By: J.O. Lawal
Date: January 05, 2020
Series: From Pastor’s Desk
Number: Vol. 8, No. 35
Beloved: Grace, mercy and peace be yours abundantly from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. It is with great delight that I welcome you into this New Year, year 2020. Without doubt, it is because of the Lord’s mercies and compassions that we are alive to be a part of the year. And my prayer is that it will not be a wasted additional year for us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Now, as we all are preparing our hearts, minds and bodies to make the most of this new year, I want to remind you that there is nothing we can accomplish on our own in the year without God (John 15:5). So, let us not waste any time, energy, resources, skills or dedication on trying to make it on our own. Rather, let us begin, right from this moment on, to rely on God for everything we need to make the most of this new year that he has given us the privilege of witnessing.
Solomon says this to us in his book of proverbs: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Prov 3:5-8NIV) Did you see that? We can choose to either trust in the Lord with everything inside us or trust in ourselves and our own ways of doing things. Which will it be?
See, God will not force us to trust in Him. But He will always counsel us to do so. And if we listen to Him and cast ourselves in utter dependence on Him for every matter of our lives, we will experience His glory in ways that are beyond anybody’s imagination. But if we choose to rely on our ways and methods of doing things, we will someday see for ourselves the folly in doing so.
David, in a Psalm of his, has this to say to us: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” (Ps 20:7-8NIV) These words, you need to understand, arise out of this man’s personal experience of the difference between trusting in God and trusting in ourselves or our schemes. Remember how he stood before that great giant and warrior, Goliath, and challenged him in the name of the Lord. He clearly said to him during that encounter, “You come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied.” (Cf. 1Sam 17:45)
Now David did not say those words to Goliath because he had nothing in his hands to fight with. He had a sling and some stones in his hands. And he must have been quite skilful in using them. So, he had some skills too, even though his skills could not in any way be compared to Goliath’s. Nevertheless, he did not put his trust in his skills or weapons; rather, he put his trust in the Lord. So, at the end of the fight, he, the little boy from Israel, was the one standing, not Goliath, the great warrior giant from Gath.
So, when we are talking about putting our trust in the Lord, we are not saying that we don’t need to put our skills, education or resources to any legitimate use. Rather, we are saying that we must not put our trust in those things but in God. Those who trust in human wisdom, strength, influence or resources will ultimately meet with humiliation and disgrace. But those who trust in the Lord, those who count on Him to handle the matters of their lives for them, will never be put to shame, regardless of their handicaps. Instead, when all has been said and done, they will be radiant and standing strong and firm (Ps 34:5). So, put your trust in Him with your whole heart this year, beloved, and you will never regret that you do so.
Happy New Year.
Copyright © 2020, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com/alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)