Day 3 - Week 79 - Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."

I was reminded this evening by Caroline, a young Christian friend of mine (I believe she's 14), that we are told 365 times in the Bible not to be afraid.  And yet, David says, "When I am afraid.."  As many time as we are instructed not to be afraid, our human tendency leans toward fear.  Maybe that's why God tells us so many times not to be afraid, He knows who we are and how easily fear can overcome us.

David follows the statement of his natural tendency with the perfect antidote..."I will trust in You."  No matter what it is that is causing us to have a spirit of fear, when we turn that fear over in prayer to our Father in heaven, He will start turning our minds to Him and bringing to us His peace that passes all understanding.

We have to believe in a God who is truly working all things together for our good in order to have a trust that will overcome fear.  If not, then we still have room to fear, don't we?  If God is not 100% on our side, then we have nothing to combat the many "what ifs" that this life can bring with it. 

But no matter how confusing life's circumstances can be, and how little sense they can make to us, if we have developed a faith that is based in our God who is always good, always loving, always working on the behalf of His children, then we can trust even when we don't understand, even if we can't make sense of things, that He is on our side, and that our lives are still securely in His loving hands. 

I am told over and over again, "Do not be afraid."  But "when I am afraid"...

"I will trust in You."

Day 2 - Week 79 - Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."

"Nine words and ten syllables.  About the same length as your phone number.  But what a life-changing sentence to learn and live!  Notice the opening word---not if but when.  Fear---in its various forms---besets us every day.  And notice what Psalm 56:3 doesn't say:

• When afraid, I will panic or fall to pieces.
• When afraid, I will grow depressed and give up.
• When I am afraid, I will run and hide.

"It says, 'When I am afraid, I will trust in You'---in Your providence, in Your promises, in Your protection, in Your power, in Your peace.  Faith is being confident that God's positives are greater than our negatives, and that His providence is overshadowing our lives.  Faith in a faithful God is the only lasting antidote for debilitating fear."  ~  Robert J. Morgan

When I am afraid...do I trust God's providence, His promises, His protection, His power, His peace? 

When something tragic and unexpected happens, how do you continue to trust in God's protection?

Well, along with trusting in God's protection, you have to pass through the trust of God's providence, promises, power and peace.  For reasons we probably will not see on this side of eternity, loved ones are taken at times when we don't think they should be.  While I am certain that God does not cause these tragedies, I do believe that He determines, in a nano-second, taking all the factors of that point in time into His completely omniscient understanding, that taking them home is the best thing.  He promises us that we will see clearly one day, that He has the power to resurrect those who believe in that power, and that He will give us His peace.

Protection?  I know that we live in a broken world where out-of-control things can happen in an instant.  Where disease can attack quickly.  Where disasters can strike without warning.  Is God going to intervene in these events?  Maybe...sometimes...when He sees that as the best thing.  But I believe that when we pray for the protection of those we love, what God is truly asking us to be seeking is His spiritual protection, just as Jesus asked for His disciples in John 17:15, "My prayer is...that You protect them from the evil one."

We will all die...some sooner, some later...unless Jesus returns for His own before our natural deaths.  When we do, we will leave someone wondering, "Why?  Why now?"  God alone knows that answer.  But what we want to be certain of, and for those we love to be certain of, is that His protection was around us, and that He carried us home.  That is the best protection...because it is eternal.
 

Day 1 - Week 79 - What a verse for the coming week!

Another wonderful night of Bible study with a wonderful group of ladies.  It is such a blessing to study God's Word with women who you know are both seeking a greater knowledge of God, and who truly love each other.

We have spent two weeks on Romans 1:16-17...do you have them down?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.  For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

What great assurance these verses should give us...God has provided for all to be saved through faith in His plan.

I praise God for who He is...He is over all.  By Him all things were created and all things were created for His glory.  Including me.  I desire to glorify Him every day I remain on this earth, and then I look forward to glorifying Him in His presence for eternity!  That is the day I see through faith. 

Let's review where we've been and then let's add this week's wonderful verse of assurance!


The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."


Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

Our next verse?  Back to the book of Psalms...
"When I am afraid, I will trust in You."  Psalm 56:3

Can you get any more direct than that?  Do you have fears?  The past month has confronted me with many times of fear and anxiety.  What is my answer?  I will trust in God.  Why?  Because He loves me...because He knows me...because He has provided for me in the best possible way, He has given me life through Christ.  I will trust in Him.  He is working on my behalf and He is Victory.

When I am afraid, I will trust in You.  Thank You, God, for being totally and absolutely trustworthy.

Day 4 - Week 78 - Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

Faith...such an intangible...so hard to define...what does faith mean to you?

I guess the verse that comes to my mind the most when I think of faith is the one found in Hebrews...."Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

How can you be sure of a hope...how can you be certain of what you do not see?  It is only through faith.  And faith of that magnitude has to be confirmed to you by a supernatural means...and we are promised that, that is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  He is our confirmation.  He is the voice that reassures us that what we believe is true.

Some will say that we all have our belief systems, and that one person's belief is as good as another's.  I'll go along with that.  But what I won't go along with is that a faith that is grounded in the Word of God and affirmed in a believer by the Holy Spirit (Romans 9:1) is comparable to anything else available to mankind.  There is a difference between belief and faith.  Believing something, to me, is thinking that in all probability it is true.  Faith, oh faith, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Does that mean that Christians never have a moment of doubt?  Nope.  We do.  Because we are still human, with human minds that are vulnerable to outside influence.  But when we ask God to affirm truth, to kindle in us His Spirit so that we are able to see clearly through our eyes that have reborn through belief in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, He is faithful to do so.  Doubts are replaced with confirmation through the Holy Spirit that our faith is solid, our faith is true, what we hope for is sure, what we know will come but we cannot see, is still very certain.

I hope for a life beyond this that is eternal and perfect, where there is no pain or death, where there is no rebellion against God's will and no temptation to do so; a place where we will live in complete and perfect relationship with our Father, forever. This hope is a surety for me; and even though I cannot see this place, I am certain of it.  When I have doubts, I pray for God to confirm His truth again to me, and He is faithful to do so. 

This is how the righteous live by faith...we live because of God's grace and mercy...we live righteously because of Christ...we live by faith because of the Holy Spirit. 

Day 3 - Week 78 - Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

"Faith is all in all, both in the beginning and progress of Christian life. It is not from faith to works, as if faith put us into a justified state, and then works kept us in it; but it is all along from faith to faith; it is faith pressing forward, and gaining the victory over unbelief."
- Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

I love this explanation of "faith to faith."  I love that it portrays faith as a progressive, on-going process.  And affirming that once there is faith, it is not immune from the attacks of the enemy.  But that faith presses forward, and gains the victory.

Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below,
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory
That overcomes the world.

It is not our mighty strength that wins the battle, it is not our great works...it is our faith in the righteousness of God, given to us through the gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Faith is the victory!

The faith in knowing that Genesis 1:1 is truth, and that Revelation 22:20-21 is truth, and everything in between.  Faith as small as a mustard seed, faith that is able to move mountains.  Start to finish...faith to faith. 

 

Day 2 - Week 78 - "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

"I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."  Romans 1:16-17

"In memorizing Romans 1:16-17, you have the whole book of Romans in digest form.  These verses, coming at the end of Paul's magnificent prologue to Romans, summarize the theme and thesis of this book.  Verses 16 & 17 provide the essential vocabulary of the Christian dictionary.  As you read these two verses, underline these words:

• Gospel - The good news of Jesus Christ
• God - The source of life, hope, forgiveness and justification
• Power - The omnipotence of heaven is packed into this message
• Salvation - Deliverance from sin, death, despair and hell
• Everyone - The scope of the gospel is universal in its offer
• Believes - The condition and requirement for justification
• Righteousness - The state of being made right with God
• Revealed - This message can't be discovered from below; it had to be revealed from above
• Faith - This term occurs three times in verse 17, explaining the word believes in verse 16."

                                               - Robert J. Morgan, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart

I appreciated Mr. Morgan's very straightforward analysis of these two verses and all that they cover.  He states it so well, that I felt compelled to share completely.   What a lot of great, basic Christian theology is packed into these two verses.  For in these two verses we learn of the saving news of Jesus, sent by God to deliver us from our sin and resulting death.  We come to understand that this offer is extended to all peoples, presented to us as a gift from God and revealed by His Spirit, and our acceptance of this beautiful gift is expressed by our belief, and belief then takes form as lives subsequently lived by faith.

Two short verses - lots of power!  Lots of truth!  God has laid out such a wonderful plan for us to be redeemed.  It is not a complicated plan, but it does take faith.  "Faith to faith"...it is all about faith, start to finish, first to last.  It is revealed to us through faith, and that revelation adds to our faith.  Faith builds on faith.

I cannot imagine traveling through this life, through its peaks, and especially through its valleys, without this life-sustaining faith. "The righteous will live by faith."  I can only claim righteousness through the work of Christ, but I know that I do live by faith.  I know that without my faith in an all-knowing, completely loving God, who I can place all my confidence in when otherwise I am totally shaken, my life would be empty and pointless.   I would pray that if you do not share this faith, that you find it now...for when you're in the middle of the valley, it is truly your only source of sustenance.


 

Day 1 - Week 78 - A new week begins, a new verse to hide in our hearts...

Another week begins...life goes on, even when you think the world should stop, it doesn't.  You continue to grieve, but through the days, knowing that God is walking with us and feeling His love along with the love of family and friends, we some how continue on.  You realize that you are still here, in the land of the living, for a reason...a reason that is hard to determine at times, but you know that if you are here, you are to be of purpose.  That is what I think I am feeling now...still dazed, still confused, still heartbroken...but understanding that while I am here on this earth, I am to seek God's purpose for my days. 

Part of God's purpose for me seems to be this blog...it directs me to His Word, and it allows me to proclaim my faith.  There have been so many faith-affirming verses through these weeks.  I wish I truly had all 77 to date at my ready recall...I am sorry to say that I don't at this point.  I have determined that when we reach the end of our 100 week journey, that I will have to go back and retrace my steps and focus again on memorization, having the luxury of not leaving a verse until I have it down pat....that process may take me another 200 weeks!  And if it does, so be it!  What better way to travel through life than with God's word as your travel companion!

At the beginning of this 78th week, let's review our most recent verses:


The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."


Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

We follow with Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."

You almost have to recite Romans 1:16-17 together, for if you just state verse 17 by itself, you don't know what "it" is.  "It" is the gospel...and the gospel reveals God's righteousness, or as Robert J. Morgan puts it, "That is, He tells us how we can share His righteousness and be restored into good standing with Him."

Apart from Jesus, we have no hope to be seen as righteous before God.  But through His atoning death and the power of His resurrection (the gospel), we can now stand before our Father clothed in His righteousness, all of our sinfulness removed.  And what does that miraculous cleansing require from us?  Faith.  Faith, beginning to end...faith to faith.  That's how we come to life, and that's how we live forever.