Place Your Trust in the Lord

~~~ Jeremiah 17:5-10 ~~~ Psalm 1 ~~~ Luke 16: 19-31 ~~~

Sometimes I like to consider the New Living Translation of the Bible. You can gain fresh insight as to how these ancient texts relate to people in our times. This reading from Jeremiah is so rich and full of thoughts we can take to prayer for reflection.

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Wisdom from the LORD

⁵ This is what the LORD says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 

Too often when we only rely on human beings we are disappointed. We have hurt feelings. We say things we did not really mean. We act before thinking about the consequences. We give credit when not deserved or earned.

 ⁶ They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.

If we only put our trust in humans we will always be searching for the next greatest and most exciting person to follow. We will be like lost children wandering aimlessly about the world. We will be like a beautiful flowering desert cactus that is never able to bloom...is never able to bring forth its full beauty...its complete purpose.

   They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.

The barren wilderness eventually causes you to become bitter, hopeless; even to the point of despair. To be barren is to be empty of new growth and new life. The wilderness is a lonely place when you are looking for the Lord.

⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

But all is not lost..if we place our hearts and minds in the right place...in the Lord, we will be delivered from our barrenness. The Lord will be with us...he alone is our Hope.

⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.

Roots...faith in the living water of the Holy Spirit will sustain us even in the wilderness. Our roots must be given care and attention for they anchor us in the Lord.  

Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.

If we trust in the Lord nothing can shake us. If we are anchored in the Lord nothing can take that away; not trials or worries. If our faith is in the Lord alone we can remain faithful in prayer even in times of dryness.  

Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

Even when we do not 'Feel' like God is present with us we must continue to walk in his way...to follow his lead. To keep our leaves green means to nurture your prayer life.

⁹ “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?

The human heart cannot be fully understood by us. Yes, we wonderful physicians who can diagnose and repair the mechanical workings of our heart, but we do not really understand the human heart. The human heart has most unique characteristics. Recent research has proven that the human heart even stores memories.

¹⁰ But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.

That which we think is held secret within our hearts is well known to God. God knows us better than we know ourselves. The Holy Spirit can grab hold of our hearts when we least expect it. The Spirit of God can give you the desire for a pure cleansed heart. This is our task during Lent; to ask God to help us as we search our own hearts.  

 I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”  

New Living Translation

"I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart,

To reward everyone according to his ways..."

Put your faith and trust in the Lord, but love your fellow human beings.