TRYING YOURSELF VERSUS TRUSTING IN GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 29, 2019.

SUBJECT: TRYING YOURSELF VERSUS TRUSTING IN GOD! 

Memory verse: 

"

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18 vs 2.)

READ: Proverbs 3 vs 5 - 8; Jeremiah 17 vs 5 - 8:

Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
3:6: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
3:7: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.
3:8: It shall be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Jeremiah 17:5: Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
17:6: For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
17:7: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
17:8: For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green; and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

INTIMATION:

To “try,” in the context of my discussion, is to make efforts in achieving the desired objective. Surprisingly “try” is not used in the Bible to denote making effort. The only way "try" is used in the Bible is in the sense of putting someone or something to the test. The Bible speaks of the "trying of our faith." (James 1 vs 3) We are told not to believe everything that we hear, but to "try the spirits." (First John 4 vs 1) The psalmist says, "Try me O Lord, and know my thoughts." (Psalm 139 vs 23) The Bible also talks about fiery trials which will "try" us. (First Peter 4 vs 12.) 

In the spiritual sense, then, the word 'try' refers to a test or trial to determine the value and worth of a person or thing, and not as an effort to achieve—in referring to human effort. The Bible didn't speak of "trying" as our attempting to achieve or accomplish by our own means or ability. This is not to say we should never make effort to achieve or accomplish anything in life. Far from it. As believers, we are to put out an effort that is made through the grace of God at work in us. In other words, we don't attempt anything without asking for God's help. We lean on Him the whole way through each project. We maintain an attitude that says, "Apart from Him I can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5)

The attitude of leaning completely on God is "trusting" in Him. Trusting is described as; worthiness of being relied on; a resting on the integrity, friendship, etc of another; faith; hope; confidence in the truth of anything, especially in this case God. For instance, our memory verse is David’s declaration of what God is to him. 

We should not trust in ourselves but in God (Second Corinthians 1 vs 9). The Bible speaks of "Trust in God" more than 45 times. Therefore, there is no gain saying the fact that trusting in the Lord is key. We are not to be involved in natural, carnal efforts because the result is only fatigue and frustration, disappointment and destruction. But completely lean on the grace of God to accomplish all our lives challenges. As a believer, learn to exchange try with trust. 

In the passage we read in Jeremiah, two kinds of people are contrasted here: those who trust in human beings or human efforts, and those who trust in the Lord. Those who trust in human efforts are barren and unfruitful. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord flourish like trees planted along a riverbank (see Psalm 1). In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on. But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but even for the needs of others. 

God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust Him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide, and then follow God’s leading.

To receive God’s guidance we must acknowledge God in all we do. Jesus emphasized this same truth when He said in Matthew 6 vs 33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? Where is God On that list? What is His advice? Make Him a vital part of everything you do, then He will guide you because you will be working to accomplish His purposes.

Prayer: Abba Father, in You I live, and move, and have my being. Forever my trust is in You, O Most High, and nothing will ever come before You in my life, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!