Depending Only on God

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Sometimes, we feel invisible, as if God does not see us or hear our prayers (Isaiah 40:27). We think that He has forgotten us, because our circumstances are out of control and we need His intervention. Yet, He still tarries. Life is not limited to our time on this earth. We do not need to "get ahead" during this lifetime. God honors those who honor Him and despises those who dishonor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).

Our tendency in a trial is to work it out in our own efforts. However, we usually end up making things worse. We are broken, even if we will not admit it, and God calls us to lean on Him (2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6). God looks for those who are living by faith in Him. Even the atheists live by faith in something. However, our trust in God is the only faith, which produces eternal results.

If we put our trust in our self, or in other people, we are depending on the flesh rather than on the Lord. We end up worn out, devastated, poor and lonely. However, if we trust in the Lord, He blesses us wondrously (Habakkuk 2:4; Proverbs 29:25). We are rooted and secure. We flourish and are prepared for life's trials. We have no worries, so we thrive and bear God's fruit in our life (Jeremiah 17:5-8; Galatians 5:22-23).

We can relax and live in God's peace, entering His rest, even in the worst of circumstances. He always works out everything for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Trials are opportunities for God to prove His love for us. If we view them through His eyes, we will see His mighty hand in the midst of them (Psalm 136:12; 1 Peter 5:6).

Prayer:
Father God, teach us not to rely on our human strength or the wisdom of friends, but to follow Your Spirit's leading in every area of our life (Zechariah 4:6). When our activities are inspired by Your Spirit, we see Kingdom results. We depend solely on You for our life and our future. Bring our flesh into submission to Your will.

Thought for the Day:
When we depend on God alone, we put our faith in His faithfulness; since He is our trustworthy defender, we shall never suffer ultimate defeat. - Psalm 62:5-8

God's Vindication

Read: Psalm 26:1-3

“Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.” - Psalm 35:24 (NIV)

Sometimes people come into our life that never truly understand who we are. They may know us for years; yet they never really know us. They misjudge us according to their own prejudices. They relegate us to a certain level in their thinking beyond which we can never pass. The sad fact is that they are no larger in their own eyes than we are; therefore, they believe that they must belittle us in order to feel bigger and better. Giving God's love back to such people is the best way to deal with them.

A person’s opinion of us only matters if we allow it to do so. I refuse to give this much power to another human being. No one can rightly judge another man's servant, because before his own Master he stands or falls (Ro 14:4). What anyone thinks or feels about me does not carry any weight of importance. Only God's opinion of me matters, and He will vindicate me in the end (Ps 35: 24). He is the only One who can truly discern the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Who is this person who tries to condemn you? Christ Jesus, who died - and even more than that, who was also raised to live again - is at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34). He is our litigator, our lawyer and our advocate. With Him defending us, no one will ever falsely accuse us and get away with it. The light of eternity will reveal the truth.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, because we are His dear children. We are from God and have overcome, because You who dwell within us are greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 3:21; 4:4).

Thought for the Day:

If we are falsely accused, we stand in good company. They also crucified Jesus Christ, an innocent man.