Trust

When Doubts Arise…Faith Can Overcome

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“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:29-31 NIV

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“20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]“

Matthew 17:20-21 NIV

(This photo was taken on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Trust…Commit

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“Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalms 37:3-4 NIV

Believe that God is at work even when you cannot see it

Stay focused on the good things

Keep going, keep doing the next right thing to do

Do not be afraid and do not give up

Commit your way to the Lord

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Choose Faith Over Worry

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“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”

Hebrews 11:7 NIV

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“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:31-34 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

He Will Renew Their Strength

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9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

When you become tired and weary…frustrated and exasperated…

Looking for answers everywhere and your mind is swirling with questions…turn towards the Lord

Focus on Him, bring Him your worries and your burdens…

He will help to quiet your mind and bring peace to your spirit

The Lord is a refuge for those who seek Him and nothing in this world can take His place

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“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Today Is The Day

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“This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 NIV

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

Matthew 6:11 NIV

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“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)

Look For God In All Things

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12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 NIV

In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph is an example of what it looks like to trust God at all times

Joseph suffers many hardships at the hands of others and yet keeps his faith in God

He trusts God and lives his life with a God honoring attitude and perspective even on the most difficult days

This attitude focuses more on what God is up to for our good and less on what others are doing to us

We have a much better chance of learning about what God is up to if we are looking for God in all things

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Listen…Do What It Says

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“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24 NIV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35 NIV

Father God, give us courage to seek Your Word and to listen to Your guidance

Grant us wisdom to recognize the difference between what we think is best and what Your will is for our lives

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

James 1:22-25 NIV

(This photo was taken on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Courage

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

A life if faith is not easy and we were never promised it would be…

In fact the Bible is clear that we all will face troubles in this world

Everyone is facing a battle of some kind and it takes courage to stand in faith and live with God at the center of your life

God knows our difficulties and struggles and Jesus lived as a man on earth for over 30 years and knows all too well the ways of the fallen world

Turn towards Jesus Christ, trust in Him to guide your life and stand firm on the foundation of your faith

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Don’t Stop Praying

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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness[b] be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7 CSB

Do not give up…

The Lord hears our prayers and His way is better than our ways

We must learn to be patient and persistent

No matter how long you have been praying about something and you haven’t seen a change…don’t quit…keep praying…believe

Many people fall away from God because He does not work on our time lines

Remember He is God and He knows what is best for us even if we can’t see it

Trust Him in everything

Don’t Stop Praying by Matthew West

Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey

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“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in Plymouth, Minnesota)

Trust

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Father God, when we are anxious and afraid, we will put our trust in You

We will rely on You no matter what comes our way because You are our source of strength and safety

You guide us and You fight for us

When we draw near to You, we have nothing to fear, because we know that You are in control

We know You will never leave us or abandon us and so we put our trust in You

In Jesus name, Amen

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken on a trail in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)