Thursday, August 27, 2015

Who Do You Trust?


Do you trust in the banks that “hold” your money and are supposed to keep it safe for you? Just look at Cyprus a couple years ago when the government took money directly from private bank accounts. Look at Greece where bank account withdrawals are very limited and the ranks of the homeless have climbed to an estimated 20,000 people on the streets there today.

Do you trust in your pension? Will your retirement account be available when you retire or will it possibly disappear into thin air before you reach your “golden years” in the future? Maybe you don't even have a retirement fund.

Do you trust the doctor? Has your physician given you a diagnosis of cancer? Is it your heart that’s failing to work properly? Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and you have to take insulin every day. Did the medical specialist give you a bleak outlook on your quality of life for the rest of your life? These kinds of things are occurring within my family and with me, too. Yet, I still trust in God!

Do you trust in the lawmakers who create laws that most Christians find appalling and immoral? These laws are in direct opposition to the Word of God and God’s laws.

Do you trust the politicians? Do you trust those who are running for the presidential election here in the United States who claim to be Christians? Do you really believe they will have the power to make changes for our good as a nation?

Do you trust the teachers? Many teachers are very liberal, particularly at colleges. Do you trust these teachers to convince your children (who are now impressionable young adults) not to take the wrong path or could they be guiding them onto the wrong path?

Do you trust in your job security? Many full-time jobs have been cut to part-time jobs because of the new government healthcare law. All too easily our jobs can be gone or our hours cut in a split second with no warning. We can be replaced by the loads of people out of work. The hard work, education, and perseverance once held in high esteem is not necessarily the way to climb the ladder for work or the way to retain your job anymore. I am among those who are seeking more work or a full-time job and it’s been slow for quite some time now. Yet, I still trust in God!

Do you trust in your parents? Usually they are a good source to trust and confide in, but not always. Are they steering you in the ways of God or not?

How about a preacher, an evangelist, or a priest? Should these men and women be trusted? Are they leading the flock like the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ?

are you seeking mediums or physics for direction and answers to your life? They are plentiful and popular. Is this who you should place your trust in and believe?

I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.” (Leviticus 20:6)

There are so many questions. There’s really only one answer to the question: Who should you trust?

Here’s the answer: You should only trust in God!

Trust in God in all His ways through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit. Can you hear Him? It doesn’t have to be audible. If you really know God, you will hear God speak to your heart.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

Several months ago, I knew in my spirit, without a doubt that God was asking me a question! I felt Him asking me, “Do you trust me?” Although, in slight hesitation, wondering why I’m being asked this question, my answer was: “Yes, of course, Lord, I trust you!” I have to admit that I felt uneasy about this. Yet, I also must say that as a devoted Christian who has surrendered her life to the Creator, I must believe that God knows best. I must only trust in God!

To trust in God, you must follow God in every way each and every day. You must be obedient. You must open your heart, your eyes, and your ears to Him. You must be willing to follow Him as a sheep follows the only Good Shepherd.

How much do you trust in God? If not, then why not?

Speak to God from your heart. Ask Him questions and some day he may be asking you a question, too. Make it simple and believe. Just imagine that He is right there beside you because He really is now and always will be..., and have a conversation with Him and listen for His voice. In time, I promise you will hear from Him and you will know it is Him. You will also hear from the enemy and you will need discernment to tune that out because the enemy comes only to fool you in his deceitful ways of lying, stealing, killing, and destroying. Yes, the enemy is sneaky.

You need to trust only in God! It’s the only way.

Tell Him that you will trust in His riches (the one who owns the “the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:20),” not the banks!

That partial scripture verse and the following verse help us to understand that God owns everything!

Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.” (Deuteronomy 10:14 — added bold is my emphasis)

So the next time you think that you own your own car or house or animal, in reality, all of everything is owned by God.

Tell Him you will trust in His healing as the Great Physician, and not only modern medicine. Tell Him you will trust in His wisdom and His everlasting Word, and use discernment with preachers and teachers. Tell Him you will trust in His ownership, not  the bank. Tell Him you will trust in His retirement for you, not the 401Ks or the government pensions. Tell Him you will trust in His laws and the 10 Commandments, not man’s laws. Tell Him you will work at whatever job He has for you at His leading. Tell Him you will honor your father and your mother.

Tell God that you will place all of your trust in Him. Tell Him that you understand that He has your best interests in mind and at heart because He loves you so very much. He really does know best, but do we trust Him? Do we let Him lead us? He is much more than the best parent here on this earth and that’s all we really need to put our trust in Him.

Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and the trust will follow, with faith, surrender, obedience, and commitment. When you can love Him, then you will have this promise:

You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 8-9)

That reward will be worth it all!

When you stop trusting, here’s an example of how the Lord changed the future fate of Moses and Aaron because of it. The Lord had told them to trust Him, as He led the Israelites out of Egypt and the Egyptian captivity.

But even after all He did, you refused to trust the Lord your God ...” (Deuteronomy 1:32)
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!’ ” (Numbers 20:12)

This meant that Moses and Aaron would never be able to enter into the land that He had planned for them. If only they had truly and totally trusted God, He had his best ready for them.

So, seek God and place all your trust in Him and in Him alone!

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know your name will put their trust in you; for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:9-10)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." (Nahum 1:7)

There are many stories of trusting in the Lord and His rewards. There are several stories of those who did not trust the Lord and how the Lord’s anger rose against them. You wouldn’t want this to happen to you. It is much better to go God’s way than man’s way. In the end, this question will matter: Did you trust in God? Did you trust in Jesus?

“… Each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors — stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.” (Psalm 78:7-8) “ They did not believe God or trust him to care for them.” (Psalm 78:22)

No matter what occurs or what does not occur that you may be hoping for right now, we need to place ourselves and our lives with childlike trust in God!

I’m going to trust in Jesus Christ who took my sins upon Himself and died for me so that I could live. Who are you going to trust?

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

I sang a song each day with the scriptures that follow (below) as “God’s Word for Today” verses. After I felt God questioning me about my trust in Him, it seems like the floodgates opened up with plenty in which to trust in Him alone. There’s been a great deal of events going on, and with each one, I had to tell God over and over again that I trust Him. The events going on in my life and the lives of my family were quite traumatic and tragic yet again this year, and I don’t know where I would be right now if I didn’t trust in God. I have to keep placing my trust in God every day with each and every thing, and I will have to continue doing so until I see Him face to face when I will be able to say to Him: Yes, Lord, I trusted in you and you alone! Please join me! I want to see you in Heaven rejoicing with me because we trusted in God!
God’s Word for Today:He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.
(Psalm 91:1-2)

"I pray that from His [God's] glorious, unlimited resources [that] He will empower you with strength through His spirit. Then Christ [Jesus] will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong." (Ephesians 3:15-16)
Copyright © 2015 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set it italics.