Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 The Message
Let me ask you what is the one thing we all need right now?
This weekend we have seen positive and negative news. The negative news is that Reading, where I served for over 20 years, was devastated with a knife crime which has claimed lives.
To think that every Easter we (churches) would start a peaceful walk from that park carrying a wooden cross as we marched through the town centre proclaiming the whole point of Easter that Christ came to save not to destroy lives.
Father, we pray for healing in Reading and for those who have lost lives. Father as we try to make sense of what has happened we look to you for guidance as the words above have stated.
The positive news was once again there is optimism regarding the lifting of lockdown.
As I watched the news last night one restaurant owner was concerned at the lack of guidance. Alright opening, but what is the guidance to open and what are the restrictions etc?
Guidance in life is so important. From the moment a child is born how that child will mature will largely depend on the guidance given and adhered to.
King Solomon is giving his advice on the matter of guidance and it is worthy of note.
It does not remove our responsibility in life. It actually is saying when we have decisions to make consult someone before making those decisions. God gives us the authority to make decisions but also gives us great advice on how to reach decisions before acting upon them.
The first advice is to trust God. Have you had trust broken? If you have you will know how difficult it is for trust to be regained. In any relationship, trust is paramount for survival.
The day before his 52nd birthday, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois to become President of the United States. With the threat of civil war looming, he said goodbye to the friends and neighbours who had come to see him off. “I now leave,” he told them, “not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon [George] Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me. I bid you an affectionate farewell.”
Lincoln obviously knew the verse “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.”
There are two keys to success given here and if we are fully committed to them they will stand us in good stead. They are TRUST GOD, and DON’T FULLY TRUST YOURSELF.
I leave you today with a beautiful song the words of which I fully endorse and recommend to you. It is only a couple of minutes long so please take the time to listen to this advice:
Keep safe and I hope you can start the journey of trusting God. Why? Because He is the one who will keep you on track. More on that tomorrow.