I was on my back porch the other morning praying about my father-in-law’s eminent passing. He had asked me to preach his memorial service and I was asking God’s help to please give me wisdom on what to say and how to say it. The great old hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” came to my mind, and I started to sing it: “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.” And the chorus goes: “Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness Lord, unto me!” I do believe that Naomi’s dad really believed this. Don’t get me wrong, he had plenty of weird ideas and certainly some of them were doozies, but I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt he thought that God had shown him that he should do whatever he did.
Then I got me to thinking, “Do I really believe that God is that faithful?” I mean, I can trust Him for my eternal life. I can trust in Him that I am saved by the Blood of the Lamb. But can I trust Him for the everyday ins and outs of life? Do I trust Him to meet my everyday needs? Can I really put Matthew 6:33 into practice? When things are getting a little tight financially do I fret or believe Him to be faithful?
David wrote in Psalm 62:1 & 2, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” David knew that his God was going to take care of him. He knew that no matter what happened that he didn’t need to be shaken. Did he ever get shaken? Oh you bet, but David also knew that when he did get shaken he could run to God and He would defend David. Read what he wrote in the verses 5-8: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” “Pour out your hearts to Him,” David says! That’s where that relationship starts with God, from pouring out our hearts to Him and allowing Him to help us. Allowing Him to lead us. Allowing Him to love us like His children.
Please let me know if you need anything. Naomi and I love you all. -Pastor Steve