One of my favorite songs is "Trust and Obey." I don't think it's the deepest song, or even the most theologically accurate song, but I love the chorus. And with five verses, we get to sing the chorus repeatedly. "Trust and obey, / for there's no other way / to be happy in Jesus / but to trust and obey."
Many times we want grace without trust; blessing without obedience. We think linearly, cause-and-effect, when we should be thinking more like a loop, a circle. When our lives are lived completely under the authority of God, we find the grace, peace, and harmony that we desire.
The writer of Psalm 143 shows us a life lived like this. It's a beautiful psalm. It's expressive, and the writer clearly trusts God and obeys him completely. But in his obedience and trust he finds great joy!
Take a look at the parallelism in this psalm. Each time the writer prays to God, asking for something, he explains how this petition emerges from his deep trust in God. For example:
Further, as he opens his prayer, asking God to hear him, he acknowledges his obedience ("I remember the days of long ago; / I meditate on all your works / and consider what your hands have done") and his deep trust ("I thirst for you like a parched land").
We want to get to the point where we know we need God. Sometimes we mentally know our need for God, but do you know your need for him experientially?
Let your trust in God grow and deepen as you obey him in all areas of your life.
Are you joyful in obedience? Do you thirst for God like a parched land thirsts for water?
Many times we want grace without trust; blessing without obedience. We think linearly, cause-and-effect, when we should be thinking more like a loop, a circle. When our lives are lived completely under the authority of God, we find the grace, peace, and harmony that we desire.
The writer of Psalm 143 shows us a life lived like this. It's a beautiful psalm. It's expressive, and the writer clearly trusts God and obeys him completely. But in his obedience and trust he finds great joy!
Take a look at the parallelism in this psalm. Each time the writer prays to God, asking for something, he explains how this petition emerges from his deep trust in God. For example:
- "Show me the way I should go, / for to you I entrust my life."
- "Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, / for I hid myself in you."
- "Teach me to do your will, / for you are my God."
Further, as he opens his prayer, asking God to hear him, he acknowledges his obedience ("I remember the days of long ago; / I meditate on all your works / and consider what your hands have done") and his deep trust ("I thirst for you like a parched land").
We want to get to the point where we know we need God. Sometimes we mentally know our need for God, but do you know your need for him experientially?
Let your trust in God grow and deepen as you obey him in all areas of your life.
Are you joyful in obedience? Do you thirst for God like a parched land thirsts for water?
