Trust with Your Whole Heart!
I am so glad that you joined us to read the post today. Trust is an important issue for believers. Today we will look at what it means to truly trust and why it is so important. Is it always easy? No, however, what we will see today is that He is always trustworthy! Eric
Looking at Mark 12:30, we see Jesus answered a scribe in this way when asked, “What is the first commandment of all?” Jesus replied, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The first thing I want you to notice is indeed, this is a command. Jesus said, “You shall…”
The phrase, ‘love the Lord your God’ is calling us to exclusive loyalty and love (agapao). Note, He said ‘your’ God. Your relationship with God should be personal. The word ‘love’ means to “love whole heartedly, unconditionally and devotedly. ‘With all your heart’ implies a deep sincere and undivided affection and commitment.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). Love ‘with all your soul’ means with all of your breath, spirit, essence or life force . “This reflects the understanding that one’s life and existence are to be wholly dedicated to God.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). Love ‘with all your mind’ means “with all understanding, thought, reasoning and with conscious allegiance.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). Then, ‘with all your strength’ means “with all your might and power, or with all your active vigorous devotion and physical capabilities.'“ To ‘love God with all of your strength’ includes with “every physical, mental, financial and societal resource under one’s control.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).
Our relationship with God is not intended to be a casual one. God desires to fill every part of us. He is to be the very center of who and what we are. We are not to withhold any part of ourselves from Him. As we develop our relationship with God through the study of His Word, communicating with Him in prayer and learning to worship Him as He deserves, we will come to know and love Him intimately. Why is that so important?
Dr. Henry Cloud teaches that ‘trust’ is a principle with five components needed to ‘trust’. The number one foundational step in developing a trusting relationship with someone is “understanding.” In our relationship with God, that means we have to learn and understand who God is. Knowing the Word of God (in which God reveals Himself to us) and developing a personal relationship by spending time with Him is essential for us to come to trust Him.
Secondly, “motive” is the next component necessary for trust to be established. When we know that God’s motives concerning what He does and provides for us originates from His love and righteousness, then, knowing that He loves us, fosters our trust in Him.
The third component is “expertise.” Nobody is a better expert concerning the workings of the world around us than the One who created it!
Fourthly, a person’s “character” is a huge aspect of our potential to trust them. What is God’s character or nature? He is love and loves unconditionally, doesn’t lie, has no evil in Him and exemplifies love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He is totally dependable and trustworthy! (Titus 1:2;1 John 4:8; 1 John 1:5; Galatians 5:22 and 23).
Then, the fifth component or factor we look at to know whether or not we can trust someone is their “track record.” We look at what they have done. We want to know if they are trustworthy. Do they have a history of behaviors that are selfish, hurts others, causes pain, injures, betrays or destroys? The Word of God is full of God’s track record. We read and learn that when man needed help in restoring his fractured relationship with God. God, Himself, provided the only avenue possible for that relationship to be restored - through the death of His one and only Son, Jesus. Amazing!
Knowing all of that, we can understand better the motive Paul had as he prayed for new believers in Colossians 1: 9-12 (CSB), “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light.”
‘Knowledge’ (epignosis) in verse 9 “denotes the fullest and clearest knowledge of God’s will.” ‘Walk worthy of the Lord’ in verse 10 describes a “radical commitment of will, affection and disposition to pleasing Christ.” (Textural notes NSFLB).
For added understanding and clarity of verse 9, we will look at insight given in the Bible Hub Study Bible. The phrase ‘asking God to fill you’ means “asking Him to completely saturate you with divine knowledge and wisdom.” The phrase, ‘with the knowledge of His will’ denotes “not just intellectual knowledge but it involves a deep experiential understanding of God’s purposes.” Then, ‘spiritual wisdom and understanding’ “are gifts of the Holy Spirit which enables us to apply God’s will in practical ways.” Let’s put that all together and read verse 9 again with the added insight we gained. “For this reason, since the day we heard about this (about their love in the Spirit , verse 8), we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking God to completely saturate you with divine knowledge and wisdom, not just intellectual knowledge or wisdom but with a deep experiential understanding of God’s purposes with gifts of the Holy Spirit with enables us to apply God’s will in practical ways!
What a wonderful prayer! We should all pray this prayer for ourselves, our families and for all the body of Christ, world-wide!
Psalm 28:7 (NLT), (a psalm of David) reads, “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” In the Amplified Bible, this verse reads, “The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him.” ‘Heart’ (leb) is the center of anything, inner man, and figuratively means the feelings, the will and intellect. ‘Trust’ (batach), in this verse conveys trusting confidently. The verb (trust) expresses placing one’s full weight upon someone or something with calm assurance. To ‘trust’ is to have an unwavering confidence, to be secure and in regards to our relationship with God, it’s having a deep reliance on His faithfulness and provision. If anyone mentioned in the Scriptures knew God intimately and had that kind of trust in Him, David surely did! He was called a ‘man after God’s own heart’. (Acts 13:22). He had no doubt that God was trustworthy!
What about mankind? Many have felt it is easier and more convenient to put their trust or their confidence in their own knowledge, a powerful worldly leader or in their own riches.
The Word of God addresses this issue:
Proverbs 28:26 (NLT), “Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.”
Proverbs 29:25 (AMP), “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the LORD will be exalted and safe.”
Psalm 146:3 (NLT), “Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.”
Psalm 118:9 (CSB), “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in nobles.”
Proverbs 11:28 (NLT), “Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.”
Psalm 56:3 (CSB),” When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Make a deliberate choice to rely on God’s character and promises rather than succumbing to fear.
Psalm 3:5 (NLT), “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.” This verse references a time when David was fleeing from his son, Absalom, who had usurped the throne. Despite chaos and danger David found peace and rest illustrating a profound faith in God’s protection.
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
“Proverbs 3:5 provides us with essential wisdom about trust and reliance . At it’s core, this verse invites us to place or full confidence in God rather than depending solely on our own understanding. It acknowledges that we possess limited views and insights into the complexities of life. Life often presents us with situations that leave us puzzled and unsure which way to turn. Yet this verse reassures us that we do not have to rely solely on our reasoning. Instead we depend on the Lord’s wisdom and guidance.
When the verse instructs us to ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart,” it encourages us to engage fully with our emotions, will and thoughts. This trust is not a one-time action but a continuous decision we must make daily. ‘Leaning not on your own understanding’ symbolizes our active choice to turn to God in faith and surrender, when uncertainty arises. It reflects a heart posture of humility and recognition of God’s supremacy over our lives.” (christianity path.com).
We all have or will face painful things in our lives. You might have encountered a friend who betrayed you. Possibly you had a mate who was unfaithful. Maybe you’ve lost a parent or a child.
When we go through these difficult situations, we must decide whether we will trust God to get us through it or become angry and possibly walk away. Please hear this. “Peace is not an absence of trouble, but the presence of God.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).
I want you to understand, that even in the painful situations or seasons, He acts out of His loving righteous nature. We have and still can trust His omniscience…. realizing that He sees the end from the beginning, realizing that all things work together for good to those who love Him, realizing that He desires that all would be saved, and realizing that to be with Him is far better than remaining in the world. (Isaiah 46:10; Romans 8:28; 1 Timothy 2:4; Philippians 1:23).
Isaiah 57:1 and 2 (NIV) are very poignant Scriptures, “The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. 2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” “The removal of the devout individuals can be seen as a divine act of mercy, sparing them from impending judgment or calamity. God, in His sovereignty, sometimes chooses to protect His faithful servants by removing them from judgment.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).
We cannot put our trust in ourselves or other people - we all live in a fallen world and all are imperfect. We fail, we make mistakes and we, despite our best intentions, let people down. God though, is ever faithful. He always has your best in mind and does not make mistakes or fails.
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV), “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts (has an unwavering confidence, a deep reliance in His faithfulness, and a calm assurance) in You.”
No matter what our circumstances are, we can have peace that comes from our trust in Him.
My wife’s father was a wonderful man who deeply loved his family and God. After his funeral, although grieving, the family gathered around the piano at her mom’s house and was singing hymns. Her brother’s friend who was there, asked, “How can you do that"? You just buried your father.” Her brother’s response?
“We trust God!”
You can trust Him with your whole heart!
CSB Christian Standard Bible
NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible
NLT New Living Translation
NIV New International Version
NKJV New King James Version