It is March 1st. The start of the last month in the first quarter of 2019. Metaphorically speaking, we are on page 60 of this 365 day chapter of our lives. Mathematically, today would mark 16% of the year completed. Winter is nearing the end of its reign and Spring is (hopefully) closer than it seems. A lot has probably happened since we said farewell to 2018 and welcomed 2019. The promises we made and intentions we had for the new year seem so far away. For most, New Year's resolutions have come and gone. The sad actuality is that only 8 out of every 100 people continue them (you can read more about that and how to prevent it here). I wouldn't be surprised if there were similar statistics in our spiritual resolutions as well. Why is consistent commitment so hard?
Trying to solve a problem that big is (thankfully) well above my pay grade. So as we should do in most situations where questions are too hard to answer, let's see what scripture has to say about it. God's word, always being alive and active in our present situations, has a simple way of enacting commitment consistently. In Psalm 37 David writes "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." I'm very prone to the practical aspects of scripture, which is what makes this portion of scripture translate into an equation in my head. Commitment to God + Trust in God = He will work it out. Take a moment and plug in your own personal situation.
My commitment to God in ________ + trusting in God = God will work it out.
The importance in this equation is that regardless of what you commit to God you have the guarantee that he will work it out as long as you also trust that he will. This is where the disconnect usually comes in our commitments. We have no problem at all giving our problems, struggles, or decisions to God. We offer them up freely (typically when we've exhausted all other options, but that's a different conversation all together) because we've come to the point where anything is better than where we are. There is even an acceptance of the outcome as well because God's will has an expected end. Where our commitment becomes inconsistent though, is when we forget to trust in him. Why? Because if your trust is no longer in God, all you are left to lean on is your own understanding. Trying to stay consistent in your commitment with God while trusting in yourself guarantees that you will be "unstable in everything you do". Instead, we should always put our trust in the one that never fails.
Don't let your commitment become inconsistent. Don't miss out on the chance of God working it out. Put your trust in him and see how he steps in and steps up. I know from experience that he will never leave you hanging. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name."
Commit to God, trust in God, and he will work it out.
Coburn Hoffman
Trying to solve a problem that big is (thankfully) well above my pay grade. So as we should do in most situations where questions are too hard to answer, let's see what scripture has to say about it. God's word, always being alive and active in our present situations, has a simple way of enacting commitment consistently. In Psalm 37 David writes "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." I'm very prone to the practical aspects of scripture, which is what makes this portion of scripture translate into an equation in my head. Commitment to God + Trust in God = He will work it out. Take a moment and plug in your own personal situation.
My commitment to God in ________ + trusting in God = God will work it out.
The importance in this equation is that regardless of what you commit to God you have the guarantee that he will work it out as long as you also trust that he will. This is where the disconnect usually comes in our commitments. We have no problem at all giving our problems, struggles, or decisions to God. We offer them up freely (typically when we've exhausted all other options, but that's a different conversation all together) because we've come to the point where anything is better than where we are. There is even an acceptance of the outcome as well because God's will has an expected end. Where our commitment becomes inconsistent though, is when we forget to trust in him. Why? Because if your trust is no longer in God, all you are left to lean on is your own understanding. Trying to stay consistent in your commitment with God while trusting in yourself guarantees that you will be "unstable in everything you do". Instead, we should always put our trust in the one that never fails.
Don't let your commitment become inconsistent. Don't miss out on the chance of God working it out. Put your trust in him and see how he steps in and steps up. I know from experience that he will never leave you hanging. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name."
Commit to God, trust in God, and he will work it out.
Coburn Hoffman
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