Trusted

“Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their fathers….

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said,
‘Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength;
so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You,
and in Your name  have come against this multitude.
 O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.’”
2 Chronicles 13:18 and 14:11

The prayer of trust.  I believe that this is a prayer that makes the Father smile.  Are you conquering fears, and voices of the past, and disappointments, and bad habits?  Are you conquering rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places? (Ephesians 6:12).  Are you conquering self-centeredness?  You can if you trust in the Lord!

Trust is just believing that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.  Some people lose their trust in God when God does not do what they want Him to do.  We have to trust God, not trust that He will give us our way and our wants.  That is maturity.  That is understanding the difference between the old and new covenants.  In the Old Testament we find that the Old Covenant includes the physical world of wealth and safety and health in this world.  In the New Testament we find that the New Covenant includes death and pain and rejection and sorrow, but that God will be with us through it all and that we will gain heaven for eternity.  If you are trusting God to give you a life of good circumstances, then you are asking the wrong God.  If you are trusting God for Joy and Love and Peace in the midst, then you are trusting in the right God.

"Trust in the Lord with all your might and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Hima nd He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 

For a time we lived in innercity Fort Worth, TX.  If there was a shooting it was probably within a few blocks from the parsonage where we lived.  We worked with street people, ex-convicts, drugdealers, and others that the world had turned away from.  Vacation Bible School included an attemped kidnapping, a broken arm, and a sexual assault charge - all in one week!  Then there were the drive by shootings.  No, our circumstances were not ideal to raise a family, but God was there.  He protected us (sometimes from our own ignorance!) and He provided for us.  We have great memories from right there in the midst!  Halloween came along and we wanted to set up a booth in the driveway of the parsonage.  Most of our church members told us that we were nuts!  Two other couples came alongside and we had a blast and handed out hot chocolate, coupons, and Bible tracts to over 300 people.  We trusted God, and He took away all fear and put the enemy on the run!!!

Are you trusting in a wonderful Savior right now?  Are you trusting for good circumstances, or just trusting?  This is one of those truths that you may get hold of this time, but that you will struggle with again and again in each new situation.  Decide now that you will put your trust in God no matter what.  It makes all the difference in the world when you are in the midst.

Hint of the day:  Hold your child's trust very carefully.  If they expect you to catch them, catch them.  If they expect you to be there, be there.  Etc...  Trust is easily broken and very hard to restore.  Talk about trust with your kids.  Let them know that you are human and there will come that time when you will let them down.  But tell them of their Heavenly Father who will always be there and will never let them down!  Trust your kids to God.  Let go of them and put them in God's hands.  The sooner you do this, the easier it is to watch them go through life's struggles, because you are trusting in their God!