Many new Christians view the Christian life as a long list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” They haven’t yet discovered that spending time with God is a privilege that we get to do not a chore or an obligation that we have to do. Getting started with a daily devotional simply takes a little bit of planning. There is no set standard of what a daily devotional time should look like. Keeping your commitment is probably the hardest part of getting started. Determine in your heart to keep it up, even when you fail or miss a day. Rather than beating yourself up when you mess up, just pray and ask God to help you. And, be sure to start over the next day. The rewards you will experience as you grow deeper in love with God will definitely be worth it!
Tuesday, October 18th
Take Refuge In God
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Psalm 118:8
Doubtless
the reader has been tried with the temptation to rely upon the things
which are seen instead of resting alone upon the invisible God.
Christians often look to man for help and counsel and mar the noble
simplicity of their reliance upon their God. Does this portion meet the
eye of a child of God anxious about temporals, then would we reason with
him awhile.
If you trust in Jesus and only in Jesus for your salvation, then why are you troubled? “Because of my great care.” Is it not written, “Cast your burden on the Lord” (Psalm 55:22)? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Cannot you trust God for temporals? “Ah! I wish I could.” If you cannot trust God for temporals, how dare you trust him for spirituals? Can you trust him for your soul’s redemption and not rely upon him for a few lesser mercies? Is not God enough for your need, or is his all-sufficiency too narrow for your wants? Do you want another eye beside that of him who sees every secret thing? Is his heart faint? Is his arm weary? If so, seek another God.
But if he be infinite, omnipotent, faithful, true, and all-wise, why have you strayed away so much to seek another confidence? Why do you rake the earth to find another foundation, when this is strong enough to bear all the weight which you can ever build thereon? Christian, mix not your wine with water, do not alloy your gold of faith with the dross of human confidence. Wait only upon God, and let your expectation be from him. Covet not Jonah’s plant, but rest in Jonah’s God. Let the sandy foundations of terrestrial trust be the choice of fools, but do you, like one who foresees the storm, build for yourself an abiding place upon the Rock of Ages.
If you trust in Jesus and only in Jesus for your salvation, then why are you troubled? “Because of my great care.” Is it not written, “Cast your burden on the Lord” (Psalm 55:22)? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Cannot you trust God for temporals? “Ah! I wish I could.” If you cannot trust God for temporals, how dare you trust him for spirituals? Can you trust him for your soul’s redemption and not rely upon him for a few lesser mercies? Is not God enough for your need, or is his all-sufficiency too narrow for your wants? Do you want another eye beside that of him who sees every secret thing? Is his heart faint? Is his arm weary? If so, seek another God.
But if he be infinite, omnipotent, faithful, true, and all-wise, why have you strayed away so much to seek another confidence? Why do you rake the earth to find another foundation, when this is strong enough to bear all the weight which you can ever build thereon? Christian, mix not your wine with water, do not alloy your gold of faith with the dross of human confidence. Wait only upon God, and let your expectation be from him. Covet not Jonah’s plant, but rest in Jonah’s God. Let the sandy foundations of terrestrial trust be the choice of fools, but do you, like one who foresees the storm, build for yourself an abiding place upon the Rock of Ages.
