During my quiet time with the Lord one morning recently, He began dealing with me about how every area of my life is affected by my willingness to trust Him consistently. The first thing He showed me was that our trust in Him can affect how we feel. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) says: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." If you lack peace today, I can tell you with certainty that it's because there is something or someone you are not trusting God with. Perhaps you are worried about your job situation, or you are concerned about your finances. Maybe there's a loved one of yours who has you fretting and fuming. Whatever it is, if you will entrust the matter to God, and choose to believe that He will work in the situation, you will experience His "perfect peace" as you wait on Him. The apostle Paul prayed: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 NIV) Placing your trust in God will not only fill you with supernatural peace and joy, but it will give you hope in seemingly hopeless situations. And when we are "overflowing with hope," there is nothing and no one that can keep us down.

Our trust in God can also affect our choices and decisions. It can make the difference between experiencing the Lord's perfect plans for our lives, and missing out on them entirely. Solomon wrote: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV) In every situation and circumstance, God wants us to put our wholehearted trust in Him, and resist relying on our own wisdom and insight. As we seek His will for us, asking and believing for His direction, He will guide and guard our every step. Only then can we always be in the right place at the right time. Otherwise, we will miss out on the "divine appointments" that He has ordained for us in the course of our daily living. And we will suffer lack and deprivation, instead of receiving the provision He has for us.

Our level of trust in God will determine how much He can bless us. Proverbs says: "He who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed." (Proverbs 28:25 AMP) The NIV translation says: "Those who trust in the Lord will prosper." When we humbly rely upon God to supply all our needs, and fully believe that He desires to provide for us, God's blessings in our life will overflow. Included in those blessings are divine care, safety, and protection. Scripture states: "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." (Nahum 1:7 NIV) When my husband, Joe, had a serious heart attack several years ago, I claimed this verse as I sat in a hospital waiting room. I told the Lord that I was putting my trust in Him to keep my husband in His care, as the doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to save his life. As a result, even the hospital staff was amazed at Joe's miraculous recovery. When trouble comes, the best thing we can do is to place our trust in God, and confess our dependence upon Him.

There's a verse from the Message Bible that sums up what I have learned and experienced in the years that I have walked closely with the Lord: "Things work out when you trust in God." (Proverbs 16:20 MSG) I believe the Lord is using this message today to urge you to put your trust in Him and His Word. I encourage you to take a leap of faith, and open the door to the untold blessings He has in store for you!

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my doubts, fears, and unbelief, and guard me from being "double-minded". Give me a trusting heart, and help me to cooperate with You for the increasing of my faith. Thank You for teaching me how to pray prayers of faith that will change lives and circumstances for Your glory!