Sue’s Monday Morning Meditation Fierce Trust 06/24/2024
Trust means learning to move forward one step at a time.
Scripture:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Comments:
In preparation for each new year, I prayerfully ask God to give me a word or phrase to guide me through the upcoming twelve months. For the past few years, I have encouraged Listening on the Journey … readers to do likewise, and if they feel comfortable, share their word with me. The results have been rewarding.
In September 2023, I knew my word for 2024 would be DISCOVER. A primary thing I felt God was inviting me to discover was how to incorporate on a deeper level the commandment given by Jesus:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV)
At the beginning of 2024, readers started sharing their words, and the most common word by far was TRUST.
Personally, your guiding word has become a sort of adjunct word for me. I am DISCOVERING new ways to TRUST as well as awareness about my own challenges with how to incorporate TRUST into what Jesus said was the “first and greatest commandment.”
As a writer, words are vital. I know it’s weird, but hey, I spend a lot of time thinking about action verbs and imaginative adjectives! This explains why I thought obsessively for a few days after reading the adjective “fierce” used to describe TRUST.
When do I need “fierce” TRUST I asked myself? Perhaps when I sincerely believe I’m trusting, but:
· answers I receive don’t match prayerful requests I make.
· actions I take don’t result in outcomes I expect.
· vicelike tentacles of shame, regret, or fear seem to strangle my soul.
· hopes, dreams, goals—even my calling—seem out of reach.
· addictions, habits, strongholds, or diagnoses feel insurmountable.
· the sting of loss and throb of grief do not diminish like they’re “supposed” to.
Then I wonder. How do I TRUST?
Valid question with probably lots of good answers. But what comes to mind immediately after posing it to myself are more words of Jesus, these from the famous Sermon on the Mount.
Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 Amplified Bible)
Fierce TRUST is trust that persists. TRUST that does not give up despite obstacles, unanticipated circumstances, and preconceived notions. TRUST that keeps on keeping on!
Today’s meditation scripture is from wonderful, familiar words from Proverbs, which are inspirational but may be arduous to incorporate. I am learning TRUST, like all other spiritual disciplines and practices, develops slowly, and we all must grow into the ability to TRUST “with all your heart,” or TRUST fiercely.
Prayer:
Lord,
I believe words found in Scripture are true.
I believe you care when I keep on asking.
I believe you see while I keep on seeking.
I believe you hear as I keep on knocking.
Truly, Lord, I do believe!
Please help my unbelief; expand my understanding; and give me strength to persist?
Amen.
Reflection Question(s):
What is currently going on in your life that requires “fierce trust?” Is there a single thought or word in today’s meditation that might help you to keep on keeping on—to never stop asking, seeking, and knocking?
Blessings on your meditations this Monday!
