David Urging Others to Trust in the Lord

Day By Day By Grace
Bob Hoekstra
September 8, 2010

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:3-5)

Those who live by grace trust in God to work in their lives. We can see David's heart to live this way, as he urges others to trust in the Lord. "Trust in the LORD… feed on His faithfulness…. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him."

God wants His people to be characterized by goodness. "Trust in the LORD, and do good." Yet, David understood that no one does good on their own. "There is none who does good, No, not one" (Psalm 14:3). So, for anyone to do good, the Lord must do a good work in and through their lives. Those who trust in the Lord find the will and the strength to do that which is good in the sight of God. To be faithful in doing good, God's people must be nurtured in God's faithfulness. "Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." Those who place their trust in a faithful God become faithful servants of God.

Of course, the work of God in lives is centered in the heart of man. David prayed for an undivided heart of reverential trust toward the Lord. "Unite my heart to fear Your name" (Psalm 86:11). All who let the Lord become the fundamental joy of their lives will find that God Himself plants godly desires within their heart. "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." These implanted desires are then worked outward unto godly living.

As godly living develops, we experience a growing interest in walking in the ways of the Lord. David had such a yearning in his heart toward the Lord. "Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me" (Psalm 25:4-5). The Lord unfolds His will to those who entrust their lives to Him. "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." Those who do place their lives under the sovereign care of God enjoy the great privilege of having the Lord God Almighty governing the very steps that they take day by day.

Heavenly Father, I want to trust in You so that Your goodness will develop in my life. I want to embrace You as the ultimate joy of my heart so that You may plant Your desires deep within me. I entrust my life into Your hands so that You may control my daily path, through Jesus Christ, my Lord, Amen.