January 2018 - Believing Who He says He Is
Dear friends,
Thousands of years ago, the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” His words still speak to Christian men and women today.
This year, I purposed to reflect on this passage from Jeremiah and pray to be transformed by it. I want to encourage you to journey with me as we seek to understand this passage more as believers. It’s important to ask God for insight into the words found in the Bible (Ps. 119:18).
Jeremiah tells us that God’s blessings come to those who trust in the Lord, regardless of circumstances. We can define a blessing as anything that God gives us that enables us to be fully satisfied in him.
As I’ve matured in my Christian life, I realize my trust in God results from the belief that he is who he says he is – holy, righteous and over all creation. If we accept and trust that God is trustworthy and dependable, then we will live like we believe it – with conviction and confidence. That’s faith. That’s action.
Then we can confidently “smile at the future” like the woman in Proverbs 31:25 because our trust is in him, not ourselves or others. I’m amazed and humbled by how many of our Women of Hope listeners express joy and experience contentment even in suffering, sharing their stories of hope.
When we trust with simple faith in Jesus, we become like Jeremiah’s tree, whose roots go out and receive nourishment from the Lord. During the difficult times in our lives, we choose to exchange fear and anxiety for God’s peace. Through these trials, we live a life filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It’s the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
Please pray for the Lord to enable us to grow in the truth of the gospel and to overflow with the fruit that blesses others.