Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A Fresh Encounter”
Our Bible verse for today: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in nobles.” Psalm 118:6-9 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Trust in the Lord”
Who or what do you trust in? It’s an important question because the people or things we depend on the most will to a large extent shape our lives.
Most Christians would claim that their trust is in the Lord, but a quick look at their lives might suggest otherwise. Many of us actually trust in our career more than we trust in the Lord. Others are focused on investments and retirement accounts for their financial security rather than on the God of all Provision. Some of us trust more in our spouse for companionship that we do in the Lord. And on it goes.
But God is not willing to be second place in our lives – to anything or to anyone. Jobs end, stock markets crash, health fails, spouses die, friends desert us, it’s only the Lord who is always there and who never fails us. Therefore our relationship with Him must be the most important thing in our lives, and it must be to Him that we look first – for everything.
I love Psalm 118 because it’s such an upbeat and encouraging Psalm. It begins and ends with the exact same words, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.” For twenty-seven verses in between, the Psalmist praises and celebrates the Lord’s love, protection, provision, peace, and salvation. This was written by a person who knew God well, who had frequent encounters with Him, and who was intimately aware of God’s presence and activity in His life on an ongoing basis.
I believe that the kinds of “fresh encounters” which we’ve been learning about this month are reserved by God for those who are determined to keep Him in first place in their lives. When we trust in Him above everyone else, and above everything else, He touches our heart and enables us to sing with the Psalmist, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.”
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 