(Isaiah 26:3 KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. We have been looking at Isaiah 26:3 for a few days. The prophet teaches us that there is a clear connection between trusting God and the peace we can maintain when we keep our eyes fixed and focused on Him. Today’s message flows in the same vein. Let’s close out the week with a message on why trusting God matters.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Trusting God matters because divine projects face spiritual opposition.
a. If you are truly doing what God told you to do, the kingdom of darkness will do all it can to cause you to give up.
b. Satan knows he cannot defeat God, but he also knows you can stop yourself. Let me explain. If you are doing what God told you to do and His grace is ON you to do it, satan cannot stop you, because he cannot stop God. But if satan can slow the project down, make the project harder than you expected, and cause people to rise up against you, then you might give up. If you give up, the project is over and you lose. However, satan did not stop you, you stopped yourself. You gave up before harvest time.
c. When you are doing what God told you to do, the project will be far too big for you to accomplish without Him. This is why you must trust Him and trust the process.
d. Opposition is not always an indication that you are OUTSIDE the will of God. You can be in the center of God’s will when “all hell breaks loose”. This is why you must learn to trust God through the opposition.
2. Trusting God matters because divine projects often take longer than human plans.
a. Unfortunately, most of the time our watches are not set to God’s timing. We make plans, we set deadlines, we have schedules, but remember, the enemy gets a vote. Opposition from the kingdom of darkness often causes believers to miss deadlines on divine projects, but this is when you must trust God. When you trust God you press through any setbacks.
b. It’s easy to trust God and give Him praise when everything happens how and when you want it to happen. But you must maintain your trust in God when things don’t pan out the way you wanted. God is still God and the project will still get done.
3. Trusting God matters when you get to the end of your rope.
a. What do you do when the project is taking longer than you expected? You trust God. What do you do when the project is much harder than you expected? You trust God.
b. If you have the faith to venture out to perform God-sized projects, you most certainly will need to add trust to your faith when you face challenges and setbacks.
c. If you have the faith to attempt a God-sized project a day will come when you feel like you have done all you can. At that moment you must simply enter into God’s rest. If it is a God-sized project, then God knows you CAN’T do it without Him. He never asked you to. He asked you to believe Him. You provide the faith, He will provide the grace, and the project will get done.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. In this season I renew my focus, my faith, and my trust. I accept divine assignments. I release my faith to attempt God-sized projects. Going in, I know I CAN’T do what You call me to do without You, so I won’t even try. When opposition comes, I know it is an attack against You and Your plans. So I don’t take it personal and I keep going. My job is not to DO it, but to believe YOU can do it THROUGH me. I keep believing. I trust You. I never give up. I never cave in. I never quit. No matter how hard, no matter how long, I maintain perfect peace because my eyes are stayed on You and I trust You! I will get it done! Not by my power, but only by Your grace! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
