In God I Put My Trust

Psalm 56

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A ^(A)Miktam^[a] of David, when the ^(B)Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 ^(C)Be gracious to me, O God, for man ^(D)tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
² my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
³ When I am afraid,
    I ^(E)put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; ^(F)I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

⁵ All day long they injure my cause;^[b]
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
⁶ They ^(G)stir up strife, they ^(H)lurk;
    they ^(I)watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
⁷ For their crime will they escape?
    ^(J)In wrath ^(K)cast down the peoples, O God!

⁸ You have kept count of my tossings;^{[c]
    (L)}put my tears in your bottle.
    ^(M)Are they not in your book?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    ^(N)in the day when I call.
    This I know, that^[d] (O)God is for me.
¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
¹¹ in God I trust; ^(P)I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

¹² I must perform my ^(Q)vows to you, O God;
    I will ^(R)render thank offerings to you.
^13 (S)For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
^(T)that I may walk before God
    ^(U)in the light of life.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2056&version=ESV)

Recently I was listening to a talk show where an agnostic was speaking against Christians.  He made the statement that Christians just tried to push their beliefs on other people and how he didn’t like that about them.  Funny, as a Christian I feel that everyone wants us to conform to their beliefs and if we don’t, we are radical and annoying.  My first reaction when I heard that I said, “If we are pushy it is because we want everyone to know our awesome wonderful God.”  But the more I thought about it the more I could understand where he was coming from.  So often we cry out against the things that are morally wrong and we bring out the Bible to defend our point.  The problem is that many people who are on the other side of the issue don’t care about what the Bible says.  What people should be seeing when they look at a Christian is the light of Christ.  When He was being accused, He stood silent.  There was nothing He could say to change the people’s mind about His guilt.  So should we just let people run all over us?  Did Christ?  There was a time when Christ was not silent, He spoke His mind many times.  He called sin for what it was and He paid for that sin on the cross for all those who believe on Him.  Thus my next question, “Are we ready to pay the price?” Christians being put down, ridiculed, spat upon, and even put to death is not a new happening.  This has happened since the establishment of Christianity through Christ Himself.  We are to pick up our cross and follow Him.  Should our testimony be about how wrong people are in their lifestyle or should it be about how much a Savior bids them to come to Him?  Should it be about being a nation that trusts in God or should it be about how “I” trust in God? 

I have been fearful of the talk to take “In God We Trust” off of our coins taking away our nation’s founders belief in a God Almighty.  I have been fearful because I believe our success has come only by the hand of God and God alone.  He blessed our nation and allowed us to be prosperous because of those founding fathers who trusted in Him.  I want our nation to trust in God for my own benefit. Ouch, how wrong is that?  We as Christians need to recognize we live in a dark world and it is our duty to bring light into it.  What will we get for doing that?  Probably ridicule and hatred by most, maybe some will choose to listen and believe but a Heavenly reward awaits for all who believe and call upon His name.   Many think we are weak but yet we remain stronger than they will ever realize because of our faith in a Mighty God and our trust in Him.  I am no longer concerned about whether the coin says, “In God We Trust” because frankly I can see that we as a nation don’t have our trust in Him.  But what I do care about is where I put my trust, is it on a coin or is it on the Almighty God.  I will say, as did the Psalmist, “I Trust in God”  if my country wants to join me in that trust I will be happy and thankful for that but I must first look to God and trust that He is in control of my life and He is my all in all.  Will you seek Him, put your trust in Him and not be afraid?

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila