Here's the strategy...because the struggle is real.

Here's the strategy...because the struggle is real.

podcast: http://www.pastorwoman.com/…/dc5b24fb-5349-4c54-9d6f-d08188…

My mom used to say that 'bad things come in threes' - maybe she was right. In the last two weeks, I am battling my three. Don't miss the word 'battling' as I am putting up a good fight!

Times of trial offer great opportunities to see what we're made of, to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, 
'Do I have a deep trust in God ... or not?' 'Do I walk in that trust daily?' 
There is a lot at stake actually. Turns out our trust in God is a major factor in our contentment, joy and peace, (particularly when we are rocked by life's storms).

And so we remind ourselves of how big and how great is our God.

This morning I read David's words, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.1 And then I wrote it in my Moleskine journal, personalizing it: "God you are my refuge and strength, ever-present help ~ O thank you, God! Yes, you are - no matter what else is going on in and around my life.

Just eleven short verses in this song of David, and I guess I haven't ever felt quite so keenly about how fitting it is for life, or just how beautiful for situation.

I had a flashback of a purple mimeographed sheet with my memory verse on it, "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love 
endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations..."2

We trust God, we do believe he is able, but the challenge is to keep his promises uppermost in our minds as we go throughout our day-at work, at home, in our vehicles, on very difficult phone conversations, wherever we find ourselves. Is there a solution to increase our awareness of his presence and involvement in our lives? Because I've got to tell you, I can be ever so sure, ever so aware, and then some aspect of life crashes down and boom!--my God-trusting mental peace is threatened.

Is there some other way of living so I am not the flimflam man? Yes, I believe so.

Here's the Trust Plan:

1. 15-Minute Resolution. Appoint 15 minutes for God each morning. Whatever it takes, get up, read scripture, pray/communicate with the Lord. Ask God to refill you with his Spirit, to renew and increase your faith in him. In your fifteen minutes, choose a galvanizing scripture to memorize as easy recall of truth is fundamental in maintaining healthy, wise thinking.

2. Visual Reminders. What reminds you of God's faithfulness? A picture, a word, or a verse that will instantly center you on the Rock, rather than the shifting sand of circumstances.
~Post-it notes? 3 x 5 cards? Screen-savers or cellphone wallpaper? Or rocks/stones? Have you read Joshua 4 lately?
Read: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…

3. Consumption Awareness. Is your media intake helpful? I love what Paul said on this, (certainly pertaining to more than just media): "Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.3 Recently, a woman told me her mood was actually impacted by how many 'likes' she had on Instagram . . . wait, what?

Consider how you feel, what you think about after you listen to that, or watch such and such a thing? Are you better for your time engaged on that website or... activity?

4. Do not be an island. We need to be in community, we were made for it.
Get intentional: associate, communicate and affiliate with other faith-filled Christ followers-especially positive, optimistic ones, who talk openly about their faith, and who really do live as though they know God is Able, he is good, he is always at work, and he has a plan.

God is more than able, and if you are like me, you want to live like you really believe that. You really want to live in trust
... so now you've got your very own Trust Plan.

And I'm back on the horse again!

Christine

PastorWoman.com

1 - Psalm 46.1
2 - Psalm 100.5
3 - 1 Corinthians 10.23, HCSB