Trust in the Lord

Today's devotion wasn't written by me. It was written by my friend Lynette Pollock in 2002, and I would love to bless you with it today. Please read on....

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
A bright, blue sky background to white, puffy clouds...multi-colored evergreens covering the mountain like a blanket, and whispering to one another in the cool, crisp breeze...a wide, inviting sunbathed path, winding into the Sierra forest covered with a blanket of bright sparkling snow...now who wouldn't step onto that path for an exhilarating cross country dance through God's winter wonderland. You try to take it all in, experiencing all you can see, touch, smell, and sense.
Perhaps you have never been to the Sierras before, so you approach the path with some uneasiness, but the beauty of it so draws you that you become anxious for the adventure..so you step out...knowing the guide will lead you with confidence..for after all.. he forged the path and knows every detail and danger along the way, and he has said you can trust him.
Now let's imagine the same scenario, except we'll move the clock to dusk. The clouds that were white and puffy are now clinging to one another en masse and appear quite ominous...the breeze that was cool and crisp is now a frigid biting wind that has turned the evergreen whispers into a low, surround-sound roar. The guide urges you on, but you are having second thoughts, questions crowd your mind, misgivings about his ability, doubts as to his credibility. All at once, it hits you again, the guide forged this path, he knows the path. He can be trusted. He continues to encourage you with confidence.
You set aside your anxious thoughts and nervous feelings...you choose to believe the Guide...acknowledging that He is the creator of the path, the One knowing the conditions of the way and which way is best. as you abandon your own self sufficiency, self-dependence and self-reliance (lot of self there), and acknowledge His superiority and knowledge, trust is established. Then, with determination, you step onto the path, still dark and ominous, but with confidence that this path will be lighted by the Almighty Guide. Your walk of Faith has begun..enjoy the awesome journey!
The path in Lynette's own life changed several years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer. This devotion that she wrote years before her diagnosis, actually describes her life..the fact that even though the path in her life changed, the Guide never did..the fact that even when the things around her began to seem ominous, she could put our trust in the One who created the path, knowing that she could walk it through with confidence. Yesterday, that path led her right into the arms of her Savior. I can only imagine now the things that she must be seeing, the people that she must be hugging..but I know Lynette well enough to know that above anything else, she couldn't wait to see Jesus.
The Bible describes a path also..it says that there is a wide path that many people in this life take..but it's a path that leads to destruction..but there is also a narrow path which leads to eternal life..not as many people find that path..but beloved, the Lord who loves you, who knows the conditions of the way, and which way is best, is beckoning you today, to walk that narrow path. The Bible says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 ..It says that the payment for sin is death..Romans 6:23..but beloved..it also says that God loved you SO much that he gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, that whoever would believe on Him would have eternal life. John 3:16..Romans 5:8 says that God commended His love toward US..in that while we were YET SINNERS, Christ died for us. Jesus has made that payment for you! Will you accept it? Romans 10:13 says that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"..Friend..this includes you..would there be anything holding you back today from surrendering your life to the One who wants to direct your path? Jesus loves you..just as you are. Today, would you talk to Him..would you go to Him, and just pour out your heart, trust Him with your burdens, confess that you need a Savior..and invite Him in to your life..Jesus is waiting with open arms..