Afraid and Trusting

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."  Ps. 56:3, NIV

We got some devastating news this week.  One of our family members is facing a scary health crisis.  When I meet these types of challenges, my first intention is to meet the crisis with faith.  But I must admit that, at times, something inside me sinks.  I feel like retreating rather than attacking.  I feel like tucking and running.

Have you ever struggled with these types of spiritual conflicts?  There is almost a schizophrenia or two-mindedness. A war between the spirit man and the natural. A conflict between fear and faith; doubt and belief.

I wish I were one of those "super Christians" who always is on spiritually.  But, alas, I am just a flesh and blood believer.  Sometimes I feel weak.  Intimidated.  Other times, I feel invincible.  Revved up and bullet-proof.

As I fought to gain traction in my faith response, I realized that something in me was disappointed that God had not averted this crisis from us.  I wanted deliverance.  Protection.  But instead, He provided a "walk through."  A situation that will require us to lean on Him.  Listen more closely.  Something to stretch our faith and challenge our comfort. 

Then the question came to mind.  If God only kept us from trouble, what kind of witness would we have?  What kind of followers would He have?  Probably droves of people signing on for an easy, cheap, rendition of discipleship.  A protection plan sans the required devotion.

That is the not the kind of weak, wimpy, followers that God is seeking.  He is seeking ordinary men and women like the young David, who amidst bullying, ridicule and rejection, arose to slay a giant.  With one smooth stone.  And the Rock of Ages!

He is seeking women like Esther, who will rise up, "for such a time as this."  He is seeking people like Paul and Silas who will preach and proclaim even if it means imprisonment or death.

He is seeking those who will dare to follow him in radical obedience.  Overcoming faith.  Blind trust.  Oh, God, that I would rise to the challenge!

Dear Lord, I need you.  I pray that you will cause my spirit man to rise up in confidence and strength.  Forgive me for accepting defeat, when you purchased victory.  Sanctity my thoughts, my mind, my faith.  I make a choice to believe in You and to wait on your deliverance.  I admit I am afraid.  But while I am, I WILL trust in you.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

© Sherri Evans Ministries 2015. All rights reserved. Used by permission. For booking schedule and information: sherrievans@sherrievansministries.com

Abandoned to His Care

 Ps 25:20

 

Keep my soul, and deliver me;

Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

NKJV

 

Abandoning ourselves to God is an act of worship, as well as an act of faith.  When we trust him to "keep our soul", we are trusting all of ourselves to Him.   To  those of us  who have been hurt before and who have had people let us down, it can sometimes be a stretch to really trust in anyone.  Even God.  Or perhaps,  especially God.

 

Trusting in the unseen hand of God is a leap of faith. We can know Him and His character, but that only happens through spending time in His presence, and ultimately, taking a risk.  To enjoy the full benefits of abiding under His wing, we have to make the decision, "I am all in."  Not withholding anything about us is required.

 

For so many of the situations in life that we find ourselves in, there is no "escape hatch." If  God does  not come through, we are stuck in them.  But thank the Lord, He is a faithful deliverer, and we can trust Him to bring us out! 

 

 We do not have to be afraid that He will allow us to be put to shame.  When we place our confidence in Him, even if His answer is different than we hope, we can trust He is looking out for us.  He will never make a decision concerning us, that is not based in love and the highest level of concern.  He will always do what is best for us and provide us with strength and support in the wait.

 

What are you holding back from God?  In what areas are you not fully trusting?  You can rely on Him.   Why not let go of the burden you are carrying?

 

Dear Lord, please help those who are struggling with self-care today.  Help them to rely on you.  Help them to abandon self-preservation, and instead trust in you.  Multiply grace to them, Lord, and show yourself mighty on their behalf.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Where is Your Trust?

 

Ps 20:7

 

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the Lord  our God.

NKJV

 

I have never trusted in a chariot- but I have put my faith in a Ford, a Chevy a Nissan and a Toyota.  And when they have  failed, I have been disheartened and frustrated.  There are so many things in life that I did not know I trusted in, until I no longer had it to trust in.

I did not know how much I trusted in my income until the recession resulted in a significant pay cut. I did not know that I trusted in health insurance, until I faced medical uncertainty and exorbitant medical  cost.

As a child of God we must trust the Blesser, while being thankful for the blessing.  We cannot afford to trust even in the blessings of God, because seasons change, and His provision may take a different form in our lives.

Are you in fear of losing something? Perhaps your trust is misplaced.  God is our Source.  We must remember the Name of the Lord and all of the kingdom benefits contained within His Name.  We must remember that it is in Him, that we live, move and have our being. We must recognize that every spiritual or material blessing that we enjoy comes from His storehouse.

We all like to feel comfortable and secure.  It is the nature of our humanity.  But we must always hold on to the blessings of God loosely, recognizing that He must be relied upon alone.   It is not God plus my horse.  It is not God plus my retirement account.  At the end of the day, it is just God. 

Our economy continues to wobble and send shock waves through our hearts and bank accounts.  People let us down.  Sure things fall through, but bless His Name who is forever praised, God will not fail!!!

Dear Lord, I just need you today.  Life is too big and I can't handle it.  Show up. Be God in my life.  I trust in Your Name and not in what I possess.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

                                                                                                                                                         

Trouble or Trust

 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me."   John 14:1

 

Life has a way of bringing trouble.  Trouble in all shapes and sizes- debt; health crises; problems with our kids; or problems on the job.  We have to find a way to walk through the trouble without letting it get in our heart.

What is the antidote for a troubled heart?  According to today's verse trusting in God/Jesus.  Trusting God for protection, provision or direction takes us out of the drivers' seat and allows God to call the shots.

Dear Lord, help me to trust you in all things- especially through trouble.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

I Will Not be Afraid

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?”  Psalm 56:3-4

 

Yesterday we talked about the fear that we all face during trying circumstances. Fear is a common condition of man and must be combated with the supernatural peace and grace of God.

 In verse four, the psalmist says “In God, whose word I praise.”  I love this because His Word is what we can stand on during our trying times.  Whatever circumstances lie before us, there is a passage of Scripture that can give us wisdom, direction, or a promise to stand on.  Because of his Word, we can know God’s heart in a matter, and therefore, can pray in accordance with his will.  And of course, we know that when we pray according to his will, he hears us and answers.

Twice this passage talks about trusting in God.  This is one of the simplest and at the same time, complex, aspects of our walk with God.  To trust in Him means to believe He is doing what is best, is looking out for us, and is watching over his word to perform it.  To trust him in a situation means that we exalt him to the place of lordship- the one who calls the shots- in that situation.  These are the ways that trusting is easy.

Trusting becomes hard in the doing of it!  Because I find that even as I am trusting, there are times I will pick my problem back up and begin to work on it in my mind.  Or in my emotions.  I mean to leave it in God’s capable hands, but almost unconsciously I go into self-protect mode.  Do you relate to this?  Trusting God does not mean praying and then doing everything within your power to fix it.  There are times that God requires stuff from us, and other times he requires us to trust, pray and wait.  This is when the war with the flesh becomes most intense.

In verse 3, the writer writes “When I am afraid…” But in verse 4 he states, “I will not be afraid.” How can both be true?  I believe that the first ‘being afraid’ is about the emotion of fear that comes to us and is not of our own choosing. The second one, however, I believe is about where I choose to put my thoughts, emotions and faith.  Am I going to allow fear to seize me or am I going, instead, to choose to believe what the Word says?

Dear Lord, though I feel fear, I chose to not put stock in that.  Help me to walk in faith and trust and experience your peace that passes understanding.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

                                                 

When I am Afraid

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”  Psalm 56:1

Let’s face it.  Sometimes life is downright scary.  The bills loom with no obvious way to pay it.  You or a loved one faces a health scare.  You fear for your future, your retirement, your job security, your nation…There are many things in life that bring the emotion of fear.

The Bible is full of imperative “Do not fear” commands.  But despite our best efforts there are times that emotion shows up on our doorstep.  Just like happiness, joy, relief, and anger, fear is an emotion we are wired for.  But when we are afraid, we must do as this verse says.  When it happens, I am going to put my trust in God. 

No matter what I face, he is ultimately in control.  No matter how uncertain it appears to me, he has a plan for my life.  A good plan.  He loves me, watches tenderly over all that concerns me.  He fights for me, he defends me, he provides for me and he heals me.  Therefore, when the emotion of fear comes my way, I will choose not to give it place.  I will choose to “fear not” but rather trust in the unfailing hand of God.

You can choose to do the same.  Remind yourself today how much he loves you.  After what all he did on Calvary, what else does he need to do?  Put your trust in him.  He will not fail you.

Dear Lord, I am afraid and you know all about it.  Help me today to be unmoved by the emotion, but rather to put my trust in you.  I love you and praise you.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

Simplicity of Heart

“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.”  Psalm 116:5-6

 

I have been accused of being simple-minded, but never simple-hearted!  Truth is, my heart is a most complicated matter.  How about yours? 

What does it mean to be simple-hearted?  I believe it means to possess a child-like faith.  This is a heart that chooses to believe, chooses to hope, and chooses to rest.   When we are successful in disengaging our brain and following after our spirit, there is great liberty found there.  This is a place where God can work miracles.  When we hand our concerns and dreams over to him and trust him to bring it to pass, we can go about life happy and fulfilled even while we wait for the realization of the dream.

God is gracious, righteous and full of compassion.  He is 100% trustworthy.  He will never make a choice concerning us that will not ultimately be in our best interest and for our best good.  When we grab hold of the truth of the nature and character of God, it inspires faith and trust. It enables us to abandon ourselves completely to His plan and design knowing we are not able to work it anyway.

In my house, my husband is the one that is a technical genius.  I have no interest in technology and, in fact, I choose not to clutter my mind with the details.  I’m not going to understanding the deep workings of my car engine, or the icemaker in the refrigerator..  I am content with knowing that he knows it and I do not have to!  That is simplehearted faith.  That is the degree to which we must learn to lean on God.  We often lean on God in such a way that if he moves, we will still remain upright.  We have a foot behind us just in case God does not hold us up.  That is ridiculous.  We can run and throw ourselves into his giant arms knowing he will catch us and not let us fall.  A life of faith is the kind that if God does not come through, we fall flat on our face. 

When I am in great need, he saves me.  Praise be to God!  He can handle the large things that concern me.  Do you need saving today?  Call on Jesus.

Dear Lord, help me come up higher in simplehearted faith.  Help me to be a person of great faith and trust.  Go before me today and fight my battles for me.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Fear of Embarrassment

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.  Do not let me be put to shame nor let my enemies triumph over me.”  Psalm 25:1

When you read this verse, what part of it spoke to you?  Not being put to shame or not having your enemies triumph over you?  As we live our lives in confident trust, we believe that God will protect us from embarrassment, lack, and defeat by our enemies.

The circumstances you face in life today, probably made a particular part of the verse speak more to you.  For me, it is a little bit of both.  There are several things that I have committed to God in faith that I want or need to see Him perform.  There are faith steps that I have made that I want him to protect me from being embarrassed over.  And for sure, there are enemies I do not want to get the upper hand over my life.

Who are the enemies you face today?  It may be actual people in your life, on your job or in the family that cause you to feel oppressed or afraid.  Perhaps your enemies are things like financial lack, health problems, strife and discord or fear.  No matter what enemies you have, God is greater.  He is bigger, stronger, smarter and more powerful than anything or anyone you stand against today.  He walks beside you, carrying you when needed.

Lift up your soul to Him.  Put your trust in Him. He cannot fail you.  He loves you and wants what is best for you even more than you do!  He will protect you from your enemies.  Run to him- you will find safety.

Dear Lord, I lift up my soul- my mind, will and emotions, to you today.  I ask you to protect me from my enemies and keep me from embarrassment.   I pray especially today for those who are facing fearful circumstances, I ask you Lord, to give them peace and strength.  Protect them, in Jesus Name I pray.  Amen.

Sherri

Convinced

“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. “ II Timothy 1:12

 

Suffering is a part of life. Things come our way to rob our peace and joy.  We have constant reason to need to lean upon the Lord and cast our care on Him.

In this passage Paul talks about the suffering that he has had to endure as an apostle and herald of the gospel.  Paul recognized that following God in the radical way that he did, did not always bring a peaceful, happy existence.  In fact, people who are truly making a difference for the kingdom often meet more opposition in life. 

Paul acknowledges the suffering and yet he goes on to say that he is not ashamed.  Why? Because he knows Whom he has believed.  Knowing God, who He is, how He works, what motivates Him may seem like a nebulous task.  But the truth is, we serve a knowable God.  Just as Abraham and Moses were friends of God, we too, can know him intimately and be known by him.  Because of Paul’s close affiliation with the Lord, he became convinced that God was able to guard everything he had entrusted to him.  His life, his health, his provision, his safety, his loved ones, his hopes, his dreams, all of this he had committed to God.  Even when things were not going his way, Paul remained convinced that He was able.  Able to be what he needed; able to guard the precious things he had trusted to Him.

As Christians, we know there is a “day” when all of this will be worth it.  The day we are transported into his eternal presence, whether it be by death or rapture, will make all of life’s trials and misery worth it all.  The things we suffer through now are temporary; they cannot keep us from the love of God, from his favor, his grace or his protection.

Even if today you are walking through dark places; even through the “valley of the shadow of death” you can trust in God.  You can trust him to keep you, to protect you; to heal you; to save you. Knowing His faithfulness is an unmovable part of His character helps us to stand solidly upon the foundation of His Word, even when life is shifting sand.

Dear Lord, I do know that you are able to guard all that I have entrusted to you.  Help me to let go of worry, fear and anxiety.  Allow me to feel your presence today, knowing that you go before me and keep me no matter what comes my way.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri