7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 12 In your unfailing love silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Perhaps the greatest demonstration of complete trust in God one can show is found in verse 10. It is when we are willing to actually change our lives and allow God (including Jesus his Son and the Holy Spirit) to dictate what is right and what is wrong and then live accordingly that we show faith in him. This is what James meant when he said that “faith without works is dead” and is what Paul meant when he said “we live by faith and not by sight.” Real faith means that we acknowledge that we don’t know what is best for us and our lives but that God does and then incorporate his will in us. This is why we are told that we must die to self, to sin, to this world and to our fleshly desires and then be born anew and become a new creation in Jesus Christ. It is only then that we can claim Jesus as our Lord (Master).

For too many, the idea of Christianity is being a “member” of a church and participating in the activities of this church – at least a little bit – and then thinking that this is serving God. Of course, when the church asks something of us that we don’t like or the preacher teaches something that would require change or it just doesn't fit our thinking we refuse to go along or just change churches. What we must do (if we really want to serve God) is study the scripture and see if the things being taught are of God. If they are, we must submit to God’s word and do it – whether we like it or not. If it is being taught but not found in God’s word, then we are perhaps in the wrong church to begin with and need to change. But the standard for our lives is not what we think or what the church teaches but what God says in his word.

Lord God, give me a heart of total submission to your will. Give me wisdom to understand your word and strength to apply it in my life. Help me to be more active in your work and support your church. I do understand that this fellowship of your people is where we can give and receive strength and encouragement. Use me to give others strength and to share your love and comfort and compassion so they will trust you. I pray in the name of Jesus.

May God bless each of us as we trust him more each day.