Introduction

Good morning, church family! I'm excited to be with you today as we delve into God's Word together. We're going to be hanging out in the Old Testament, specifically in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Joshua 24:15. These passages remind us of the importance of trusting in the Lord, making wise choices, and standing firm in our faith.

Thomas Brooks once said, "We trust as we love, and where we love. If we love Christ much, surely we shall trust him much." That's what we're going to be exploring today.

Our text from Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

And from Joshua 24:15, "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Let's begin with a word of prayer.

Father, thank you for your Word that guides us and gives us light. Open our hearts and minds to receive your wisdom today. Help us to trust in you more deeply, to choose wisely, and to stand firm in our faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Alright, folks, let's dive in.

Trust in the Lord

Trusting in the Lord is a theme that echoes throughout the scriptures, from the Old Testament to the New. The Hebrew word for trust, batach (בָּטַח), carries the idea of confidence, security, and being carefree. It's a picture of a baby in its mother's arms, safe and secure, without a care in the world. That's the kind of trust we're called to have in our Heavenly Father.

Not a passive acceptance of whatever comes our way: It's an active, intentional choice to place our confidence in God, to rely on Him, and to believe that He is who He says He is. It's a decision to let go of our need to control, to understand, and to have all the answers, and instead, to rest in the knowledge that God is in control, that He understands, and that He has all the answers.

When we trust in the Lord: We acknowledge that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We recognize that while we see only a small part of the picture, God sees the whole thing. He sees the end from the beginning. He knows what's best for us, even when we don't understand it.

Believing in His goodness and His love for us: It means believing that He is for us, not against us, that He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). It means believing that even in our darkest moments, God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Not always easy: It can be especially challenging when we're going through difficult times, when we're facing uncertainties, or when things don't go the way we planned. But that's when trust becomes even more crucial. That's when we need to lean on God, not on our own understanding. That's when we need to remember that God is faithful, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that He will see us through.

A daily, ongoing process: It's something we need to practice and cultivate. It's something we need to choose, again and again, every day. And as we do, we'll find that our trust in God grows. We'll find that our faith becomes stronger. We'll find that we're able to face whatever comes our way with confidence and peace, knowing that our God is with us, that He is for us, and that He will never let us down.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about a time when you had to trust in the Lord, even when it was difficult. How did this affect your life and your faith?

Choose Wisely

Choosing wisely is not just about making decisions that benefit us in the short term, but about making choices that align with God's will and purpose for our lives ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO