Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Bitterness and Thankfulness

Bitterness has no place in my heart because God is in control of all things.

"Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" -job 2:10

Bitterness in my heart, though silent, says "God your ways are not good and I do not trust you". Lord, help me to trust you and to see your ways as good. Help me to be thankful in the midst of trials both big and small.

Your word says in 1 thess 5:18:

"...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"

Lord give me faith to believe and strength to act.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

In God I trust

Jeremiah 17:5-8 ESV

"Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

This text has really been a blessing to me over this past week. When my trust is in myself and my strength, I have tremendous struggles with anxiety and nervousness...because I am intimately aware of my shortcomings and inadequacy.

But oh that my trust would be in the Lord...that I would be blessed in my weakness and (consequently) in God's sovereign strength. Oh that I wouldn't fear in heat nor be anxious in drought.

Lord, I need you. Lord I need you to help me to trust you. Keep me from busyness and from fighting in my own strength. Help me to be still and know that you are God and that you are in control.