Devotional for March 28

Trust in the Lord 

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Psalm 31:13-16, 19-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

God speaks. The hour will come when all will hear. However, right now He has given us the choice to obey or ignore His voice. Some don’t hear God because they don’t believe He will speak to them. Others don’t hear God because they fear being thought of as crazy. Still others don’t hear from God because they don’t want to hear what He has to say to them. A personal word from God would likely be too hard to hear for the soul who doesn’t already love the written word of God. The written word of God is the seed that when sown in the heart is able to save the soul. The roots must first be strengthened, and then the leaves and buds come before the fruit. Even though much of the growth you won’t see, keep working for the eternal gains to which you have been called in Christ Jesus. We persevere in strength, courage, and the assurance of faith because Almighty God, who has commanded us to be so, is forever faithful.

Question

Why is trust in the Lord so important?

Answer

Because the wheat that doesn’t trust the Lord will never fall into the ground to be made fruitful. The soul that lacks trust in the Lord, will never consent to be sown (John 12: 20-26). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep me both outwardly in my body and inwardly in my soul, that I may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer