Church,
To say a lot is going on would be a gross understatement. Not only are there many things going on in our world, culture, and society, but A LOT is also happening in our lives. Times are changing, and if we ever needed the Lord, we sure do need Him now!
Amid everything that is going on, the Word of God helps us during changing times. Psalm 37 assures us that God sees everything we are going through. And He gives us clear instructions on what to do when life is a mess we can't control.
Just the commands in the first few verses are encouraging:
Do not fret…Be not envious…Trust in the Lord…Delight yourself in the Lord…Commit your way to the Lord…. Rest in the Lord…Do not fret. And that's just the first eight verses!
Then there are the rewards promised to those who trust: Evildoers will fade…God will give you the desires of your heart…Your righteousness will shine as the light…The Lord will sustain you…Your inheritance will be forever…You will not be forsaken.
WOW! That is encouraging. All of this, if we TRUST IN THE LORD. But how do we do that? I am so glad you asked. Here are five quick things that you can do to get started in placing your trust in the Lord:
Read the Word. God speaks to you through the Bible. If you're not reading something in the Bible every day, you will be lacking in direction, guidance, comfort, peace, and wisdom.
Pray. The Lord speaks to you through His Word, and you talk to Him through prayer. It's meant to be a conversation. God already knows what you're going through. But He still wants you to tell Him. Dump it into His hands, and He will give you His peace in exchange.
Tell others. God has not left His people alone on this earth. He has placed you and me into a family – the family of God called the Church. If you struggle to trust the Lord, find a member of our spiritual family to share. You cannot tell everyone, but you can tell one person.
Worship the Lord. Worship is not just for Sunday. You can and should worship the Lord every day. Spending time in worship helps you refocus on the One in control.
Serving others. There is always someone worse off than you are. You may be in difficult circumstances brought on by the loss of your job or marriage. Others may be facing homelessness, poverty, debt, or loneliness. Perhaps you're entering the season of parenthood and are scared. Or maybe the empty nest is on your horizon. Whatever your season looks like right now, spend some time serving others.
Let's also lift others in prayer. If you are having trouble thinking of someone to pray for, here is a short starter list from among our spiritual family:
Gloris Heard
Marco & Gennifer Redd
Clifton Jefferson
Candi Smith
Lastly, Lady Cortney and I, along with the girls, will take some much-needed vacation starting tomorrow. Please pray for traveling mercies and a safe and restful time away. I want to hear a great report from our Serve The City event THIS SATURDAY and our next Summer of Empowerment session: GET YOUR CHURCH RIGHT that Ps. Lisa Harrell will be leading next Sunday. There has been a great sense of community and love since being back in the building. Remember, Go with God, and He will go with you!
Blessings,
Ps. Devin
P.S
Did you know we are having a church picnic Sunday, July 31st, at the Church at 1 PM?
Lots of FUN, FOOD, & FELLOWSHIP. We can't wait to see you there!
