Blessed

"(Most) blessed is the man who believes in, trust in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and hear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7-8

I think it is difficult for those of us in American society to really comprehend these verses. With all of the amenities and services so readily available we really don't need to trust and rely completely on God. Even as Christians we have so much there are Christian books, music cds, movies, TV, games, Church programs and much more. It is easy to rely on these things instead of God.

The verse says, "(Most) blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is."

His complete trust and confidence is in God and God alone. I think it is easy to loose sight of the fact that God is still God and He is still in control. Many times it's easier to rely on the hand of man than it is to have complete trust in the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "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."

If it was easy to completely trust in God everyone would be doing it, but it requires a life of faith and most do not want to pay that price.

The blessing from living this lifestyle are clear:

1. Like a tree planted by the waters.

2. Spreads out its roots.

Life will be deeply rooted and planted, you will have a strong base. Roots will go deep.

3. Not see and fear when heat comes.

You will be oblivious to the distresses in the earth and there will be no fear.

4. Leaf shall be green.

Your life will be full.

5. Not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought.

You will not suffer with anxiety or care in the times of testing and judgment on the earth.

6. Not cease to yield fruit.

Fruitful life.

prayer:

Dear Jesus thank You for Your wonderful Word. I pray that we will all desire to be planted in You and You will teach us to Trust completely and to rely entirely on You and Your Word. That we will not lean on our own understanding but we will put our confidence entirely on God and Him alone. Thank You Father. In Jesus name, amen.

One man sat alone...

"...The blind man said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.' 'Go,' said Jesus, 'your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."

Mark 10:51-52

Recently I've been meditating on this portion of Scripture. Its the story of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). As Jesus passed through Jericho a blind man kept calling out His name, Jesus stopped and said to call him. Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" and Bartimaeus said, "Rabbi, I want to see." Immediately he received his sight and Jesus replied, "your faith has healed you."

What has stood out to me is that Bartimaeus was specific in his request. All throughout the Scriptures when Jesus healed people, they were specific with their requests. The Centurion said, "Lord my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." (Matthew 8:6) The man with Leprosy came and begged the Lord that He would make him clean of his leprosy. (Mark 1:40-42)

The Lord desires that we are specific in our asking, we cannot just haphazardly pray with no direction. Even as earthly fathers we desire for our children to be specific in their asking (even though I'm not a father yet). If I say, "Son, what would you like for lunch?" and he replies, "whatever." I'm sure that drives a parent crazy. The Lord wants us to be specific in our asking, He gets all the glory when we know that only He could have answered our prayer.

prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus I praise You, I thank You that You have given us Your Word that leads and guides us daily. I pray that You will help us to understand that You are a God who desires to bless His children and answer their prayers, help us to be specific with You because You certainly were specific when You gave Yourself for us on the Cross. I praise You, amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=756KQx3qbKY

His power within

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

What is His power that is at work within us? It is the power of the Holy Spirit to understand and grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Eph. 3:18). We cannot grasp the love of Christ with our minds, it is too wide and long and high and deep. That is why Unbelievers can't understand why we love Christ and would give our lives to serve Him. They think we are crazy, but once you understand the incredible love of Christ, not with your mind but your heart then you would be willing to do anything for Him.

The apostle Paul says that we are rooted and established in love. In Christ's love for us. His love is unmeasurable, there is no end to it! The more we comprehend His love in our inner man the more we become strengthened in Him and filled with Him. "And to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (vs 19)

I remember the first time I experienced the love of Christ. I was 19 years old, I was sitting in a small church in eastern Pennsylvania. There was a visiting preacher from Ghana, Africa. After he shared the message he gave an altar call for those who wanted to come and dedicate their lives to Jesus. I went forward and he prayed for me, a few moments later I went and sat down in a chair, as I sat there, I began to cry. It was as if Jesus was sitting in the chair in front of me, I remember feeling sorry for my sins and I cried because of the way I had treated Jesus. His love was so great as I wept in repentance for my lifestyle. For the first time I understood His love, not from my head but from my heart. - Lord Jesus I love You

prayer:

Jesus thank You for Your immeasurable love, that is so wide and long and high and deep. Your love that no one can comprehend unless You reveal it to them through Your Holy Spirit. Lord take my life once again and make all Yours, that I will serve You and honor You with everything. I love You Jesus, Amen.

PS. I pray for you that if you have struggled to understand or maybe have never truly understood the love of Christ, I pray that you will be strengthened in your inner man to know His love for you.