Bible in One Year

How do I fully rely on God?

Perhaps the scripture which give both believers and seekers alike the most comfort is the 23rd Psalm. It begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” It is classic David – facing trouble from all sides but restating his reliance on the Lord and depending on that relationship to get him through.

Reliance and relationship. The Bible tells us on our faith walk we cannot have one without the other.

King David, the mighty warrior and king, begins his most famous psalm by affirming his reliance on the Lord as the cornerstone of their relationship. Notice how David acknowledges the role of the Lord. “He makes me, he leads me, he guides me, he refreshes me.”  He then switches his prose to address the Lord directly. “You are with me, you comfort me, you prepare a table for me, you anoint my head with oil.”

It appears David learned most of his relationship lessons the hard way. Psalms 25 and 26, among many others, record his response to many trials and challenges. He learned to rely on the Lord when times were tough. Isn’t that the way it is with us?

When we stumble and fall, not only is God there to pick us up, but He usually makes sure we learn a lesson or two along the way…if we are willing to listen.

Jesus faced many challenges in his ministry. I imagine the most frustrating thing for him was wondering whether or not his followers were really listening and wanted to have the relationship with God he was describing. Chapter 4 of the Gospel of Mark records his well-known parable on sowing seeds. He finished by saying, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” It seems he is also asking us, “You have ears. Do you really want to hear me and rely on me?”

Reliance and relationship. A friend of mine enjoys sending out pictures of frogs. They come in the mail with this explanation: F.R.O.G. – Fully Rely On God.