10 BENEFITS WE GET IF WE ASK AND TRUST GOD
Let us look today at ten benefits we get if we trust God.
The are many more benefits and promises described through out the Bible.
But we will look only at one Psalm today. Psalm 23.
Let us look first at four bad, negative consequences
if we do NOT trust God so that we can avoid them:
1 – I start claiming credit
for things God did in me, through me, to me, by me, with me, for me.
It brings a lot of stress now and a judgement of God later.
Read Acts 12:21-23. It says King Herod did not give God any credit. He was struck with a deadly disease and Herod died.
The sin of prideful ingratitude is a deadly sin. The remedy is, honor and thank God, daily.
And the reason of the end of the earth, being described in 2 Timothy 3:2 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy…, is clear.
2 – We stop asking God for help.
It is a big problem.
The Bible many times repeats, ASK, God wants to help you. Do not do it with your own strength.
Depend on God and life will be easier for you. You have not because you do not ask.
Practice prayer everyday and you will learn how to ask and depend on God.
If you do not express your needs to God you are not growing in trust in Him.
Believe in the power of prayer and God’s goodness.
I, personally, turn to God often during the day and He helps me. As a result I have an easy life.
3 – We stop trusting God in difficult times.
We forget how good God is.
Romans 5:3 reminds us that we can have joy even in troubles because problems are good for us,
for they produce patience, character, hope and make us stronger.
And Romans 8:28 confirm that God in everything works for the good of those who love Him.
When I was paralyzed, dying in pain of cancer I turned to God and I could handle pain and humility with dignity.
4 – We become pessimistic about the future.
It means we loose hope.
We can loose hope only if we do not believe that God is always there to help us, no matter what we have done.
David in Psalm 27:13-14 says that he would have despaired if he had not faith in God’s goodness.
And he waited for the Lord.
Do you wait for the Lord and ask Him first, to help you?
If you are fighting despair, discouragement, doubt I would suggest to do two things:
REFOCUS.
Take your eyes from the problem and try to remember what God has done for you so far.
Count your blessings and thank God for them.
HOPE.
Hope is anticipation for God’s goodness.
God wants to give but you have to turn to Him. It is the principle.
Now, let us count the benefits we will receive IF WE TRUST GOD !
(the only condition to get those benefits; more you trust more you get)
All those promises we find in Psalm 23. Read it.
God wants to give you those benefits and more, IF YOU TRUST HIM:
1. LIFE OF SUSTENANCE
God will meet all my needs when I worry – The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.
2. LIFE OF BALANCE
God will teach me how to relax when I am stressed-
He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.
3. LIFE OF RESILIENCE
God will replenish my strength when I am empty – He restores my soul.
4. LIFE OF GUIDANCE
God will guide me when I am confused – he guides me in the right path for his name sake.
5. LIFE OF CONFIDENCE
God will walk with me in my dark and fearful days –
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
6. LIFE OF ASSURANCE
God will protect me when I feel insecure – Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
7. LIFE OF INFLUENCE
God will show His favor, grace on my life – You prepare a banquet for me in front of my enemies.
8. LIFE OF ABUNDANCE
You anoint my head with oil. My cup-life overflows.
9. LIFE OF BENEVOLENCE
God will be good to me no matter what happens – surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.
10. INHERITANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
God will take me to His Kingdom in Heaven for eternal Life –
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I think every one needs what God has to offer. And Who is that good Shepherd?
The only One: JESUS, He says in John 10:11
“ I am the Good Shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.”
Let us turn to God every day and ask Him and trust Him, for our own benefit.
I testify that I received all those promises and I live life of Joy, Peace and love NOW.
Thank be to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
