Reflection on “Trust In the Lord With All Thine Heart!” September 17, 2024
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7.
So often in my lifetime, we sang this hymn, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”
But how do we learn to Trust anyone? There is Faithfulness—someone who always IS the same. Never-changing, and Love which completes itself with forgiveness. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.
Someone who loves and forgives and asks response. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36-39. Is this impossible? Not when you belong to the Lord and the Holy Spirit dwells within your being.
When re-reading the scripture when God commands that we love God with our heart, our soul, and our mind…I realize how many ways we shut the door on trusting and loving by filling our minds with aimless TV watching or doing pleasure-filling activities, worry, and envy.
Trusting is an everyday thing, that we are blessed by the One who created us. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Psalm 143:8.
The Word, ‘Teach’ indicates someone who is filled with humility and knows to Whom to turn. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34.
Only God could do this: Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He put the man whom He had formed. Genesis 2:7-8. This comes after Genesis 1:27-28. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
How often do we feel nothing is going right for us? Nothing seems good, and that is when we want a place to hide. “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8.
We want peace and not have to worry. These aren’t just verses in the Bible, it’s Truth. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27.
I asked a friend how she knew she trusted God! Her answer? When I am not worried. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1.
Another Psalm tells us, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3.
Another Psalm? Most of the Psalms were authored by King David. What do we know about David, the Shepherd boy? And when He (Saul) had removed Him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s offspring, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised. Acts 13:22-23.
How often do we think of our Lord God? Our Creator? Christmas and Easter? The next few verses indicate how often to fill our minds with Prayer, Gratitude, and Praise for His Goodness, and Faithful Love.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. Psalm 92:1-4.
Studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the first three—Love—Joy—Peace! (Galations with 5:22-23) are followed by Patience Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. This part of Galatians 5 ends with this verse. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24.
Father God and His only Son, Jesus, have made all things. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18-19.
What else does God gift us with? You make known to me the path of life;
In Your Presence, there is fullness of joy; On your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11.