“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
Psalm 37:3 NLT
After yesterday’s command of “ Do Not Fret” comes the how: Trust in the LORD.
Trust means to lean on and be boldly confident in.
You can be boldly confident in the Lord because He knows what is happening even if you do not. He not only sees the short game – what will happen right now, but He also sees the long game – what will happen down the line.
Trust and do good.
While you trust in God, don’t be idle.
Be productive and creative right where you are.
Dwell in the land – focus your energy on being present today and fully committed to embracing the small moments of wonder and joy.
This season will change and a new season will be upon you before you know it.
Don’t be so focused on what you can’t see that you miss what you can.
Someone within the reach of your grasp needs a hug, needs prayer, needs someone to encourage them – be that someone.
This is your land – where you are today. Make the most of it. Invest in it. Decorate the walls and take pictures of it.
Celebrate what God has given you.
Whatever your day may bring, my friend, I am going to ask you to move the focus of your energy from fretting to trusting. Lean on Jesus and ask him to sharpen your senses to see the wonder around you.
Trust. Dwell. Enjoy.
How are you leaning on Jesus today?
What do you need to be doing while you trust God?
What are you celebrating?
“Do not fret”. Psalm 37:1 NIV
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”Romans 12:12 NIV
…right outside of your comfort zone.
“By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.”
Hebrews 11: 8 MSG
God has a destiny for you. He has a rich inheritance waiting to be claimed. An inheritance of unhindered relationship with Him. One where you are free to trust, risk, follow and be used by God to bless others in ways you can’t even imagine.
However, you can not fully take hold of it until you break out of your comfort zones: life as you know it, habits that hold you, mindsets that have molded you.
To get where God has called you, you have to leave the place you are in.
Abraham left his country behind and you are going to have to leave the shelter of some strategic comfort zones in order to go after your own God-ordained inheritance.
The good news is that for every comfort zone you step out of, Jesus has a promise for you to step into and His love to guide you.
God is calling you to an unknown place that will become your home. More than a new plot of land, it is a new way of life.
What “way of life” needs to go by the wayside today?
What mindset is holding you back from going after what God has called you to?
What are you afraid of?
“Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.” Hebrews 11:10 MSG
When God called Abraham to leave his country, He was asking him to stop looking at what was behind him and look ahead to what is in front of him.
God is calling you to stop looking back at all the reasons why you can’t be who God has called you to be and keep your eyes on the reason why you can: Jesus.
Any and all reasons why you “can’t” were carried to the cross with Jesus. He took them, embraced them and destroyed them there. Mind you, this isn’t about being in denial about your issues, this is about being clear about your identity in Christ.
When God asked Abraham to leave his past behind, He changed his name, He gave him a new identity. When God calls you to be His own, He gives you more than a fresh start, He gives you a new identity in Christ.
And He walks with you every day to help you work out your issues and work in your new identity.
It takes a while to see yourself as God sees you and apply it to your life. It is a lifelong journey that takes faith.
“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.” Hebrews 11: 2 MSG
“By an act of faith, he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise.”
Hebrews 11: 9 MSG
God broke the mold when He created you.
There is no one else on earth exactly like you and God is calling you to do something as unique as you are. Others may have similar gifts and callings but you have a place that only you can fill.
Comparison sabotages your journey and envy can outright destroy it.
To truly begin to walk in your destiny, you are going to have to accept that you are never going to fit in.
God didn’t create you to fit in and doesn’t expect you to. In fact, He is calling you to stand up and stand out.
God didn’t call Abraham to go to the new country and blend in, he called Abraham to live like a stranger in a strange land. He is calling you to do the same.
Embrace your unique calling and quit trying to fit in.
Be unique.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Be bold in what God is calling you to do.
“By an act of faith, he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents.” Hebrews 11: 8 MSG
Fear will hold you captive in your comfort zone.
The only way to break fear’s hold is by an act of faith.
To go after all that God has called you to, you are going to have to move beyond the fear that holds you there.
Fear can be overwhelming when it is a general mass of unknown anxiety so you need to name it. What are you afraid will happen when you step out in faith? Define it or one part of it. Narrow it down, find the core.
But also be aware of this: facing the fear doesn’t take away the emotion of fear but it allows you to replace the lie that fear is telling you with the truth of God’s Word. When you name the fear you disarm it of its power but it takes a while for your emotions to fall in line with your faith.
Courage is feeling the fear and stepping out in faith anyway.
You may not know where your journey will end up but you can be sure that the God who calls us to step out in faith does.
Faith is choosing to trust God with the path, every step of the way, the detours, the disasters and yes, the destiny.
God is calling you forward, don’t let fear stop you today.
Name your fear: what is it you are afraid of happening if you step out in faith?
Speak God’s truth: what verse inspires you to have courage?
(Mine is Philippians 4:13)
