Blessings from Trusting the Lord

Another nice day here at a mile above sea level. Nothing too exciting for today, which for me can be good. After a meeting with the President of our HOA about some current issues, I took the dog for a walk. But today I did our normal jaunt in my regular wheelchair which gave my legs and arms some exercise. It took quite a bit longer, but I’m glad that I made it and did as well as I did.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.He is like a shrub in the desert,  and shall not see any good come….“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord…He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes,  for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8

Throughout the Old Testament we find admonitions and contrasts between trusting in yourself and others, or in the Lord. These verses from Jeremiah strike that cord once again. They are reminiscent of Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked…but his delight is in the law of the Lord…He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,  and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

I also think of Psalm 20:7  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Why the constant reminders and admonitions about the contrast in trusting in yourself or others or anything besides the Lord and trust in the Lord.? I believe part of the answer is in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Our default system, the downward drag of the world around us and the deception of our mind and heart is to trust in ourselves, our strength, our “wisdom” our resources or that which we can summon to our side. When the Lord doesn’t do what we think should be done and when, it is easy for our “hearts” to turn away from the Lord. That is an interesting reference. Perhaps we give mental ascent to the Lord, we don’t wipe Him off our minds, He is just not directing our heart which is at the core of our attitudes and actions.

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)  In this context Jesus is talking about money. But can we not apply it to anything of value. What you “treasure” has  your “heart.” What has your “heart” will determine your actions.”

What are the blessings the come from trusting in the Lord? Stability, security and strength. Those three are a fairly good summary. The word pictures are vivid, but none more so than “…Hes not fear when heat comesnot anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” How  is that possible? Not in the natural, only through the supernatural provision of the Lord who gives life and supplied manna and quail for the  multitude of God’s people in the wilderness.

The metaphor is saying, your prosperity and productivity are not dependent upon your environment, but upon your life source. When your life is found in trust in the Lord you can experience the provision of His promises,  “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Our trust in the Lord is a daily commitment  of our hearts. It usually involves a firm reminder to ourselves, that says, “today I chose to trust in the Lord.” And I believe as we do that, we can expect and look for the blessings that come from that commitment.