Learning to trust the LORD and follow His guidance is our main task and goal in this life. Everything else follows suit.

7 Now then, my children, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked [those who act with no regard for the LORD’s opinion and direction] ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. 23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly [actions based upon habit and not on the LORD’s guidance].

We all have fears and doubts. The world, whose god is Satan, offers us many illusions. We have feelings that betray us, so how do we know which feelings to trust? We need to learn to hear with spiritual ears and see with spiritual eyes. This illustration is used by God: Isaiah quoted Him (Isaiah 6:9-10), Jeremiah used it (Jeremiah 5:21), and Jesus quoted the Isaiah passage in Matthew 13:14-15. But, then He says, “But blessed are your [the disciples’] eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” He is referring to Him and His message, His words. We “see and hear” Him in the Scriptures. We need to see that God has a plan, that we are part of the plan, and that we need to be about that plan WITH Him.

We combat fear and doubt with the Word of God and with His presence. The Word is our truth and it gives us inside knowledge while His presence in our lives confirms that truth and helps us internalize it, act on it, and finally understand it. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 explains:

⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

1. The god of this age is Satan. Check it out in John 14:30 and Ephesians 2:2.
2. They cannot see the light because they love darkness (John 3:19).
3. That light is the Gospel, the good news about the kingdom of Christ being with us; it displays the glory of Christ, who is the exact representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
4. Paul and his cohorts preached Christ, and presented themselves as servants of His message.
5. God’s glory was displayed in the Creation of the World. The same power raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at God’s right hand (Ephesians 1:19-20). That power is represented as light in us, and gives us knowledge of God’s glory that is displayed in the face of Christ. WE get to gaze upon His face because He lives in us and we encounter Him all the time! All we have to do is look up and away from whatever has our attention.

Let’s make it all about Him today. Let’s read His Word as if our lives depended on it, which they do. As we read His Word, focus on what Jesus said and did, and on what the apostles want us to know about following Him. The Spirit will help us interpret what we need at our time of need (Mark 13:11). Remember my definition of folly: Actions based upon habit and not on the LORD’s guidance. Why is habit so important?

Trusting Him in one area helps us succeed in trusting Him in other areas. Likewise, failing to trust Him in one area causes us to fail in other areas.

Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” Luke 16:10. Let’s be faithful in all we have and do and say.

Abba, may You be honored today in our lives as we trust in You and follow You as we read, hear and obey Your counsel from Your Word. May Your counsel be our top priority today and Your will our greatest endeavor. We love You. Even in that, help us to show our love to You through our thoughts and actions, our words and deeds. Amen.