Do you ever find it difficult to trust others?  Have you been hurt by someone’s lying and then forced to move forward while the trust is fractured or broken? 

These are difficult things to do. 

In my most intimate relationships I’ve always struggled with what it means to trust versus what it means to be scared to confront.  Many times, in many different relationships, I’ve felt voiceless because my fear of confrontation would choke out all my desire to communicate.  But that’s not healthy and it’s also not fair to them or me.  I’ve learned the hard way that no matter how hard I try to manage a relationship…it won’t work if I’m suppressing all my thoughts and emotions. 

Relationships are meant to be a two-way street.  Give and take.  If a relationship isn’t strong enough to withstand confrontation, then is it really a relationship at all?

They say that trust is earned, but I say that trust belongs to God alone.

I tried to live the “trust is earned” way for a long time, but I realized that people are all naturally untrustworthy to a degree.  It’s part of the sin nature.  People will let you down.  They’ll sometimes do unexpected things.  So, will I.  None of us is immune to this.

When I’ve boiled it down, over and over again, throughout my life…I’ve consistently come to the conclusion that God is the only One I need to trust.

Worried about a spouse’s heart?  Give them to God and trust Him.  Concerned about trusting a child?  Sure, set up a few boundaries, but mostly give them to God and trust Him to work it out within them.  Struggling with trusting family?  Lay it down, forgive, and trust God.

Trust God to love you.  Trust God to have your best in mind.  Trust Him to do work in someone’s heart. 

We can’t do anything to change someone else’s heart…only God can do that. 

If you are struggling with trust, I encourage you to ask God for His perspective of the situation.  Ask Him to guide and direct your steps within that conflict.  Sometimes, hard conversations need to happen, but most often we need to step back and allow Him to move. 

One more thing, if a difficult conversation seems to be the only way forward…I encourage you to never begin it while in an emotional place.  Pray and fast, if needed.  Ask another to partner in prayer with you.  Do whatever you need to do before you reach out from a place of internal peace. 

There is one thing I know for certain, if I begin a hard conversation from a place of irritation it never ends well.  We are called to live in the fruit of the Spirit…which includes self-control.  We should eat from that fruit as we proceed with holy caution.

God is a God of self-control.

The problem isn’t usually trusting another, it’s most often not trusting God to have good things stored away for us. 

You see, every person is in the midst of process.  We bump against each other, in life, all in the midst of this process.  God is the only One Who knows exactly where each of us are internally.  This is why trusting Him is the only true way forward.

I challenge you to embrace this truth today.  If you have a difficult relationship in your life, where it’s hard to trust…then I encourage you to invite God to enter that place and then simply say to Him, “God, I trust You.  I believe that You will protect me as You work this out.  Please give me wisdom and restraint as I proceed with this person.  Please forgive me for anytime I’ve been untrustworthy.”  Then watch as He begins to move in, around, and through you.  I promise, it’ll be worth it.

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.  Store My commands in your heart.  If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.  Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!  Tie them around your neck as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart.  Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.  Trust in the Lord with all you heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.  Proverbs 3:1-6

While reading my Bible recently, I was reminded of a very powerful moment.  The scripture was concerning Jesus’ baptism and subsequent time fasting in the wilderness. 

Let’s read it now…

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River.  He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days.  Jesus ate nothing at all that time and became very hungry.  Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”  But Jesus told him, “No!  The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”  Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  “I will give You the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please.  I will give it all to You if You will worship me.”  Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”  Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off!  For Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect and guard you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”  Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”  When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left Him until the next opportunity came.  Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.     Luke 4:1-14a

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit at His baptism…but He didn’t receive the fullness of Holy Spirit power until He had withstood temptation. 

Even Jesus had to choose. 

He chose to live and die for our sake.  He could’ve chosen different, at any time.  Yet, He remained faithful. 

What a mighty God we serve.

We would do good to remember this the next time we face a choice.  When we have opportunity to choose between God and the world…we can remember that Jesus also knows this struggle, and having won it, He came out on the other side with Power.

We each need the power of Holy Spirit to inhabit our lives.  Without it, we won’t make it through the hardships of life.  I’ve noticed a lot of believers who seem unable to weather storms well.  They often turn from God, become angry with God, blame God.  I have always wondered why this occurs, now I’m inclined to wonder if they do so because they haven’t been filled with Holy Spirit and received power.

It’s that important.

It’s that vital. 

We can’t go on without it.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I encourage you to ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.  Once you’ve been filled, ask Him to release the power of Holy Spirit in you.  Once you do this, your life will never be the same!

There are moments in worship, when I’m home alone or with a small group and I can suddenly feel the worship that I’m singing, reach up.  It’s very interesting…I feel a stretch inside as if my very being is pushing up towards heaven with all I have.  There have been moments in church when I close my eyes and worship and suddenly, I forget where I am.  It’s as if I’m alone, right there in the crowd. 

I believe, both of these are moments when I transition from simply singing, to truly worshiping in spirit and truth. 

Today, I want to encourage you to truly worship God.  Come before Him with your whole heart.  Find a place where you can sing praises to Him without begin interrupted.  Sing past the insecurity and embarrassment of taking the steps to break through in private worship.  Sing until your spirit and flesh come into alignment with heaven. 

Find the secret place of worship.

We often talk about the secret place we find in quiet time…but we don’t often discuss finding the secret place of worship.  The place where singing becomes something more.  The moment when we forget we are worshiping and become enveloped in His Presence. 

Let today be the day that you reach into something more during worship. 

Moving past the smoke and lights.  Moving past being heard by others.  Moving past the words of the song, and into the heavenly places.

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to Him.  For He laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.  Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in His holy place?  Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.  They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their Savior.  Such people may seek You and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob.  Open up, ancient gates!  Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.  Who is the King of glory?  The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle.  Open up, ancient gates!  Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.  Who is the King of Glory?  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies- He is the King of glory.  Psalm 24

I’ve often thought of the way Mary responded to the angel who came to inform her that she would carry Jesus in her virgin body.  She simply asked how this could happen when she’s a virgin…which is a very natural question.  But then she accepted it and moved on in faith.  Let it be unto me as you have said, she replied.  I’m amazed every time I consider this.

Then I think about Zechariah, the father of John.  The angel came to him and informed him that his wife would have a son.  He couldn’t believe it because his wife was old…a far easier task than a virgin becoming pregnant.  You know the rest of the story; he was mute until John was born and needed a name.  I wonder if it was possibly because the angel knew he’d struggle to remain believing.  I can’t say because we aren’t told. 

It’s so interesting, these two stories.

Mary found it more believable that she could conceive without intimacy, than Zechariah could find it believable that he and his wife could conceive late in life.

Isn’t it a wonder?!

Right now, I’m struck with one glaring difference.  When we are younger, it seems like we believe anything could be possible.  Unfortunately, when people get older they often lose that same belief. 

Oh Lord, please don’t ever let me lose the wonder of it all.  Help me to always be willing to believe.

I would far rather be silent, than unbelieving.

Do you remember the saying, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.”?  I think we would be wise to remember this as we grow up.  If we can’t believe the miracle, then we can at least stay silent and allow God to move in spite of our unbelief. 

The older I get, the more I see the value of silence.  Many of us simply talk too much.  I know many who are so desperate to be heard, whether right or wrong, that they just cannot seem to shut up.

Today I ask you to go before the Lord and inquire of Him.  Ask if you have aborted any of His works in your life or the lives around you, with you own tongue.  Ask Him to examine your heart and show you any parts that are bent on unbelief.  Then repent and decide today…to believe no matter what.  Or to be silent.  Believe or shut up…for lack of a better word.  It’s just that simple.

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So, the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.  What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age!  People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.  For the word of God will never fail.”  Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May everything you have said about me come true.”  And then the angel left her.  Luke 1:35-38

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen?  I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”  Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel!  I stand in the very presence of God.  It was He Who sent me to bring you this good news!  But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born.  For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”  Luke 1:18-20

In this day and age, it can seem as if all “rulers” are wicked.  It is shocking, sometimes, the way the love of money and power corrupts even the most well-meaning, eventually.  I believe that many people who rise to leadership on a grand scale, and even a small one, go into it with a decent heart…but just fall into corruption little by little over time.  Character can seem like a lost pursuit.  Most are simply determined to be in charge.  We too often see someone with a pinch of charisma and/or talent and then shove them into leadership with no regard for the state of their heart.  This is a sobering fact, I’m sorry to say.  Then others seem bent on corruption even as children and those around watch them be raised up and wonder how on earth it is possible.

It’s difficult to not despair.  It’s also difficult to know the truth about things.  It seems that we are only ever told what “they” want us to think.  We are only ever shown what “they” want us to see.  This pertains to politics but also the church.  “They” seem to be running everything…

Who is “they”?

I believe “they” is the spirit of the age.  A demonic spirit…honestly, an anti-Christ spirit roaming the earth and causing mayhem. 

The rulers of this age are wicked, it’s true.  But it’s not a surprise and scriptures show us this.

Justice- do you rulers know the meaning of the word?  Do you judge the people fairly?  No!  You plot injustice in your hearts.  You spread violence throughout the land.  These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.  They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen, ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers, no matter how skillfully they play.  Break off their fangs, O God!  Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord!  May they disappear like water into thirsty ground.  Make their weapons useless in their hands.  May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never seethe sun.  God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.  The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged.  They will wash their feet in the blood of he wicked.  Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God Who judges justly here on earth.”  Psalm 58:1-11

We can be assured there will be wicked rulers, but we can also know that God will one day show Himself.  They won’t last.  He is eternal.  Waiting for the victory of the Lord can seem endless, but it’s assured. 

I want to provoke you this morning.  Take time and think about the scriptures we just read.  Then ask yourself, “Have I developed my character enough to shoulder leadership?”  Don’t be hasty to say, “Yes”.  Instead, ask God to reveal your own heart to yourself.  He knows you better than you even know yourself.  Then allow Him to pour out His spirit upon your heart and mind.  Invite Him to cultivate godly character within you.  This is the way forward.  This is the way we begin to establish godly leaders in our world again.  We need them at every level…but starting at home.  Will you join this conquest? 

Family is the revolution.

God, establish our families.  Lead us and mold us into godly men and women.  Show us what it’s like to truly have godly character.  We surrender to Your leadership first and foremost.  Come and transform the world, beginning with our homes. 

The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.  Proverbs 11:8

I’ve always heard, and I truly believe, that when we begin to feel hopeless, fearful, and/or overwhelmed by the future it’s because we stopped seeing God in it.

Let that sink in.

Our future is bleak without God.  We do lack abundance and opportunity without God.  But with God anything and everything can and probably will happen.  He is the key to the future we all desire.

The fear gripping the world right now is largely because so many don’t know God.

This world, the physical earth, was never meant to last forever.  We who believe know that and are certain of the future, but those who don’t, aren’t.  It’s that simple. 

I have no fear of the false climate change accusations, but it works well on the masses because so many people don’t believe in God.  It’s been used as a tool of control.  Even some believers fall for it, but that’s another story.

If we want to walk confidently in our daily lives, then we must see God in our future. 

He has a good plan, so we can trust the ups and downs.  He cares for us, so we can weather difficult situations with grace knowing that there is more goodness in store.  He loves us, so when we feel unloved, we can turn to Him and allow His love for us to fill all our voids.

We must see God in our future.

He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow…He will never change.  This makes Him the only secure anchor in life. 

God alone.

Feeling concerned for America?  Cling to the Anchor.  Worried about the future of your family?  Cling to the Anchor.  Scared for tomorrow?  Cling to the Anchor.

In God alone, our Hope is found. 

Today, I encourage you to stop and focus your heart.  Close your eyes and ask God to help you rightly see the future.  If it feels strained or scary, then ask Him to come and be in your future.  Sit with your eyes closed until all fear or discomfort over the future is gone and you only feel Peace.  He is the Prince of peace.  Let Him come and fill your mind with the remembrance of His goodness.  He is the God of your tomorrow. 

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”  Isaiah 60:1-3

Some of us have been wandering.  In the wilderness maybe.  Some of us are in a season of feeling like we’re in the runaround.  Others may feel like their entire life has been a series of wanderings never really reaching a destination, always feeling incomplete. 

Friend, I am here to proclaim the truth over you…He will complete the work in you.  Cling to this word as a promise, because it is.

And I am certain that God, Who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  Philippians 1:6

If we don’t give up…if we stay the course…if we continue to walk in Him…He will be faithful to continue His good work in us. Even when some turn away, He continues to work all around them to bring about what He has planned. 

This morning in our Bible time we read…

All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.  Genesis 29:14b-15

This was written about Jacob, but I felt a chill as we read it today.  Remember the old song that says, every promise in the Book is mine.  Every chapter, every verse, every line.  All the blessings of His love divine, every promise in the Book is mine. 

I thought about that when we read the scripture above. 

I choose to receive it over our family and trust that His full work will be done in, around, and through us.  I choose to believe that the earth will be blessed through us.  I believe God will watch over us wherever we go and that we will be brought to our land.  Some of you know, we’ve been praying for land for several years.  None of us dreaming we would ever still be living here in McAlester by now.  We long for our land.  We dream of it.  All last week, I’d see the land in my mind and when I did, I’d smell the dirt.  That may sound crazy, but it’s true.  I smelled it over and over again.  The refreshing and delicious smell of fresh, fertile, and abundant dirt.  As I continually experienced this vision and smell…I began to simply thank God that our land is coming.  I thanked Him for this time and that it will end.  I thanked Him for all the transformation He’s done in our family while we’ve been waiting.  I wouldn’t change a thing.  The work is hard, but the fruit is so sweet. 

Oh Lord, complete this work You’re doing in our family, so we’re ready to receive the land.  Don’t stop.  Continue the work.  We surrender to You every day. 

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.”  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  Lamentations 3:24-26

I’ve been processing a lot lately.  There were some places where I still needed God to bring healing and restoration.  Places that were so deep that I hadn’t shared them with anyone before.  The extra deep parts of my heart. 

Deep calling to deep, I reached out to God for healing. 

It’s not as if I haven’t wanted His hand to move over these places forever…it’s just that until now, I guess it wasn’t time.  God made it clear recently, that now was the time.

As I embarked upon healing and restoration of the deepest of deep within me, it pulled up so much hurt.  Many painful memories. 

Pulling at the fabric of today, these memories tore through my heart and mind.  I had a choice…live in the past or move into the future.  I could either believe things could never change or I could remember that with God all things are possible.

We all repeat that like a mantra, “With God all things are possible.”  But I believe most of us don’t live like we believe it.  We say it because we’re supposed to, but we don’t truly believe it.

Here I was, looking at the past and feeling an insurmountable path forward…then suddenly I remembered.  I remembered Who I serve.  I remembered testimony after testimony of His faithfulness.  I remembered how much God has changed me already.  Transformed my personality, changed my heart…yes, He has done that. 

As I walked through one testimony after another, I realized this current situation would also change.  Without a doubt I believe it. 

A promise is a promise.  God is not a liar.

While it is true that people have free will, it is also true that God already knows what people will choose.  So, when He promises me something that involves another person, I can still believe Him. 

His promises are secure.  God doesn’t lie.

Things can change.  Many times, we don’t think they can, or we become so accustomed to how they currently are that we can’t fathom change, but it is still abundantly possible.

During Bible time this week, one of my children prayed over me and said, “God, bless momma with blessings she can’t even imagine happening.”  That prayer struck me.  I immediately began to cry as I realized my child was seeing something I wasn’t. 

God, You are the God of the impossible.  You are more than we could ask or imagine.  You are beyond all things.  Of course I want to receive blessings beyond what I can imagine.

What I’m finally learning is that things often change according to how willing we are to accept that change. 

I see so many people sabotaging every effort at change, that others make.  I listen to them complain and play victim, but then I observe them rejecting all effort toward change that either God or the person they are desiring change from, makes.

Things will change, will you let them?  People can change…it’s called maturing…will you let them?  You can be changed…it’s called refining…will you surrender to it?

“But forget all that- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.  For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.  The wild animals in the fields will thank Me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert.  Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so My chosen people can be refreshed.”  Isaiah 43:18-20

We discussed God’s stored up goodness last week.  This week, I am feeling pulled to discuss the topic again. 

When God continually brings an idea up, I know it’s because some concepts take more time to soak into our hearts and minds than others.  I think this has circled back around again because almost every day I speak with someone who struggles to pray for God to bless them, even though they willingly pray for Him to bless others. 

Today I want to focus on posturing ourselves to receive that goodness.  Oh, that our hearts and minds would always say, “Let the goodness come”. 

So many of us have lived lives that required us to only believe for the goodness that God would give to others.   All the while we were afraid to ask for that same goodness to invade our lives.  We didn’t want to be selfish.  We didn’t want to be arrogant or presumptuous.  Can you now see how much of a lie that is? 

If you would pray it for someone else, then you can pray it for yourself.   I challenge you further, if you feel led to pray something extravagant over someone else, then also ask God to bless you with the like.  It’s these little gestures that will begin to break through the box we’ve unwittingly placed upon ourselves and will open us up to bless others more. 

Yes, when we can better receive, then we are in a better position to bless others.  To celebrate others.  To petition for others.  To pour into others.  It’s the breaking off of the poverty spirit that we need. 

Oh Lord, let the goodness come and drench away all our disbelief, all our poverty spirit, all our lack and let us come into a true understanding of the enormity of God.  The Wholeness of Who You really are…Oh God of the universe.  Come and open our hearts and minds to understand You through the language you speak…goodness.

Let the goodness come.

Can you feel it?  Can you feel how eager God is to pour His goodness upon us, everyone?  Why would we turn away from a gift?  Why would we refuse what He send Jesus to die for? 

Let the goodness come. 

But You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  Look down and have mercy on me.  Give Your strength to Your servant; save me, the son of Your servant.  Send me a sign of Your favor.  Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for You, O Lord, help and comfort me.  Psalm 86:15-17

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:6

As I have raised my children and taught them to pray and believe God for many things, I have also heard them say things that struck my heart with grief.  Once, one of my children said they were mad at God for not answering me because they saw me as doing so many good things and they didn’t understand why God wouldn’t answer me.  So, they held Him in contempt. 

I had never even thought they would see things this way.  They were offended on my behalf, even though they had never heard me question God that way.  They had only seen me coming in thankfulness and asking and waiting.  I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I have always been careful to show them a heart of gratitude toward God even in struggle. 

When I listened to their offense, I asked God what to do or say.  He said, “Nothing.  Just let Me have the room to wrestle through this with them.” 

That is a very difficult thing to do.  But that’s what I’ve been doing.  And I’ve observed the child who was angry with God, begin to slowly but surely come out of that and back into listening and believing.  The turnaround wouldn’t have been nearly as quick if I’d have inserted myself into the process. 

We must all go through this process at one time or another.

An important lesson I’ve learned about being a wife and mother is to allow God to have the room to move in my husband and children, without me getting in the way.  I’ve experienced the delay I’ve caused by involving myself in the wrong battles.  I do not want to do that again. 

We must remember that doing good isn’t always an immediate reward.  As with all things, sometimes it takes time to reap the goodness we’ve sown. 

Read these verses:

“You have said terrible things about Me,” says the Lord.  “But you say, ‘What do You mean?  What have we said against You?’”  “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God?  What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?  From now on we will call the arrogant blessed.  For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’”  Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said.  In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name.  “They will be My people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.  Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”  Malachi 3:13-18

Staying faithful to God, no matter what, carries a promised reward.  It’s worth it to follow Him whether you see the fruit of it now or in eternity.  I have decided to follow Jesus.  No turning back, no turning back. 

Whether we reap our reward here on earth or only in heaven…does it really matter?

I don’t remain faithful because I feel rewarded.  I do it because He is worthy.  Don’t ever forget that.  We must always return to our real incentive.  Not a gift for ourselves, but to bring honor and glory to God.