We Can Trust Him - The Crosswalk Devotional - March 2
The Crosswalk Devotional
Audio By Carbonatix
By Lauren Fletcher, Crosswalk.com
We Can Trust Him
By: Lauren Fletcher
Bible Reading:
“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.” - Psalms 59:16-17
My church recently started a Bible Study called Encountering God by Kelly Minter. In it, she talks about God’s faithfulness, that we can trust God in our present because of what He has done in the past. She references His faithfulness in the Word, in His relationship with the Israelites. She also mentions that we can trust God because of His personal history with us.
Kelly says, “But what I’ve learned to cherish about remembering God’s past faithfulness is how remembrance informs my present and future” (Encountering God). She further encourages the reader to think about how God has been faithful to them. As I pondered this question, I didn’t have to wait long for God’s answer, His reminder.
Last night, I was struggling with anxiety and OCD. I had this feeling that things would not get better. And then, I heard a familiar song. I heard it in English but remembered it in Spanish: “Tengo futuro” (“Glorioso Día”). God was reminding me that I have a future and that things would get better. He recalled a memory from a few years ago:
I had been working at a job and dealing with anxiety. It was the worst I had experienced. I had a hard time completing the tasks expected of me and frequently had to take breaks away from my post to regroup. That night, my church was having a practice for our new Spanish service. They sang “Goodness of God.” During that song, I heard God whisper to me, You have so much to live for. He reminded me of a dream I have to do mission work, and tears started welling up.
Another song my Spanish friends sang back then was “Glorious Day.” In it, the bridge says, “I have a future,” which is “Tengo futuro,” in Spanish. I felt this was my personal reminder from God about what He spoke over me.
By remembering what God did in this past moment, how He gave me hope in the darkness, I was able to take hold of hope last night. I remembered His faithfulness. I knew that everything was going to be okay.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
In Psalms 59, the Psalmist recalls God’s faithfulness to him. He says, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” He remembers how God has been towards him. The Psalmist continues, “O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.” His past experience with God encourages him to declare God as his refuge in the present.
When we remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past and in the past of His people, we are spurred on with fresh hope for the future.
In the Old Testament, God frequently reminds the Israelites of what He has done for them. Is there a passage in the Bible, a story of God’s faithfulness, that can encourage you? Maybe it’s Ruth and Naomi or Hannah, and how personal God was in answering each of their prayers and desires (Encountering God). Or perhaps, it’s how God rescued His people in the book of Esther or the Exodus.
People in the Bible also create altars as a reminder (Jacob, for instance). Is there a specific memory that you have of God’s personal faithfulness in your life that brings you encouragement whenever you remember it?
In Psalms 92:2-4, the Psalmist says, “It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre. You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” Remembering what God has done also leads us to worship.
We can praise God for His faithfulness to us. Kelly Minter says, “Taking a moment to dwell on who God has always been and what He has done gives us strength in the present and hope for the future” (Encountering God). It gives us faith to move forward into what God is calling us to do.
Further Reading:
Psalm 92:2-4
1 Chronicles 16:7-36
Psalm 25:6
Psalm 34:19
2 Samuel 22:31
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/natasaadzic
Lauren Fletcher is a freelance writer and artist who currently resides in the Richmond, Virginia area. She sings and loves to do mission work and scripture art. She is passionate about being vulnerable, the power of the Gospel, and the Word of God. Lauren likes to write about what God is teaching her through her own life and share this with others. You can typically find her at her church’s café, drinking coffee and fellowshipping with friends.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
