Trust And Doing Good (Psalm 37:3)

Not long ago, my family decided to rescue another dog.  My wife found a German Shepherd that had been hit by a car and left for dead.  After months of rehab, he was put on the internet for adoption.  What a handful this dog came to be.  You could not pet him, scratch behind the ear or attempt to rub his chest without jacking him up.  He was always on the defensive and ready to respond as a means of protecting himself.  It has been nearly six months now.  He is finally rolling onto his back (a very vulnerable position) and allowing us to interact physically without any major reactions.  The reason he allows this is because he has learned to trust us.

We are much the same.  We respond to problems in life so as to protect ourselves.  Much of the time, our responses only make life's problems worse.  It is only after we trust The Lord, that our actions become good or helpful to our situation.  Trusting The Lord and doing good always go hand and hand.  The one is a product of the other. (Psalm 37:3)

Doing good is easy when everything you need just falls into place.  However, some of the most difficult times to do good or to do right is when everybody else is doing wrong or when doing the right thing has a great cost associated with it.   Being financially faithful to God is easy when the bank account is robust, but when there is not enough to go around, doing good is difficult. This is true about other situations as well, but what can you do to keep yourself in the right?

Before responding to a situation in life, first stop and a speak to God letting him know that you are deciding to trust him.  Then ask that he guide your trusting heart to make the decisions that he wants so that you will not work against his mercy for your trial.  Trusting is the first step.  Without trust, the actions will be fruitless and not pleasing to The Lord.

If you would like to read more of these thoughts in a hard copy format, my new book is now available at the link below.

https://www.createspace.com/4441566

To view other posts or to receive this blog by email, sign up at     drafusco.wordpress.com

Being a Helper (Psalm 31:11-12)

Everybody is in the midst of dealing with trials.  We know that The Lord is the solution to their trial and God wants to bring them to the point of trusting him.  But what can we do for others as they face trials?  The Psalmist provides some insight.

I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. (Psalms 31:11-12)

David shares that as he faced trials, his neighbors saw him as a reproach and fled from him.  We do the same.  It seems that as soon as a person faces a trial, we wonder what the person did to allow such circumstances to occur.  Our first thoughts are that they must be under chastisement and this leads us to flee from them.  We hide behind words such as, "I'm praying for you" or "Just trust The Lord and he will lead you through".  All the while we believe what they really need is to get right with God.

If we as believers can get past this, we may be able to support such individuals and put ourselves into a position to make a difference in their lives.  We must determine that we will not view them as a reproach and flee from them.  We must decide to stand by them and provide the encouragement and support that they need.

In verse 12, the Psalmist indicates that these people are then forgotten.  Ask yourself, "Whom do I know that has experienced trouble, fallen away and been forgotten?"  Oh, you may remember who they are, but are they in your thoughts, minds, and prayers?  Decide today to be one of the rare few that will stand with those in trials and even the fallen.  By doing this, you will have the potential to make a great difference in people's live.

If you would like to read more of these thoughts in a hard copy format, my new book is now available at the link below.

https://www.createspace.com/4441566

To view other posts or to receive this blog by email, sign up at     drafusco.wordpress.com

Take Refuge (Psalm 28:7)

Some time ago, my wife and I were enjoying ourselves as we explored the capital city of the Dominican Republic.  We decided to rest and sit on the shore and watch a ship pass, but after some time, we noticed a storm coming in off of the coast.  Being intrigued by the sight, we lingered a bit too long and found ourselves caught in a down pour.  While holding hands, we scurried through the tiny streets of the city and finally found a small cafe to take refuge.  Needless to say, it wasn't any where nearly as romantic as the movies make it seem.  But regardless of the fact, we found refuge from the storm.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalms 28:7)

The psalmist declared that his heart trusted in The Lord.  By that, he was stating that when his trouble arose, he sought refuge in The Lord and subsequently The Lord gave him help.  God may not have necessarily removed the trouble, but he did bring help to his heart.  Sadly to say, but many believers as they face troubles do not immediately seek refuge in The Lord.  They struggle alone trying to battle the circumstances and become weary in the process.  God has never intended that to be.  He always wants us to abound in Christ and to experience joy and contentment regardless of the circumstances.

As you face trials, seek The Lord early.  He will be found and you will find refuge for your soul.

If you would like to read more of these thoughts in a hard copy format, my new book is now available at the link below.

https://www.createspace.com/4441566

To view other posts or to receive this blog by email, sign up at     drafusco.wordpress.com

Hold It Together (Psalm 27:14)

I remember when quite a few years ago, I was sitting in the heart station at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  My daughter was sitting on my wife's lap as they were completing the last preliminaries before her open heart surgery the next morning.  Each of us were on edge and doing our best to deal with the situation.  It was then that my daughter said her first word.  She turned her head, looked across the room at me and said, "Daddy."  Needless to said, I nearly fell apart.

The two options that we have when we face trouble are holding it together or falling apart.  Faith is what enables us to hold our hearts together.  When we lose faith or fail to exercise faith, our heart no longer binds itself together for The Lord and then we essentially cave in or fall under the circumstances of your trial.  However, our path to victory begins with just one step.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalms 27:14)

Waiting on The Lord and being of good courage are attributes of the heart.  We see this from the context of the verse and can understand that they essentially mean to bind the heart together and be emotionally strong.  When we have faith in The Lord to provide what we need and take that stand, God will strengthen our hearts.  We then have greater faith to take that same stand and God again strengthens our hearts.  The process repeats itself and this is what enables believers to overcome all obstacles and yet at the same time rejoice in The Lord.

You too can experience this victory.  It begins with one step:  hold your heart together by trusting in the goodness of The Lord.  After that, he will do the rest.