Tag Archives: Trust

God Cannot Lie

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Crossing out Lies and writing Truth on a blackboard.God cannot lie.

That’s a big thing to understand and remember. He cannot lie. It is not part of His personality and nature. It is not part of who He is.

He cannot lie.

Every promise He has made to us will come true. Every Word of His that we stand upon is sure.

Jesus, who is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) tells us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. So, God is truth. And God cannot lie.

Today, trust in that.

Listen to what it says in Hebrews 6:18-20:

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

We, who have turned to God for refuge, can have that hope and encouragement. God cannot lie. He will keep His promise.

He will not leave us or forsake us. He will not turn us aside. God is with us.

He has promised us that. His word has echoed that truth in our ears. We know it, we read it, we have heard it preached.

But, know this. It is truth. He cannot, will not lie. He will not leave your side. He loves you, He cares for you, He will not forsake you.

You are His.

No matter the weather, the context, the mistake, the failing, the hurt, the pain, the whatever.

God loves you. He has promised. And He cannot lie.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Cause and Effect

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I’m a believer, most of the time, in cause and effect.

I do X, it causes Y to happen. I eat 3 dozen donuts, I buy new pants. You see how it goes.

Today’s reading has a beautiful picture of cause and effect. Look what happens in Psalm 119:48-50:

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

CauseAndEffectThe Psalmist says – I lift my hands to your commandments. I will meditate on your statues.

Ok, so then what happens?

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

The Psalmist remembers God’s hope and God’s promise. And because of that, he has hope, in the midst of the trials of life.

Cause and effect.

Remembering God’s promises gives hope in the midst of trials.

Today, that’s a good lesson for us to learn. Are you in trouble? Afraid? Worried? Stressed? Hurting?

Remember God’s promises. Remember what God said He would do. He will never leave your side. He will never forsake you. He will never forget you.

Remember His word.

Receive His peace.

Today, may we see that in our lives. May we remember who God is, and how He loves.

And may that knowledge give us peace!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

For Our Good and God’s Glory

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One of things that I know in life that is true, is that all things will work out for our good and for God’s glory.

All things.

God is going to use every circumstance of your life and everything that happens in your day today for your good. And for His glory.

Listen to what God says through Paul today in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12:

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1-all-things-markHe says that God will give us power to fulfill every good work, so that the name of Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him.

In other words, today, in what’s happening, God, through His power, will work it out, in some way so that He receives glory.

No matter what it is. Somehow, no matter what’s happening, He is going to use it for His glory somehow.

His name will be praised through the circumstance of your life.

I don’t know how all the time, but it will.

And likewise, even if you don’t understand, He will work it out for your good as well. Somehow, someway, whatever it is that you are going through, God will work it out for you good.

You may think it’s impossible. And it may not be immediate. But, this situation you are going through, somehow, someway, God is going to work it out for your good, and for His glory.

He promised.

And He is true to His word.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Simple, Childlike Faith

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Today, we read about Jesus and the children. Listen to what happens in Luke 18:15-17:

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

Ever wonder why the disciples didn’t want the children around Jesus? I mean, really? What was about the kids that made the disciples fuss at folks?

I mean, we love kids, right? Everyone of us, particularly those of us in families, we value our kids above, well, most everyone and everything.

That’s the lives that we lead today.

That wasn’t the case in Jesus’ day. Back then, children were little more than property. Children weren’t that important.
In the mind of the disciples, Jesus literally had a million things more important to fool with than children.

But, that’s not what Jesus believed.

For Him, thought the children may not have mattered to the crowd. Or the disciples. Or even to society. They matter to Him. For He loved them. He valued them. He came for them.

And, instead of rebuking the children, he rebuked the adults. He said it’s not the children are unworthy. But if we want to see the kingdom of heaven, we must become like that child.

We must have simple faith. Simple trust. Simple belief.

Childlike.

Today, do we have that? Do we have that simple childlike faith? Even though it may seem naive. Even though it may be looked down upon by the world. Even though it may simple.

It’s what the Lord wants us to have.

And remember that they looked down on these simple children. And the Lord welcomed them in.

Just like, when we have that simple childlike faith, He will welcome us in.

Today, may we have that childlike faith. May we trust. And in that trust, may we glorify God with all that we are!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Testing

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No one likes being tested. We didn’t enjoy the tests we were given in school. And we enjoy the tests that we are given in life even less.

We all face tests in our lives, that are difficult to go through. We faces tests at work. In our family. In our lives. In our health. In many, many areas of our lives.

And when we face these tests, it’s easy to give up. Or to grow bitter. Or to be angry with God.

We’ve all been there. We all understand and know the emotion. It’s something that every human faces.

We have to, though, resist that feeling.

Because, even if we don’t believe it right now, the test we are going through may be one of the biggest blessings in our life.
Listen to what Peter tells us today in 1 Peter 1:6-7:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

When we are tested, our faith is refined. It is purified. It goes through the fire. And it comes out stronger. It comes out better. It comes out more alive.

Today, this test that you are facing, that you don’t like, that you wish you weren’t having to deal with?

It will make you better.

It will make you stronger.

It will draw you closer to Christ.

I read a quote once about trials, and it said that when we face trials and troubles, double down on our efforts to be holy, pray more, read your bible more, worship more. For, if the devil see that his attempts to destroy us only make us chase after God, he will leave us alone.

Today, this test may be big. You may not know how you will get through it. You may not know what you will do. You may not understand the way through.

But God does. He is with you. He will not leave you. And this time of testing may pull you close and, in time, be blessing.

Today, even in your test. Even in your worry. Even in your fear. Trust in Him. And your faith will grow.

And you will be stronger.

And you will know better and true life.

That’s what His word tell us. And we can trust in that.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Whom Shall We Fear?

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Jesus never promises us in the bible that things will always be easy and perfect. He never tells us troubles will not come.

In fact, what He says in scripture is quite the opposite. He does not say that troubles will be absent, but in fact, He goes the complete other way.

He says – you will face troubles.

You will have trials.

There will be tough times. There will be tears and worry and stress and pain.

There will be.

But, that’s not all He promised us.

Look what is says today in Matthew 10: 26-28:

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

We will have these things happen. But do not fear. Do not fear those in life that can “hurt” you. For they can’t. Dont’ fear the one that hurt the body.

Fear the one that will judge the soul.

We should not fear any other human. We should fear (i.e. respect) God.

Why should we not fear any other human? As a great picture on the internet put it, you’ve got an all-powerful, all-knowing, all loving, in control, three in one God on your side.

Now act like it!

I love that. It’s actually my phone background right now. God is on our side. God is for us. God is with us. Whom shall we fear?

No one. We can have NO FEAR today.  For God is with us! Rejoice. Be strong. Do not fear.

For God is with us. Whom shall we fear?

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

My Favorite Promise

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God makes a lot of promises to us in His Word. He says a lot of things to us that give us hope, give us peace, give us courage.

He will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6)

He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11)

We can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13)

Nothing can separate us from God’s love Romans 8:37-39)

There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

We could go on an on.

But today, the passage we are reading, it has perhaps my favorite of God’s promises to us. Listen to what it says today in Jeremiah 31:33-34:

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

We focus a lot (and rightfully so) about the part where we promised that God will give us a new covenant, where He will write His law on our heart.

God wants us to know that our faith moves from being an outward (action) based thing to an inward (heart) based thing.

God wants your heart. If He has your heart, He will have your actions.

And that’s all pretty awesome. Good stuff. But, I love what it says most of all, after that. Jeremiah tells us that will forgive our sins and, here’s the kicker to me, remember them no more.

That’s a promise. From God.

Not only will He forgive your sin, which is a big deal. But He will forget it.

It’s done.

Gone.

Forgiven.

Forgotten.

The sin that you can’t forgive yourself of, that you can’t let go of, that keeps you up at night, that robs your peace and joy?

Not only has God forgiven it. He has forgotten it.

His word promises that.

Today, let God. Forgive. Forget. Move into the new life that God has for you.

Today, you are a forgiven child of God. Live like it! Live in that new grace today, and each day.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

You Can Do This!

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God alone is our salvation. Nothing else. Not our actions, our faithfulness, or our lack of faithfulness.

God alone.

We see in Psalm 62: 1-2, David tell us that his souls waits upon God for salvation.

Look at how he says it:

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

David says – for God alone he waits. He will not be shaken.

This would, can, and will shake us. Pain, tragedy, loss, worry, hurt, they will try to shake us.

Worries will try to shake us. The forces of evil will try to shake us. Our own fears will try to shake us.

Much will come our way today, and each day. Much will try to move, worry, or shake us.

And to this David says – I will wait upon the Lord. He is my salvation.

And I will not be shaken.

Today, you can do this. Today, you can be faithful. Today, no matter what comes your way, you do not have to be moved or be shaken.

You can do this.

Through God. Though God, you can do. Through God, you will not be moved. Through God, you can be strong. Through God you can overcome.

Through God, you can do this!

You can. He is your rock. Your salvation. Your hope. Your strength.

You can do this.

Through God.

Today, through Him, we will not be shaken. May He be our rock and salvation.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Enough

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Today, we have enough. We do. In this day, we have enough.

Whatever it is that we are facing, that we are needing, that we have to have, we have enough.

Today, we do. Through Jesus Christ and His power and His spirit, we have enough.

No matter how daunting the path make look, no matter how challenging it may be, no matter what we are going through, today, we have enough.

Even if it looks like we don’t. We do. Listen to what happens today in 1 Kings 17:12-16:

And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.'” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Elijah comes to the widow. And he asks her to do something that is impossible. He asks her to give to feed him with the little oil and flour that she had left. She said, I don’t have enough.

Elijah knew that she did. She had enough. She had all that she needed. She had enough to feed him, and her son.

Because through God, all things are possible. Through God, there is more than enough.

Today you have enough grace.

Patience.

Strength.

Hope.

God can do it through you. Whatever it is. You can do it. Through Jesus Christ.

Relax. Breathe. Trust. Hope. Believe.

Have faith.

God can do it through you. Today, you have enough. No matter how high the mountain. You have enough. Trust in Him. He can do it.

He has give you grace. And that’s enough!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Change of Plans

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I like having plans. I like knowing what I’m going to do. Even as I sit here typing this reflection out, my mind is thinking through the various things that I have to do today. My schedule, my meetings, my appointments.

I like being able to stick to a schedule. I like knowing whats going to happen. I like having that idea and plan for what is coming.

I don’t like having my plans disrupted. I don’t like it when things don’t go according to schedule. I don’t like it when it doesn’t go the way I planned.

So, what do we do when that happens?

Listen to what Paul says today in 2 Corinthians 1:15-19:

Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.

Paul wanted to come by Corinth and visit the church. He wanted and had planned to come and teach them, share with them, be in ministry with them.

But, he wasn’t able to stick to his plans. Was it because he was wishy-washy? Was it because he wasn’t really sure what he wanted to do? Was it because he decided to just change his plans?

No.

It was just not able to happen. For whatever reason, it was not able to take place.

So, what did Paul do? He kept on going. He kept on being faithful. He kept on being obedient to God.

You plans may not work out. It may not happen the way you want, when you want, how you want. It may be totally different from anything you’ve ever wanted.

Keep going.

Sometimes I have to remember that there plans bigger than my plans. The Bible tells us God’s ways are bigger than our ways and His thoughts are bigger than our thoughts.

That means that God’s plan for us is sometimes different than our plan for us.

Keep going. Even when the plan doesn’t make sense. Even if it’s not the plan that you had made. Even if it’s a change of plans for you.

God knows what He is doing. He has a plan. And even when we don’t know His plan.

We know Him.

Today, trust in Him!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.