Intro:

Training background

One of the things that I have found most valuable as a trainer, mentor, and coach in the business world is that people are much more successful when they understand what to do, why to do it, and how to do it.  As I was preparing for this message, that truth came to mind, and I realized that Christians can be much more successful in trusting God if we understood the what, the why, and the how.

Proverb 3:5 KJV

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

The What

What exactly does it mean to trust the LORD?

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Hebrew word that’s translated as trust in Proverbs 3:5 is batah (baw-tach), and it means to hide for refuge, to be confident or sure, be secure, make to hope.

Looking at the same verse, the Hebrew word that has been translated as LORD is Yehovah, This is the Jewish national name of God, and it means self -Existent or eternal.

So when we read “Trust in the LORD”, it literally means:

• Be confident in Jehovah, the self-Existent and Eternal One.
• Be sure in Jehovah, the self-Existent and Eternal One.
• Be secure in Jehovah, the self-Existent and Eternal One.
• Make your hope in Jehovah, the self-Existent and Eternal One.
• Hide for refuge in Jehovah, the self-Existent and Eternal One.

 

The Why

Now that we understand what it means to trust in the LORD, we need to know why we trust Him.

So, why should we trust God?

Here are a few reasons (not an exhaustive list):

1. He is perfect (complete, lacking nothing).

Psalms 18:30 KJV – As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.

Psalm 19:7a ESV –The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

2. He cannot lie.

“If God told you something it is going to happen.” – Minister Alfie James

 

Numbers 23:19a ESV – God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind.

Hebrews 6:18b ESV – it is impossible for God to lie.

3. He is faithful (steadfast, dependable, worthy of trust).

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV – If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

4. He does not change.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

“He was faithful back then, He’s is faithful now and He is faithful in my future!” – Minister Alfie James

God is not a man!

Men let us down and break our trust, but we must understand that our Father God, our Daddy, is not like that.

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

It’s not just that he doesn’t lie, He cannot lie.

It’s not just that he doesn’t fail, He cannot fail.

It’s not just that He’s faithful when we are doing right, He’s always faithful.

Because He does not change, He will always be perfect.

Because He does not change, He will always be truth.

Because He does not change, He will always be faithful.

Because He does not change, He will never fail!

Who wouldn’t trust a God like that?

The How

Now that we know what trusting God means and few reasons why we should trust Him, the next question we must ask is, “How do I trust God?”

Decide –Proverbs 3:5

In this verse we are given a choice. You and I must choose to either trust in the Lord or lean on our own understanding.

“I love God because He always gives us choices.” – Minister Alfie James

The same way He set before us the choices between life or death, good or evil, blessing or cursing, He sets before us trusting in Him  or leaning on your own understanding. There are no other options.

God will not make the decision for you. He sets the decisions before you and makes the correct answer plain, but you must choose.

Take an assessment. Have you chosen to trust in the Lord?

In your daily life, in difficult times, or in good times, have you been putting your weight on or holding yourself up by what you know or by what you have experienced? If so, you have been leaning on your own understanding, and not trusting in the Lord.

If that’s where you’ve been, you can make a course correction. Decide today, make up your mind, to trust in the Lord.

Declare – means to make known or state clearly.

Now that our minds are set on trusting in the Lord, you and I must open our mouths and begin to state clearly that we trust in the Lord.

Why? Because faith comes by hearing according to Romans 10:17.

The more we say “I trust in the Lord”, the more we believe it. The more we believe “I trust in the Lord”, the easier it will be to apply, to actually trust in Him.

Psalm 91:2 KJV – I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

Let’s declare that together: I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

This is not a one-time declaration. The word “will” in this sentence is in the present continuous tense. This means the action is happening now and will happen in the future.

Today, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

In good times, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

When situations arise, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

When calamity strikes, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

In every circumstance, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

Develop – build up our knowledge of God’s trustworthiness.

In Colossians 3, Paul advises us to teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The Psalms are replete with verses on trusting God. If you run a web search of Bible verses for trusting God, you’ll find scriptures like:

Psalm 20:7 NIV – Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 31:14 ESV – But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God”.

Psalm 56:3 ESV – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 84:12 ESV – LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 125:1 ESV– Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Psalm 28:7 ESV – The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.

Hymns and Spiritual Songs

‘Tis So Sweet – Hymn

I Will Trust in the Lord – Rev. C.L. Franklin feat. Aretha Franklin

I Will Trust in You Always – Gary Oliver

Everlasting God – William Murphy

Trust in You – Anthony Brown

Who You Were – Travis Green

Also search and study scriptures and songs that tell of God’s might, power, love, faithfulness, and all His many wonderful attributes. As you feed your faith in God, you will develop trust in God.

Demonstrate – walk it out; put it into practice.

When the test, trial, situation, circumstance, diagnosis, pink slip, bad report, or whatever comes, TRUST IN THE LORD!