Trusting In The Lord Alone
Our God is looking for a people; indeed He has always looked for a people that would trust in Him alone. One of manÂ’s greatest problems has been the tendency to trust in the arm of the flesh, while our God has warned us continually, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5). We are fallen creatures, our wisdom is limited at best, and we are no match for the unseen world of spirits that seeks our destruction. “…The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8). “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
This world is a spiritual world and we are spirit, soul, and body; therefore, everything of life must be viewed as spiritual. We fail miserably when we forget our spiritual nature. When an individual lives his life with one the body and its needs, his life falls to horribly depraved actions. Without spiritual focus, we act more like animals than humans. Animal appetites become center and primary. Our world is more and more the picture of unbridled lust and unclean habits. Just looking at the world scene should drive a person back to the Bible and the Spirit-filled life. To be without Christ and His Spirit is empty, but to know Him is life. Apostle Paul spoke of the old life of sin and showed its utter emptiness. “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12). Again, the Spirit said, “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (I Timothy 5:6).
True happiness is only found in spiritual living. Jewish leaders sent officers to arrest Jesus. They arrived just in time to hear Him make one of His grandest proclamations. He said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.).” (John 7:37-39). Religion is as empty as the rest of our world, but Jesus Christ is life and our spiritual need is met only in a total surrender to His person. Seek to know Him, devour every word of His Bible, and depend totally on His cross of redemption, and life will spring forth like a fountain.
Now, learn to trust Him alone for every aspect of your life. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). He wants to be your constant joy, so start and end every day with meaningful time in His presence. He wants to fill you with His Spirit, so yield yourself to His presence. He wants to heal our bodies of the physical maladies we constantly encounter, so claim His healing virtue by constantly praying until you pray through. Everything He did in His earthly ministry He is still doing by His Holy Ghost. Most believers live like paupers while claiming to be children of the King.
The children of Israel left rich Egypt and all of its terrible bondage and lived like kings in the wilderness. They were fed manna from angels, drank pure water from the rock, wore clothing that did not wear out, and were healed by Jehovah-Ratha, the Great Physician.
The Bible invites us to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5). If you depend on your flesh to guide, direct, and satisfy your life, it will all become a curse to you. If you “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4). None of us will ever truly live until we live (only and altogether) for the Lord.