Seed Thoughts January 2016

// Lynette Hagin

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
—Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

ANOTHER YEAR has come and gone, and we have now entered 2016. As I reflect on last year, I'm reminded of a song written by Andraé Crouch. The words of the chorus are, "Through it all, through it all, Oh I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, Oh I've learned to depend upon His Word."*

The Word of God, and depending upon that Word, have gotten me through every year of my life. We may not be able to depend upon our friends or even our family at times, but our Heavenly Father will never fail us. What He has promised, He will perform. God will see us through every storm in our lives.

I think about the story in Mark 4:35–40 (NIV): "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.' Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don't you care if we drown?' He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?' "

When Jesus spoke the words "let us go over to the other side," He knew that they would reach the other side regardless of circumstances. Obviously, the disciples did not have faith in those words or they would not have been concerned about the storm.

When we get into the boat with Jesus, we can trust His words, "Let us go over to the other side." In these perilous times, it is essential that we place a greater trust in Him. It seems that often, trusting God is our last resort. He wants us to put Him at the top of our list. We need to trust Him implicitly.

David knew how to trust His God. We read in Psalm 18:2–3 (NLT), "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies."

And again in Psalm 56:9–13 (NLT): "My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light."

David experienced literal physical enemies in his life. You may not be experiencing someone who is trying to take your physical life. However, most of us encounter circumstances, situations, and so forth, which are enemies endeavoring to keep our lives in turmoil.
I encourage you this year to make a New Year's resolution to trust the Heavenly Father in every situation. Two of my favorite scripture verses are Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

We often try to determine how God is going to work out a situation or circumstance we are facing. Don't try to figure out His plan. Just stand back and allow Him to make the crooked path straight. His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts, and His ways than our ways.
When you begin to understand trusting in God, you will begin to experience the peace of God. Know that regardless of the circumstances that may come your way this year, He is going to see you through. You can live in peace if you will put your trust in Him.