how the wicked are prospering. All the while, he is following the Lord and is struggling.

Listen as he expresses his heart's question:

"Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning." (Psalm 73:13-14)

Do you hear what he's saying? He's struggling to understand if following the Lord is worth it in light of the fact that his days are filled with grief.

At its core is the erroneous belief that a good heart should always be rewarded with an easy, pleasant life. We struggle with this attitude, too, don't we?

"God, why did this happen to me? After all that I've done for You, why is my life so hard? It's not fair!"

Well, friend, the Psalmist realized that to get himself to a right place, he had to change his thinking. He had to focus on something else.

So, what does he do? He focuses on his God and eternity...

"When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless until I entered God's sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny. Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin. How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors. Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, you will despise their image." (Psalm 73:16-20)

The writer looked to eternity and realized that the current injustices were only temporary. Eventually, we will all head to our eternal reward. Those who reject Christ will spend eternity in Hell regardless of how pleasant and exciting their lives seemed on earth. Those who have submitted their lives to Christ will enjoy the splendors of Heaven forever regardless of how difficult their life was here on earth.

This mindset is what led the Psalmist to express his adoration for his God.

Psalm 73:25-26 (CSB) "Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever." 

The guy who wrote this didn't have an easy life. Instead, his life was filled with questions, difficulties, and frustrations. Yet, he chose to focus on the Lord in spite of it all. He looked to his eternal reward and found joy in it. It is in light of this that he was able to come to a positive mindset in the face of life's trials.

We can do the same, friend. If life gets us down, we can look to Heaven and realize that our God is to be enjoyed both in eternity and today.

But, as New Testament believers, we also realize that we are never to be satisfied that the wicked are headed to Hell. It should break our hearts. We have wonderful Good News that can bring new life to the hardest of hearts. Let's be open today to share the Gospel with whoever God will send our way. 

God's affirmation when I doubt

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
Luke 7:11-35
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 11:29-31

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 7:28 "I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Have you ever had some doubts about your faith? I mean some serious doubts? Like, does God really exist? Or, does trusting Jesus really save me? Or, is the Bible really trustworthy?

Sometimes, if we have these doubts, we may keep them securely tucked away in the corners of our mind. We wouldn't dare let others know. Why? Because "good Christians" don't ever have such doubts ... or so we think.

In Luke 7, we read that John the Baptist sent word by way of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was truly the Messiah. In Matthew 11:2-3, we come to understand that this happened while he was in prison.

"Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'" (Matthew 11:2-3)

So, John has been imprisoned. He had previously been telling people that the Messiah was coming and that Jesus was the Messiah. And like in Matthew, we read in Luke 7 that he's having some serious doubts.

We might not be surprised if Jesus responded by saying something like, "Oh, you of little faith." Or, "How in the world can you doubt Me when you were recently telling others that I was "the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world"?

But, Jesus doesn't do that. He knows that John is discouraged and confused as he sits in a prison cell. He's wanting confirmation that his beliefs are not misplaced. And he brings his questions to Jesus.

What does Jesus do? He reminds John the Baptist of who He is and what He has done (Luke 7:21-23). This evidence would bolster John's faith.

Further, as John's disciples were leaving to bring these words back to their imprisoned teacher, Jesus lavished praise on John the Baptist, probably so that the disciples of John could hear these words and encourage their teacher (Luke 7:24-28).

"I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John..." (Luke 7:28)

This is an important truth, friend. Are you going to have doubts from time to time? Sure. But, an even more important question is, 'What does God think of our doubts if we are genuinely on a pursuit of truth?'

All we need do is look at how Jesus responded to the doubting, discouraged John the Baptist. Jesus didn't rebuke him. Instead, He provided him with some answers and evidence and then He encouraged him.

Friend, don't ever let Satan cause you to wallow in defeat when you struggle with some aspect of your faith. He would love for nothing more than to convince you that you have disappointed your God. Nothing could be further from the truth! God will compassionately meet you where you are at and help you during that time. 

I think we really need to reflect on how much our God loves us even when we don't feel lovable!

On wings and spiritual things

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 26:52-28:15
Luke 3:1-22
Psalm 61:1-8
Proverbs 11:16-17

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

"I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings." (Psalm 61:4 - CSB)

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

King David was belittled when he was young. When the prophet Samuel showed up to anoint the next king of Israel, David's own father expressed doubt that his shepherd-boy son could possibly be the next king. When David was sent by his father to check on his brothers in the Israelite army, he was ridiculed by his own brothers when he said someone should go out to defeat Goliath.

But, we know what happened to Goliath. We also know how David courageously expanded the Israelite nation and its influence through military exploits. He proved that his trust in his God enabled him to experience victory after valiant victory.

However, in the recesses of his heart, David struggled just like the rest of us do. He had his moments of doubt. He felt the pangs of injustice. He periodically wondered why God seemed like He was a million miles away. (Just read the Psalms. David poured his heart out often and we get to see that he was much like us.)

That being the case, David needed a place of safety - just like us. He needed place where he could feel secure, a place where he could run when things got out of control - just like us.

Well, he found that place. Listen to what he wrote:

"I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings." (Psalm 61:4 - CSB)

The "tent" was the tabernacle, the place where God met with His people. It was the place of worship. David realized that ultimately this was his place of shelter. He wasn't running to a massive, rock fortress. He was running to a tent because that was the place where His God resided.

But, he didn't just run to the tent. He ran into the tent (metaphorically speaking) and took "refuge under the shelter of (God's) wings." Just like a baby bird finds comfort from the storm under its mother's wings, so David found comfort under the protective care of his God's 'wings.' He realized that nothing could happen to him unless it got past God first. So, in that, he found comfort.

So, friend, when life gets chaotic where do you run? Where is your hiding place? If, to find comfort and make sense of it all, you run to anything but God, then that 'thing' you run to is your 'god.' 

Why not determine to develop your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Spend time listening to Him in His Word and speaking with Him in prayer. Consciously look for Him in the moments of your days. Let that relationship become so real that it becomes a natural reflex to run to Him when life gets tough.

You'll be glad you did.

How to relax during the stresses of life

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 19:1-20:29
Luke 1:1-25
Psalm 56:1-13
Proverbs 11:8

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 56:3 "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

When my children were much younger, they seemed to not have a care in the world. I could have sweaty palms as I drove down the interstate in a blinding storm ... and they were in the backseat giggling. I could stress as I looked at the checkbook realizing that there wasn't enough money to pay a utility bill ... and they were chasing each other through the house.

That's the nature of children. They trust. And because they trust, they just don't worry.

Have you noticed as you read through the Gospels that Jesus periodically took a child up into his arms (Mark 9:36-37) and encouraged his follows to be like that child? He wants us to trust Him. When we trust Him, we become like a child who is much more carefree than we, adults, typically tend to be.

That's the beautiful truth we see in this morning's verse for today.

"But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3).

So, be an adult and do what you should in each circumstance. If the car is making a strange noise, be responsible and get it looked at. If you are struggling to make ends meet, look for a second job. If you're driving through a blinding storm, consider taking the next exit to safety.

But, through it all, learn to trust Jesus. The more you trust Him, just like a child trusts their parent, the more you will be able to rest in your spirit.

"Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,

How I've proved Him o'r and o'r.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,

Oh for grace to trust Him more."

Living in victory when life is tough

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 16:41-18:32
Mark 16:1-20
Psalm 55:1-23
Proverbs 11:7

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Life is tough. There's no questioning that. We definitely live in a fallen, Genesis 3 world.

So, what's a Jesus-follower to do? Live in a perpetual state of despair?

Of course not!

We are to follow the example of the Psalmist and "give (our) burdens to the Lord." That means that we go to Him in prayer, inform Him of what He already knows, and then leave the "worrying" to Him.

Essentially, we say something like: "Heavenly Father, I've done all that I can do. I know of nothing else that I need to do. So, I'm leaving this matter in your hands. If I were to fret and worry, it's not going to solve anything so I won't bother. I trust that You are working out Your perfect plan and that whatever happens has to come through Your hands. Thank you so much for taking this burden from me. It was getting far too heavy to carry. Amen."

What is the guarantee? That if we are godly (obedient and confessed up), then He won't permit us "to slip and fall." That doesn't mean that life will immediately get easier. In fact, it may be God's desire to use the difficulties to forge steadfastness and character in us. The verse means that we will be able to stand victorious even if the trials continue to rage around us. We can live confidently because we are trusting in Him to take care of it.

So, is life hard? Sometimes. But, don't lay in a pool of discouragement on the battle field. Get up, trust in the Lord, and live in victory!

Are you a good person?

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 14:1-15:16
Mark 14:53-72
Psalm 53:1-6
Proverbs 11:4

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 53:2-3 "God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

It's been my observation that most of us think we're a pretty good person. In fact, if I was walking down the street and someone asked me, "Do you think you're a good person?", I'd probably say "Yes."

Why is it so natural for us to think of ourselves as good and to proclaim that goodness to others?

Because we have watered down the definition of that word. The way we define "goodness" is not the way that God defines "goodness."

When we define goodness, we are saying that we haven't killed anyone. We haven't committed adultery. We aren't a liar. We aren't a thief.

... at least we think those statements are true of us.

So, can I ask you a few questions to see if you are a good person? Thank you.

Have you ever been angry with someone? Of course you have. We all have. Well, in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus equates anger with murder. So, you, my friend, are a murderer. You have broken the 6th Commandment (Exodus 20:13).

Have you ever looked at someone to lust after them (arouse sexual passions in your mind/heart)? Jesus said that whoever looks to lust has committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). So, you, my friend, are an adulterer. You have broken the 7th Commandment (Exodus 20:14).

Have you ever told a lie? Even once? Of course you have. We all have. And what do you call someone who has told a lie? A liar, right? So, you, my friend, are a liar. You have broken the 9th Commandment (Exodus 20:16).

Have you ever taken anything (no matter how small) that didn't belong to you? Of course you have. Well, what do you call someone who steals? A thief! So, you, my friend, are a thief. You have broken the 8th Commandment (Exodus 20:15).

So, by your own admonition, you are a murderer, an adulterer, a liar, and a thief. And we've only look at 4 of the 10 Commandments.

Do you see how misinformed we are when we proclaim our own goodness? Do you see how our verse for today is true when it says that God looks down from Heaven and can't find anyone who is doing good?

You may say, "Well, I'm mostly good. I'm a liar but most of the time I tell the truth."

Well, imagine with me that you are sitting in a court of law. The defendant is accused of murder. But, he speaks up and says, "I killed someone in cold blood. But, most of the time, I just leave people alone. I'm good most of the time. It's only every now and then that I kill someone."

You get the point, don't you?

So, what does a truth like the one found in today's Bible verses cause us to do? It should cause us to run, not walk, to the foot of the cross and fall down in repentance. It should cause us to trust in Jesus for our source of righteousness and stop trusting in ourselves to make us right in God's eyes.

Because we aren't morally good. Only Jesus is morally upright and fully pleasing to God. It is only as we are trusting in Jesus to make us right in God's eyes that we get forgiven and declared righteous. He takes our sin and He credits us with His righteousness.

So, if you are trusting in yourself to be good enough to make you right in God's eyes, stop it. You will never, ever be able to be good enough. Instead, trust in Jesus to make you good enough. That's precisely why He died on the cross, my friend.