Trust in God

Trust in God

by | Apr 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough”

Trust in God, Elevation Worship

“Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”

Psalm 40:4: (NKJV)

Trust and faith seem to be inextricably intertwined, so much so that they can be used interchangeably in most cases. In my experience the only real difference is the context in which they are most often employed. Faith implies some sort of mysticism or spirituality where trust just feels more tangible and material in a lot of ways.

In Psalm 40 David explores this concept of trust, contemplating on what it means to trust in God.

Trust is most often used to describe a relational situation where we have confidence in the reliability, truth and ability of someone or something.

David had a relationship with God. He was a friend of God. He loved God, and God loved him – flaws and all.

I like David. I feel strongly linked to him and relate to him on a level that I cannot explain. For a long time I thought it was because of a shared love of poetic and musical expression – but the truth is it is because we are both extremely broken people who go through valleys, fight giants, hide in caves and make huge mistakes – and yet… God, with His infinite love, mercy and grace picks us up every time, dusts us off and puts us back on solid ground.

David starts Psalm 40 with “I waited patiently on the Lord…”

It is easy for us to get discouraged in our waiting. The journey sometimes gets too long, the road winds too much – in the valley we look up at the mountain and wonder how we are going to get there.

I am no stranger to discouragement.

At a recent outreach I was talking to a young man who was struggling to get up in the morning – he just didn’t see the point in living any more.

I am no stranger to that kind of depression and existential anxiety – the kind that makes you want to crawl into a cave and hide there.

In all of this though, I have never lost trust in God.

I came to faith in a time and in a church where the Gospel was preached. Not prosperity, not promises of wealth and good health – but the Gospel. And yes, God promises all kinds of good things in His Word, but the moment these things become the centre of our faith we have lost sight of Jesus.

The Gospel is this: God so loved the world that He took on flesh and hung on the cross for us – so that we may be free of our burden of sin and the sting of death.

The Gospel is this: God loved us while we were still His enemies. He saved us from an eternity of fire and brimstone and restored us to proper relationship and right standing with Him.

In this life we will have trouble. There will be times when we are in the fire – He will be the Fourth Man in the inferno. There will be times when we feel we are sinking, but He will extend His Hand and help us take the waves in our stride.

Jesus is not a get rich quick scheme. Jesus is not some kind of quick fix or a band aid for what ails you.

You will still mourn. You will still grieve. There will still be situations and circumstances in your life – no matter how much ‘dominion’ you take over it.

But in all of this – in the sorrow and in the despair, in the pain and the anguish, in the trials and tribulations – we still rejoice. In the fire and in the flood we stand strong in the knowledge that we are not alone. He is with us.

I particularly like the way the NIV phrases Psalm 40:4: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”

If there is one thing I have learnt from looking at the life of David it is that we all go through ups and downs – but God never fails.

His love will always be a balm to the broken heart, a comfort in sorrow and a firm foundation for us to stand upon. His love will always be more than enough for me.

Let us look towards the exalted Christ today. Let us look upon His beautiful face. Let us leave our idols in the fire where they belong. Let us leave our pride in the flood.

Let us look towards Jesus and trust Him, fully confident in His truth, reliability and ability to carry us through.

In perfect submission to His will and His purpose we find rest, peace and contentment. In perfect submission to Him – whether rich or poor, sick or healthy – we will know the God that David knew. This God in whom we can charge an army. The God in which we can jump over even the highest wall.

In perfect submission to His heart, will and mind for us we can rest easy knowing that He never fails. We can endure all things, do all things, make it through in Him – when we stand firm in the knowledge that He loves us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your love today. Thank You for never giving up on me, even though sometimes I feel like giving up. Thank You Jesus for seeing past all my flaws and failures, all my mistakes and for loving me regardless. Thank You Lord that in You I am made strong. Even when my bank account is empty, even when my pantry has run dry – when the fig tree does not blossom, and the vines carry no fruit – I will trust in You. Even when the flock is cut off from the fold – even when my heart faints and my body fails, I will trust in You! Give me the strength to endure, Lord. Give me the strength to wait patiently on You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

There Was Jesus

There Was Jesus

by | Apr 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute, every moment
Where I’ve been and where I’m going
Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it
There was Jesus”

There Was Jesus, Zach Williams and Dolly Parton

“Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9: CEV

Have you ever stood in the snack aisle of your local grocery store, unable to make up your mind?

So many options… And they are constantly adding new ones.

Or perhaps you are buying new running shoes and can’t decide what will look better with your track suit…

Life is full of choices. Many of them are mundane and really don’t matter much – but then there are the bigger ones – should you perhaps stop drinking – even if it means the ‘embarrassment’ of admitting you have a problem? Is this the right job or should you stay in this toxic environment? Should you leave or stay with your abusive husband? Should you confess to cheating on your spouse?

Over the last decade I have counseled many people, and the questions – these tough questions – are just the tip of the iceberg…

Paul says the following in 2 Corinthians 4: 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Perplexed in this case (looking at the Greek) implies a situation where it feels like you have no way out. The dilemma is such that you FEEL stuck in indecision, unable to move – but Paul continues and says: but we are not in despair!

You might be walking through the slow of despondency – but you are not sinking.

There is hope. There is a way out.

The situation is perplexing. The solution is simple.

When the storms of life surround us and trouble is all around we run to the Rock of our Salvation – our Solid Ground – our Strong Tower.

We draw near to Him in prayer and through His Word.

In prayer we draw near in petition and supplication – and He answers. Sometimes it’s not the answer we expected – but He answers – by giving us wisdom, discernment and above all peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We speak to Him in prayer and He answers through His Word as well as the wise counsel and support of mature and Spirit-led brothers and sisters in Christ.

When our situations and circumstances perplex us I urge you to draw near to God in prayer – as an individual – but also with trusted brothers and sisters. There is power in praying together.

Reach out to mature Christians in your life and let them help you in the difficulty you are facing.

And above all, let God speak to you through your conscience, but above all through His Word – which really does have all the answers.

Finally, trust in God!

And if you persevere you will make it through the other side and realize that He was with you all along! Every step of the way!

He is near to those who are discouraged and saves those who have lost all hope! (Psalm 34:18). He is our strength and refuge! Our ever-present help in times of trouble! (Psalm 46). He wipes away our tears and binds up the broken hearted! He sets the captives free! He picks us up, dusts us off and puts us back on Solid Ground!

He never leaves us. He never forsakes us.

We are just sometimes blinded by what is in front of us – looking at the waves rather than Jesus walking on the water.

But He is with you. There is a way out. There is a solution. There is hope.

There is always Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I need You. Your Word says that You are an ever-present help in times of trouble. Your Word promises that You are near to those who are discouraged – our Strong Tower and Refuge. Be my Refuge today, Lord. Be my Shelter in the storm. Be the Light upon my path. Grant me wisdom and discernment and help me see that You are busy making the way where there seems to be no way. Guide my decisions. Guide my words. Guide my actions. Help me see Your hand in my situation today and lead me to find rest in You. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Raise a Hallelujah

Raise a Hallelujah

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me”

Raise a Hallelujah, Jonathan and Melissa Helser

“15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! (Ruwa) For the Lord has given you the city!”

Joshua 6:15-16:

The word used for shout here in verse 16 (RUWA) implies – more than anything else – a shout of triumph or joy – especially in the Psalms where it is most often translated as joyful noise or triumph – eg. Psalm 47:1, 66:1, 81:1, 95:1-2, 98:4-6.

Ruwa is a joyful noise – it is a call to arms and a war cry – but one at which the very Heavens are mobilised.

As in the story of Joshua and the fall of Jericho when the people of Israel blew their shofars and cried their cry of joyful triumph (RUWA) the Hand of God reached down and knocked down the legendary walls of this ancient city.

We read in 2 Chronicles 20 that a great army rose up against Judah – the Ammonites, the Moabites and their auxiliaries banded together and formed a formidable enemy.

In the face of this threat the Spirit of the Lord speaks through Jahaziel and in verse 17 we read: ”17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Keeping the faith the people praised God in the face of their adversity. The Bible tells us that they sang together – the ‘worship team’ at the front of the procession – in a LOUD VOICE:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

for His love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:20-23)

On that day the Lord and His angel armies fought on behalf of His children.

In the New Testament Paul gives us this advice in his letter to the Philippians: ”4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil4:4-7:)

Jesus climbed that lonely hill, the place of the skull, Golgotha to tear up the death warrant that our sin had issued against us. On that day the Warrior-King of Heaven climbed the mountain of our condemnation and struck a fatal blow to death itself.

As Augustine said: “He endured death as a lamb; He devoured it as a lion.“

And on that cross where the God of Creation, stepped down from His throne and robed in flesh, became our salvation He cried: IT IS FINISHED.

Today we rest in the finished work of Christ. Our warfare is not so much the fighting for victory – but the standing strong in victory.

Do we struggle with temptation, habitual sin or even addiction?

Is our struggle grief, sorrow and mental malady?

Do we struggle with infirmity and illness?

Is our struggle fear and insecurity?

Rejoice in the Lord, take it to Him in prayer and petition with thanksgiving… and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Cry out to the Lord with joy and triumph knowing that He hears You, and He loves You – with the assurance that He is the One who fights for You!

In the face of our enemy we weaponize the melody of our praise – we shout louder than the unbelief – PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!

As He has been – so He will be. Our Rock. Our Shield. Our Strong Tower in which we find refuge from the storms of life.

As He has been so He will be. Mighty God. Conqueror. Prince of Peace. Everlasting Father – our Victory.

Prayer: Lord, today I raise a Hallelujah! I shout, let God be praised for His mercy endures forever. As You have been so You will be. I declare today that there is victory in the name of Jesus. I thank You Lord that I can stand strong in You, with You as my foundation. I thank You Lord that You fight for me – on my behalf. In every struggle and in every storm You are right there by my side. Thank You Lord that I don’t have to face these things alone, but that I can rest in the knowledge that You have already worked the victory. Help me rest in You today. Let Your peace – that peace that surpasses all understanding – guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus today. In Your Mighty Name. Amen.

Indescribable: Worship Devotional

Indescribable: Worship Devotional

by | Mar 5, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God” 

                               Indescribable, Chris Tomlin

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans
    with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

                               Job 38:1-3:  

Much of the Old Testament is about wrestling with God. It is about the struggle of getting to grips with and trying to understand God.

I often tell people that doubt is not the opposite or the absence of faith. Moses had his doubts, so did Jeremiah – Joshua had so much doubt that God had to tell him 3 times in the span of just 4 verses to be strong and courageous. 

Doubt is not the same as unbelief. When we doubt we are engaging in a questioning of our faith – and this can often lead us deeper into the heart of God. Doubt becomes a lens through which we often go searching for God. 

It is when we leave our doubts unaddressed and let them fester that it becomes unbelief.

J.D. Greear said the following: ‘Faith is not the absence of doubt; it is continuing to follow Jesus in the midst of doubt.’

Having questions and having doubts is a thing we all have to contend with. But faith means enduring, pushing through and taking those doubts to God.

In the book of Job we see a man going through some very real ‘stuff’. 

Job is described as a Godly man – a man of faith and justice. A good man. 

In fact, he is such a good man that the devil challenges God in regards to the purity of his faith. “Job only trusts You and worships You because You have favoured him.”

God permits Satan to tempt Job – and so his tribulations start. Job loses his wealth, his family and his health – he loses everything. Even his wife tries to convince him to denounce God – to give up and die. Job refuses and endures.

Poetically Job’s questioning of his life and faith are expressed. His doubts and concerns speak loud. So loud that God challenges Job.

God asks Job in chapter 38:4-7:

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?”

God continues to question Job – and this goes on for quite a few chapters. Hard questions. Questions with answers that only God has.

In all of this Job is confronted with his own lack of understanding – the constraints of his own wisdom and knowledge – but also comforted by the revelation of God’s limitlessness and infinite power.

God tells Job – just like He told Joshua – to be strong. There is a caveat to this though – we can only be strong in Him.

I’ve gone through situations where I couldn’t share what I was going through. I didn’t know where to begin to tell what was wrong, I was unable to put it into words, and even if I had the words my courage would fail me and I would stay silent. 

Sometimes our troubles, our trials and our tribulations are too big for us to even describe. They seem gigantic – like a Behemoth (Job 40:15-24) or a Leviathan (41:1-11) – but God…

God pierces the nose of Behemoth and makes it a pet, and pulls Leviathan out with a fishhook and makes it beg for mercy.

Job accepts his own lack of understanding – he takes his doubts and gives them to God.

And in doing that God answers. 

The Pharisees in the New Testament had ‘no doubts’. They believed they had God figured out. 

Those who didn’t have it all figured out found Jesus. 

It’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out today. It’s okay to have doubts, fear and uncertainties – in fact, as the book of Job demonstrates – actually, as much of the Old Testament demonstrates – God welcomes those who have questions. 

Because the answer is always God.

Share your doubts and questions with mature Christians, trusted elders and servant-leaders – and it will become the path towards growth and maturity in your own faith. 

Share your doubts with God. 

I’ve gone through situations where I would lay awake at night crying “why God?” 

And He always answered.

He will always answer.

The God who hung every star in the sky – who knows each one by name – knows YOU by name.

He sees you. 

He knows you.

He loves you.

Ask today and He will answer.

Job called out. He asked. God answered – God restored.

He will do the same for you.

Prayer: Lord, today I come with all of my questions, my doubts, my fears and insecurities – the things that I struggle to put into words, those niggly things that gnaw away at my resolve to follow you – and I lay them all down. I lay them down at Your feet. I might not know what to do next, I might not know where to go – and in those moments I will choose to go to You. When I don’t understand the things I am going through I will trust in the fact that You do. I will come to You with my questions and believe that You will answer. Give me the strength to endure and the patience to wait upon Your Word. Let my doubts and fears becoming stepping stones towards a deeper faith in You. Give me peace in the midst of my storm. And when I look up at the stars in the night sky, Lord, remind me of Your great love for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

New Wine

New Wine

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“In the crushingIn the pressingYou are making new wineIn the soilI now surrenderYou are breaking new ground”

New Wine, Hillsong

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5, NIV

The Gospel is and has always been about transformation. It has always been about the process through which God, finding a wretch like me, through His amazing grace, turns me into a son and heir.

In a conversation about fasting Jesus tells the pharisees that new wine is meant to be poured into new wineskins.

And there are a lot of sermons to be written about this phrase, and a lot of lessons to be learned – a wealth of wisdom to mine from this passage – but as I read it all I can think about is the pain in the process.

Everything from the wine to the wineskin is a process of trampling, crushing, pressing, waiting, fermenting – things that our fastfood, instant gratification culture have grown to hate. The grapes are grown with love, patience and vigorous pruning after which the grapes are plucked from their comfort and trampled, crushed, pressed. The barrels the wine gets fermented in is made of wood – a process of cutting, chopping and lashing together with bands of metal (which has gone through a process of melting, forging, forming and shaping) – and finally poured into the wineskins made from the skin of a lamb or a goat which had to offer up its life for the privilege of carrying this new wine.

As Christians we are always going through processes. We don’t realize it – because we want everything now! 

No wonder Paul places such great emphasis on waiting, enduring and  being patient.

It blows my mind that the wineskins are made from the skin of a lamb or a goat – and that this creature had to give his life for this process. An act of surrender.

Are we willing to give our lives to carry the new wine – the anointing – paid for by the suffering of Christ – to a hurting world?

Are we willing to give our lives to carry the new wine – our testimony – begotten by our pain, trials and tribulation – to a hurting world?

You might be in the process right now – but I want to urge you to seek God in the pruning, the pressing, in the crushing – in the pain of the process and surrender. Surrender to His loving hand and I can guarantee you that you will come out on the other side better than you could have ever imagined. Your breakthrough is just on the other side of this process. Your victory is just on the other side of this process – and even more so – someone else’s victory through your testimony is on the other side of this process.

After all, His ways are higher than our ways, His plans are better than our plans. He has plans for you – plans for good and not for evil. Plans for a hopeful and prosperous future.

Trust God in the process. Surrender to Him knowing that He is going to turn your test into a testimony, your misery into a ministry and your mess into a message. Trust God in the process and He will not only restore you but use you to restore others as they hear your testimony, look at your life and taste and see that the Lord is good.

Pray with me: Lord, I yield to Your loving hand, in the pressing and in the crushing. In the breaking of new ground. Lord, I realize that there might be pain in the process. The process might not always be pleasant, but I thank You Lord that Your plans for me are good and that if I trust You, wait on You and yield to You I will come out beautiful on the other side. Give me the strength to push forward and to wisdom to endure. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.