Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Psalm 118:8-9 – Refuge In The Lord – Growing As Disciples
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:8-9 (NIV)
Your Trust
You have a choice to make. What kind of choice do I have to make? You have a choice of trusting in me or you have a choice of trusting in someone or something else. That seems like a clear and easy choice to make. It does, really? Have you always chosen to trust in me? No, I have not always trusted in you. I thought you said you had a clear and easy choice to make. I did. Just because I said the choice was clear and easy to make does not mean that I have always made it. Perhaps the choice is not as easy as you think. Probably so, otherwise I would have always made it.
Who have you chosen to trust in when you haven’t chosen to trust in me? I have chosen to trust in myself. I have thought that I did not need your wisdom or instructions or guidance. I have thought that I knew where to go and what to do, without your help. I have been self-sufficient. I have been self-centered. I have been strong willed and independent. I have been stubborn and determined and certain. How has all that worked out for you? Being self-reliant has never served me well. Being self-sufficient has often led to disaster. Why is that? I don’t know it all. I can’t see the future. I haven’t known where I should go and what I should do in life. So, I have made a lot of mistakes. I have taken wrong turns. I have gone where I should not have gone and done what I should not have done. I have wasted time and energy and resources when I have trusted in myself. That’s not good. No, it is not.
What else have you trusted in when you haven’t chosen to trust in me? When I haven’t trusted in you, I have also chosen to trust in other things or people. Like what? Like who? Well, I have trusted in money. I have trusted in power and prestige and influence. I have trusted in my own education and training. I have trusted in my own gifts, talents and resources. I have trusted in family and friends. I have trusted in people who I thought were older and wiser and smarter than me. You name it, I have tried trusting in it. What have you found out? I have found out that you are the only one worthy of all my faith and hope and trust. Sooner or later everything and everyone other than you will fail me. There is not one thing or any other person worthy of all my faith and hope and trust. You will never fail me. You will never forsake me. You are my rock. You are my fortress. You are my deliverer. I can take refuge in you. Yes, you can. That is what I will do. That will be very good.
Lord, I have trusted in many people and in many things. No one and no thing is worthy of my faith and trust. You alone are my place of refuge. When the storms of life come, I know that I will not be disappointed for having placed all my faith and trust in you. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Guidance – Psalm 118-8-9 – Refuge In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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