Obey and Trust

When I take notes during the sermon at church, sometimes the Holy Spirit may press a point with me a little differently than how the preacher approached it. Such was the case today. This message wasn't stated outright in the sermon, but it is related to what the pastor was saying. He was talking about when Jesus prayed in Matthew 26:39: "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." So often we make decisions based on the expected outcomes. But as people of faith, as children of the Most High God Whose ways are far higher than our ways, and Whose thoughts are far higher than our thoughts, it is up to us to obey His will and trust Him for the outcome. When Jesus looked ahead and saw the suffering and shame and death He would experience, he could have just said no. But I am so thankful that He didn't because it was His suffering and death and resurrection that purchased our salvation. He blazed a trail through death for all of us to follow. With Jesus as our example, let us strive to more closely live our lives according to God's will and not worry about what will happen as a result.

He's Present

When I was in elementary school, the teachers would call roll. When a name was called, that student would normally respond by saying, "Here." Sometimes instead of saying "Here" a student would say, "Present!" The meaning is the same. I am present. I am here.

Some of those same teachers taught us English, including the three tenses: past, present and future. Of course in that context, present means now.

Now think about Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." I haven't researched to see exactly what the Psalmist meant, but whenever I think about this verse, both of the definitions above come to mind.

God is our present help. He is here with us.

God is our present help. He is our help now.

No matter our situation, God is here with us now...and always. Amen!