Step 2 - Psalms 37:3 TRUST in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed,
So, now that we have learned to let our worries go...our heart is cleaned out and has plenty of room for TRUST. If we recall a very familiar verse {Prov 3:[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.} Now we know how to really apply this verse to our lives. It says with ALL thine heart, now we have our entire heart ready to TRUST. Trust seems like it should be one of the final steps BUT actually we need to TRUST right away. That is what Trust is all about completely relying on God. Don't try to fix it yourself, don't even try to figure it out for that matter because you will quickly be right back to the fretting stage and we clearly agreed already that worry don't work :)
When we TRUST God, allow it to be ALL about HIM and what HE can do, when we are TRUSTING...that is our only care or responsiblilty is to just TRUST, no other ability of ours will be needed because we are leaving it to Gods ability.
God showed me an example today when I was praying about this blog. We never question the designer or builder of the many bridges we cross from day to day, or what about that high rise building that you work in, or the manufacturer of the vehicle that you expect to get you and your family safely from here to there...BUT somehow we automatically trust that they got it right. So....maybe it is because we can't see God, but in fact, we can't see the other builders either, just the evidence they were there. When you look in the mirror, you see evidence that God was/is there. He created us in the likeness of HIS own image and he knows quite well how to fix our ailments, worries, and much more. {Ps. 56:13 says [13] For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?} If HE can do that then we can TRUST HIM with anything!!!
{Psalms 71:[1] In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.} - - Ask God to help you with confusion, I have a rule of thumb that I go by... "If it confuses me, chances are...it is not of God!!!" If you keep trying to find the answer about something that you question if its right or wrong or may be someone you know questions it...I say: "Avoid, if at all possible!!" Even if it is not wrong, if it gets you in a state of confusion, you will be right back to fretting and before you know it you will be defeated about somthing that you haven't even done yet.
Going back up to end of our verse for this thought is says {Ps. 37:3....VERILY thou shalt be fed}. Verily means "really and trully!!!!" HE means it!!
Statistically thinking: the word TRUST is used 44 times in the book of Psalms :)
I'll give you a few Bible references here for TRUST that you can look up sometime:
Ps.13:5 - Trust HIS Mercy
Ps.56:3 - Trust when you are afraid
Ps.62:8 - Trust at all times
Ps.71:5 - Trust from your youth
Ps.84:12 - Blessed who Trust
Ps.118:8 - It is better to Trust God than man
Ps.119:42 - Trust Thy Word
We will conclude with ~~~ Can GOD Trust You, to Trust HIM?? ~~~
Coming up next: Step 3 - You will be "DELIGHTED"
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Ps 37:1 Fret Not - Step ONE
One day I was praying for a Sunday school lesson and God showed me something amazing in HIS word(well, that wasn't unusual though). We so often want a step by step program to acheive the results that we are searching for...
In Psalms 37, God showed me just that! HE laid out a six step program to life. Nope I didn't have to look any further than Gods word. This program is fail proof, I have tried it again and again and it has worked, as long as I followed the steps. The person who designed this six step program is King of Kings and Lord of Lord and faithful to keep HIS word because remember, HE is the WORD. I am going to try to do six different blogs about each step. I have already taught all six steps in class but God just keeps encouraging me to share this again. First, I am going to assume that you have received salvation at some time in your life and you have access to communicate with our Saviour, if not...then maybe this blog could help you understand why having HIM is so important!!
So here we go...
Step ONE
Psalms 37:1-2
FRET NOT thyself because evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2.For they shall be cut down, like the grass, and whitered as the green herb.
Let us just focus on the first two words "FRET NOT," I will come back to the rest of the verse later but it basically indicates that we do have things that cause us to fret... or a more modern term called "WORRY!"
Most people worry about stuff, big stuff, small stuff, stuff that can be changed, stuff that cant be changed, stuff that matter and stuff that dont matter...sometimes we worry about worrying... right?
BUT God had already taught David something here when he was writing this psalm, David is telling us from experience to Fret Not, he had been there done that...study David sometime and find out all the things that he faced and could have worried about but he learned the "secret" was to Fret Not! Everyone wants to know the special secret to happiness. I think it begins with FRET NOT. I keep putting this in capital letters because I think if we dont achieve this step then we wont make it through to the next step. If we are worrying, then we are already defeated. This may even be the first indicator of you being lost or saved. If you are fretting about your salvation then you could be under conviction and really lost or satan may have you right where he wants you, a child of God who can't move on because of doubt! Either case, please get it fixed up so we can get on to enjoying our salvation and seeing prayers answered and victories won!
Supporting scripture...
Luke 21:
[31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
[32] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
[33] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
[34] And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
[35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
[36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
[37] And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
[38] And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
(((This scripture above reiterates that Gods word is true and we can take it to the bank as truth, it goes on to say to take heed because your hearts may be overcome by worry, and basically the next verse goes on to say that this worry will trip us all who dwell on the face of the earth BUT instructs us to watch and pray that we may be worthy to escape these things...... Wow, even Jesus taught and encouraged us to fret not, HE was still encouraging the same approach to a victorious life as David has used in the Old Testament. Even in 2011 this very same approach works...I will share with you just one of the many worrying experiences that I took on myself at the end of blog. I would love for you to share with me and others as well....when I see that you conquered worry in a particular situation, it will help me should I walk in your same shoes and vice versa.)))
There are many other verses of reference in the Bible that are more commonly known and quoted such as (paraphrased).."to not worry for tomorrow" and HE takes care of the sparrows, he can take care of you"
Personal experience and example: When my husband was first diagnosed with cancer, do you think I fretted? Absolutely, I must confess...I was worried sick, physically could not eat! I allowed my doubt and fretting to keep me in that state at least two weeks before I finally took God at HIS word and acknowledged that HE could take care of this. I mean seriously, it was already beyond anything I could do to change the situation so what was worrying going to help. At this point I was ready to move on to the next verse and step two "TRUST" this blog will be continued......
Phil. 4:
[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In Psalms 37, God showed me just that! HE laid out a six step program to life. Nope I didn't have to look any further than Gods word. This program is fail proof, I have tried it again and again and it has worked, as long as I followed the steps. The person who designed this six step program is King of Kings and Lord of Lord and faithful to keep HIS word because remember, HE is the WORD. I am going to try to do six different blogs about each step. I have already taught all six steps in class but God just keeps encouraging me to share this again. First, I am going to assume that you have received salvation at some time in your life and you have access to communicate with our Saviour, if not...then maybe this blog could help you understand why having HIM is so important!!
So here we go...
Step ONE
Psalms 37:1-2
FRET NOT thyself because evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2.For they shall be cut down, like the grass, and whitered as the green herb.
Let us just focus on the first two words "FRET NOT," I will come back to the rest of the verse later but it basically indicates that we do have things that cause us to fret... or a more modern term called "WORRY!"
Most people worry about stuff, big stuff, small stuff, stuff that can be changed, stuff that cant be changed, stuff that matter and stuff that dont matter...sometimes we worry about worrying... right?
BUT God had already taught David something here when he was writing this psalm, David is telling us from experience to Fret Not, he had been there done that...study David sometime and find out all the things that he faced and could have worried about but he learned the "secret" was to Fret Not! Everyone wants to know the special secret to happiness. I think it begins with FRET NOT. I keep putting this in capital letters because I think if we dont achieve this step then we wont make it through to the next step. If we are worrying, then we are already defeated. This may even be the first indicator of you being lost or saved. If you are fretting about your salvation then you could be under conviction and really lost or satan may have you right where he wants you, a child of God who can't move on because of doubt! Either case, please get it fixed up so we can get on to enjoying our salvation and seeing prayers answered and victories won!
Supporting scripture...
Luke 21:
[31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
[32] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
[33] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
[34] And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
[35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
[36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
[37] And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
[38] And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
(((This scripture above reiterates that Gods word is true and we can take it to the bank as truth, it goes on to say to take heed because your hearts may be overcome by worry, and basically the next verse goes on to say that this worry will trip us all who dwell on the face of the earth BUT instructs us to watch and pray that we may be worthy to escape these things...... Wow, even Jesus taught and encouraged us to fret not, HE was still encouraging the same approach to a victorious life as David has used in the Old Testament. Even in 2011 this very same approach works...I will share with you just one of the many worrying experiences that I took on myself at the end of blog. I would love for you to share with me and others as well....when I see that you conquered worry in a particular situation, it will help me should I walk in your same shoes and vice versa.)))
There are many other verses of reference in the Bible that are more commonly known and quoted such as (paraphrased).."to not worry for tomorrow" and HE takes care of the sparrows, he can take care of you"
Personal experience and example: When my husband was first diagnosed with cancer, do you think I fretted? Absolutely, I must confess...I was worried sick, physically could not eat! I allowed my doubt and fretting to keep me in that state at least two weeks before I finally took God at HIS word and acknowledged that HE could take care of this. I mean seriously, it was already beyond anything I could do to change the situation so what was worrying going to help. At this point I was ready to move on to the next verse and step two "TRUST" this blog will be continued......
Phil. 4:
[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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