Benefits of Trust

Mom's bday_kidsDebbie and I enjoyed the final sessions of this year’s Western Conservative Summit. We enjoyed the morning chapel service with Spencer Tillman, former professional football player and sports commentator.

This afternoon, we had a reception for my mother’s 90th birthday. We had a good turn out of family members and friends. One of the pictures is with my mother and my brother and sister, the other is my mother with two of her six sisters that are still living and my father’s brothers and sisters that were in attendance.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:1-2,15-16

Mom's bday_siblingsThe words of this familiar Psalm can be easily taken for granted. When you are a nomadic people when the heat of the day and the uncertainties of the night pose a daily challenge, a dwelling place and a shadow are not only welcome, but vital to survival. The Psalmist uses figurative language to describe the Lord as a shelter and a shadow. Both of those require proximity and closeness.

It is one thing to understand what the Lord is for us, it is another to receive those benefits. To receive the benefits of who the Lord is, it requires us to “relax and stay put.” We see that in the verbs of “dwell” and “rest.” Making the Lord our refuge and fortress does require trust. It is being where the Lord is, it is staying where He is. I recall a friend once telling me, he found that when there was a sense of alienation from the Lord, he needed to ask himself, “who moved?”

The benefits to that connection and relationship with the Lord described in the first two verses of Psalm 91, are seen in the last verses. When we stay connected to the Lord in a life of trust, we “have His ear.” The Psalmist says, “He will call on me and I will answer him…”

When we stay connected to the Lord in a life of trust, the Lord “is with us to deliver, rescue and honor.” Psalm 34:19 says, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all… The Lord spoke through Samuel and said, “Those who honor me I will honor…” (1 Samuel 2:30)

When we stay connected to the Lord in a life of trust, “it is good for your future.” The Psalmist says, “with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” God’s promise to His people was, “…as your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deu. 33:2) The Lord gives us the strength we need and sustains us throughout our life as He accomplishes His purpose in our life and brings us to the place where we experience the culmination of His plan and we are “with the Lord forever.”