Blessings, Hope and Trust

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Oh, this so spoke to my heart yesterday morning after I laundered this tee shirt and took special notice of the scripture on the back. It fits in with what I wrote yesterday about drawing water, trusting in God, having no fear. This is what comes with the territory from our devotion to God. How often does one worry about money, jobs, war, government control, terrorists, children and home grown evil pervading our cities? Not everyone worries, but everyone should be aware because some day something will cause worry.

Those who trust in the Lord, who know Him, know His ways, know His goodness and judgment because of sin, need not fear. We will not be immune to the troubles of life, but there's that hope that when all is said and done, we truly will be in a better place. 

I was thinking yesterday about a young family. Good people, two sweet children. But they don't know Jesus like they should. Their world is all that goes on in their lives, their accomplishments, their children, their friends and parties. They are happy. But what happens if the bottom falls out...you know, anything could happen in their lives, just like it could happen in ours. We don't know what tomorrow brings. And without God, it might be a horribly tragic event. 

Those who know the Lord have a foundation, like I said yesterday, like a tree planted by water. Nothing to fear as long as that water is there. Where do we get this water? We draw, like the Samaritan woman, from the living water which is Christ. He removes our sin so He can be our all. He cannot be our all without that recognition that we are sinners and He is our Savior. We then drink of His strength and there is no fear as long as we hold to the belief He is there for us and will see us through, not always out of, our circumstance. Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise Him. The song from a grateful heart. 

In the midst of our trouble we can still proclaim His goodness...yielding fruit of righteousness and witnessing. I will praise Him again.

Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1-6,14 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name."