Connected — Trust in the Lord

There is a power and strength that can be found in Christ that can be found no where else. When we are connected to Him, many amazing things begin happening in our life, spirit and soul. The benefit of being connected to Christ produces strength, resilience, and the vitality of life everlasting. This connection enables us to resist the enemy in the time of crisis and continue standing firmly in place. He is to us a strong foundation and the source of stability and continuance. He is the source of life and resilience, enabling us to remain vibrant even in the face of drought or life’s storms. He is the source of our confidence and hope so that we do not fear or become anxious or worried.

When you are connected you can trust in the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

How much can you trust the connection?

In John 15, Jesus was teaching about this connection that we have with Him. He said this connection serves as the source of life, that provides us with the lifeline necessary to fully experience the abundant blessings bestowed upon us by Him.

Jesus said, John 15:5 NKJV “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Listen closely to this. He did not say “without Me you can do little.” He said “you can do nothing.” All of your trust must be in the Lord. Jesus Christ is our Lifeline. A lifeline is somewhat like an anchor for a ship in the time of a storm. When the anchor holds, the ship is kept safe from the raging storm. Jesus is the ANCHOR for our soul that is both sure and steadfast, (Hebrews 6:19-20). Our ANCHOR is an unshakable and unbreakable lifeline that holds our souls to God. This ANCHOR is fastened to the mercy seat which sits in the heavenly realm where Jesus ever intercedes for us before the throne of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

The challenge to our trust is getting past our own understanding. Have you ever looked closely at a grapevine and the branches that produce the fruit? The vine is substantial and the branches are much more insignificant. Sometimes it appears that the weight of the fruit is more than the branch can sustain. This is where trust comes in. Can I trust Christ to sustain me when the storms of life rage?

After God told Noah that He was going to destroy the earth and everything in it, the Lord God Almighty provided an ARK of safety.

God gave Noah clear instructions on how he would be able to build an ark to shelter his life and family.

Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den.

He had faithfully served the Lord his God, praying three times a day. When King Darius cast him into the den of lions, he did not know that Daniel had a Life-Line that would keep him safe.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to forsake the Lord their God.

King Nebuchadnezzar had issued a decree that everyone should bow down and worship his image. Anyone who refused would be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. When they refused to bend or bow, they were cast into the midst of the fiery furnace. They had a Lifeline that came to them in the midst of the fire.

You need to know that you can trust the Lord with all your heart.

Look at that phrase: “In all your ways acknowledge Him.”

The word “acknowledge” comes from the Hebrew word דָּעָה [yaw·dah]. It means “to know, perceive, know by experience, to recognize, admit.” In all your ways take note of how the Lord is with you and is helping you. Pay attention to the fact that He is the One Who sustains you and gives you life. Admit the fact of His intervention, help, and strength. Acknowledge that His mighty arms are holding you and keeping you safe. We have an unbreakable ANCHOR holding our souls. When you truly acknowledge Him in all your ways, you recognize the strength of His life that is coming to you. You are revitalized by the power of His might. His Spirit and life brings healing refreshment to your body and spirit. This acknowledgement recognizes that every increase comes from Him. The overflow of blessing that enters every dimension of your life originates from His abundant source.

Watch where this trust and acknowledgment takes you.

“And He shall direct your paths” illustrates His intervention in our future.

This takes the stress of what is impacting you and puts it upon the Lord. Trusting and acknowledging is a recognition of the Lord’s presence and help in every situation. If you are facing darkness and confusion, you need to stop trying to “lean on your own understanding,” and start acknowledging how the Lord is helping you.

David’s Psalms of ascents were sung as people were on their journey to the house of the Lord.

In Psalms 124, David sang “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…” Then he recited several things that rose up against them.

Psalm 124:2-3 NKJV “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;

Psalm 124:4-5 NKJV Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.”

Do you acknowledge the power of your connection with Christ?

God has provided every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

God has assigned every blessing and favor we need to Christ. We are totally dependent on our connection to Him. Christ is always greater than our need, but our help depends on our connection to Him. He has the answer you need, but you must remain in touch with Him. You cannot get help from Him if you have no connection with Him. Likewise, you can never draw more than what is available. The good news is “My God can supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) In Christ resides the essence of life, the source of blessings, favor, and righteousness.

Consider the grapevine.

The branch and the fruit exist because it is connected to the vine. It is important for you to know what the Lord has borne and carried. Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely He took up our pain and bore our sorrows…” When He took us up and carried us, He became our Savior, Healer, and Life.

Consider the temple.

Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of the building.

Ephesians 2:20-22 NKJV Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone that the building is established upon.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

The Lord is the Chief Cornerstone of the temple.

• He is the foundation and support that holds us up.
• He is the Cornerstone that was set to align and determine the direction and value of the building.
• Not only does Christ hold us up, His glory and Spirit fill the temple.
• Do you see what God is doing in us?
• He is bringing us together in Christ and what He is.
• He is bringing His life force into us.
• He is bringing us into His victory, strength and power.
• We need to acknowledge everything that He is to us.
• His throne is eternal.
• His power is almighty.
• His glory is rich.
• He is the substance of our continuation.
• He is the permanence of our hope.
• He is the basis of our standing.
• He is the essence of our sustenance.
• He is the sum of our expectation.
• He is the foundation of our existence.
• He is the guarantee of the perseverance of our soul.
• He is the root and ground of our life.
• He is the focus of our faith.
• In Christ Jesus is the hope of eternal life.
• In Christ Jesus is the reward of the Saints.
• In Christ Jesus is the fruit of our labor.
• In Christ Jesus is the health of our body.
• In Christ Jesus is the future of our rest.
• In Christ Jesus is the permanence of residence in heaven.
• In Christ Jesus is the fellowship with the Father.
• In Christ Jesus is the blessing of the Spirit.
• In Christ Jesus is joy of the Lord.
• In Christ Jesus is the victory over the enemy.
• In Christ Jesus is the power for ministry and life.