Absolute Trust
Those who enter into God’s presence must enter in through personal abandonment and absolute trust. Trust is required before we can abandon ourselves. Absolute means pure and free from any restrictions. Absolute is unquestionable, foundational, elemental, and remarkable… exceptional without deviation from the exacting standard. Trust is assured reliance on God and the truth of His word. Trust is to rely on the truth that God is faithful to his word.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Evidence is the assurance, the convincing empirical tangible proof. Doubting Thomas said, “I won’t believe that Jesus was resurrected until I put my finger into the wound in his side and into the imprints of the nails.” Jesus answered Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said unto him, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus saith unto him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
A relationship with our Heavenly Father through his son, our Lord Jesus Christ is a supernatural reality. This relationship begins with trust. To trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding is the prerequisite to our spiritual relationship. To trust in the Lord means that I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which he’s committed to me against that day of righteous judgement.
John McArthur said our faith must be tried in the crucible of life. In the heat of the purifying fire, we’ll come to know that God alone is our sufficiency. The crisis will reveal that we cannot overcome the trial in our own power. He alone is able to deliver.
Warren Wiersbe said that our Lord Jesus Christ is superior to the powers of this world. To be able to trust in the Lord we need to be able to see according to the spiritual perspective of Christ’s eyes behind our eyes.
Part of trusting in the Lord is to allow God to “call an audible.” He’s in charge of his plan but we’re not. Pete recalls that at a retreat, the retreat leader Mike Lennon had left a pad and pencil at the tables prior to the morning session. Mike asked Pete, what are we doing in the morning session? Pete realized he didn’t know. When everyone took their seat Pete ad libbed, “you have a pad and pencil on the table before you. Write a letter to God and tell him what’s on your heart. Then listen for God to respond back. Write down the letter from God that he dictates back to you.” The next two hours were the most meaningful two hours of the entire retreat. Men wept as they shared their personal letters from God.
Personal abandonment means to allow the Holy Spirit to come help himself to our lives. The question God asks is, “no matter what happens, will you still purpose in your heart to honor and praise me?” This is the question God asked Pete as he was waiting in the Father’s waiting room. Pete had been ushered out of the delivery room when the doctors had said, “you need to leave. We’re losing the baby’s heartbeat.” Pete prayed and searched his heart. He said, Lord you know my heart. No matter what happens, I’ll still honor, love and praise you.” Then the doctor came into the waiting room and said, “I’m sorry but we lost the baby.”
The devil will use circumstances and the trials of life tempt us to doubt the love of God and the word of God. According to Romans 5, tribulation worketh patience and patience experience, and experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
It’s much easier to do something than to trust in the Lord. God doesn’t need our good works. He’s all powerful and is in charge of all things. Trusting allows us to abide in him by aligning our heart with God’s heart. When we place our hearts inside of God’s love then he will work in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. For there is nothing in this life that really matters except believing that works in love. (Galatians 5:6)
Therefore, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths…
…that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
