The basic premise in a relationship with God is found in trusting Him. When, by God’s grace a person realizes they have a need of salvation; something more than they could ever do. Then they hear the Gospel of what Jesus Christ has accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection and by God’s grace believe as they call upon Him for salvation.
Romans 10:8–10 (ESV) — 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
That believing on Him, calling upon Him, and confessing Him is trusting in the Lord. As you search the scriptures, you’ll find a multitude of benefits that come with trusting in the Lord. Blessings like guidance through life, strength to face life’s challenges, confidence through life, and the promise of true enrichment.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Isaiah 26:4 (ESV) — 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:4 (KJV) — 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: For in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Psalm 115:11 (ESV) — 11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
Proverbs 28:25 (ESV) — 25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
Trusting in the Lord is going back to the basics of our relationship with the Lord. If we trust in Him, we have placed our confidence in Him because the Holy Spirit has worked on our hearts, convincing us there is no hope in anything or anyone else. Implied in the meaning of “trusting in the Lord” is the thought of leaning totally upon Him or depending totally upon Him. In other words, trusting in Him, is not merely putting your toe in the water, it’s jumping in trusting Him to take care of you. Actually Proverbs 3 gives us a great insight into the big picture.
Proverbs 3:5–10 (ESV) — 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Notice, if you are trusting in the Lord, it requires all your heart. That’s being totally “in” as a follower of Jesus Christ. Secondly, we are told that trusting in the Lord means you do whatever is necessary in leaning on your own understanding. This is total dependency. Nothing else will do. Thirdly, we are told that trusting in the Lord means we acknowledge Him in all our ways. In other words, we talk about Him and our utter dependency upon Him all the time as we count on Him to lead us through life. Of course, that means trusting in the Lord is accepting whatever pathway He has for us to walk because He knows what is best. Fourthly, trusting in the Lord means you accept His standard. If you are seeking to be close to Him to lead upon Him, it only makes sense that you would turn away from evil, or as said of Job, that he “eschewed evil.” Fifthly, trusting in the Lord is the place of refreshment and healing. Sixthly, trusting in the Lord means you honor Him with your substance. Actually, the two places where many people come up short in trusting in the Lord is in the way they handle their money and their time.
If you are trusting in the Lord, then you have confidence in what He has said in His word. His word is very clear that we are to honor the Lord with a day and honor Him with the top of what we earn. Are you trusting in the Lord? Many honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him, evident by the way they neglect what He has said.
Matthew 15:8–9 (ESV) — 8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
James 2:20 (ESV) — 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Luke 6:46 (ESV) — 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Psalm 4:5 (ESV) — 5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
If we are serious about enjoying the blessings of trusting in the Lord, then we must embrace all that the word of God tells us about His plan. Otherwise, we are leaning on our own understanding.
If we are depending solely upon Him, submitting to Him by submitting to His word, then we have the right to trust Him to take care of us, which means we are able to walk away from the idol called worry.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) — 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out the PowerBreak podcast wherever you download podcasts or from www.bobbrubaker.com.
