This verse couplet is actually a three "if" and then a "then"....
1. IF you trust in the Lord with all your heart
2. IF you don't lean on your own understanding
3. IF you acknowledge God in everything you do....
THEN HE will direct your paths.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart: We've talked in the past about how important trust is in the life of a Christ-believer. Trusting God is foundational in our growth of faith. It is the most critical element in our relationship with God, I believe. And it is what God most wants from us....to trust Him with everything, with our whole heart, our whole being. To place everything that is "us" in His loving hands and allow Him to move in our lives at will.
Lean not on your own understanding: Sometimes we become fairly convinced that we're just about the smartest people on earth, don't we? There's the catch...even if we're the smartest person on earth, that person is SO inadequate in their knowledge, wisdom and understanding than the God of the universe, our Creator God, who has infinite wisdom and the endless knowledge. If we are trusting the Lord with all our heart, then we will start to see that HE is the One that we need to be leaning on for direction and for guidance. That His wisdom surpasses ours in such an immeasurable amount we would be fools do to otherwise. I often say, "Who is the only one who knows the story from beginning to end? Isn't that the one who will be able to make the best plans?" Well there is only One that can claim that ability..and He is the One that I need to lean on....and certainly not my little pea brain full of universal understanding!
In all your ways acknowledge Him: This one is probably the hardest! As much as I trust God, as much as I know that He is the One with absolute knowledge, I can still get so headstrong and caught up in "this-life-o-mine" that I simply forget to say, "God, every plan I make, every journey I set out on, every task I pick up to do...I place them in YOUR hands, to guide me at Your will. If the step I am about to take is not in Your plan for me, stop me now. You are the One that I trust my life to and I ask You to direct my path. I don't want to go anywhere where you are not there beside me." I get stupid and in a hurry and just start rushing down a road that is not in God's plan. And the smartest thing I can do once I realize that is to stop dead in my tracks, ask forgiveness, and ask Him to show me the quickest way back to His divine path for my life.
Because that's the promise! God does have a divine path for our life that He has designed knowing who we are and what we are capable of becoming. It is on His path that we will find true fulfillment and peace.
You often hear "my way or the highway"...well God's way IS the highway...it is the highway that He has paved to our destiny of eternal life with Him. Not to say that His highway of design won't contain a few troublesome spots (maybe even a flat tire or two!), but those will be by His allowance in order to develop the growth of character that He desires for us.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1. IF you trust in the Lord with all your heart
2. IF you don't lean on your own understanding
3. IF you acknowledge God in everything you do....
THEN HE will direct your paths.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart: We've talked in the past about how important trust is in the life of a Christ-believer. Trusting God is foundational in our growth of faith. It is the most critical element in our relationship with God, I believe. And it is what God most wants from us....to trust Him with everything, with our whole heart, our whole being. To place everything that is "us" in His loving hands and allow Him to move in our lives at will.
Lean not on your own understanding: Sometimes we become fairly convinced that we're just about the smartest people on earth, don't we? There's the catch...even if we're the smartest person on earth, that person is SO inadequate in their knowledge, wisdom and understanding than the God of the universe, our Creator God, who has infinite wisdom and the endless knowledge. If we are trusting the Lord with all our heart, then we will start to see that HE is the One that we need to be leaning on for direction and for guidance. That His wisdom surpasses ours in such an immeasurable amount we would be fools do to otherwise. I often say, "Who is the only one who knows the story from beginning to end? Isn't that the one who will be able to make the best plans?" Well there is only One that can claim that ability..and He is the One that I need to lean on....and certainly not my little pea brain full of universal understanding!
In all your ways acknowledge Him: This one is probably the hardest! As much as I trust God, as much as I know that He is the One with absolute knowledge, I can still get so headstrong and caught up in "this-life-o-mine" that I simply forget to say, "God, every plan I make, every journey I set out on, every task I pick up to do...I place them in YOUR hands, to guide me at Your will. If the step I am about to take is not in Your plan for me, stop me now. You are the One that I trust my life to and I ask You to direct my path. I don't want to go anywhere where you are not there beside me." I get stupid and in a hurry and just start rushing down a road that is not in God's plan. And the smartest thing I can do once I realize that is to stop dead in my tracks, ask forgiveness, and ask Him to show me the quickest way back to His divine path for my life.
Because that's the promise! God does have a divine path for our life that He has designed knowing who we are and what we are capable of becoming. It is on His path that we will find true fulfillment and peace.
You often hear "my way or the highway"...well God's way IS the highway...it is the highway that He has paved to our destiny of eternal life with Him. Not to say that His highway of design won't contain a few troublesome spots (maybe even a flat tire or two!), but those will be by His allowance in order to develop the growth of character that He desires for us.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
2 comments:
You are "on fire" today. I love this verse and it come to me at just the right time - when I need it most. Trust, lean, acknowledge. That is exactly what I need to do with the feelings I am having today. God provides in so many wonderful ways. I want to remain steadfast, persevere and become resilient against the devil and evil, selfish thoughts. I can trust that God will give me the answer I need to face some of the upcoming holiday events. I don't have to be afraid. He will lead me down the path that He has designed for me. I had already started pre-deter ing what would occur during the next couple of months. But, I don't have to be afraid. The power of the Holy Spirit inside of me gives me light.
I checked for your post this morning and am always concerned if you haven't written anything. I know you are stretched thin some times. I had't seen anything about Hebrews today either. I am happy to spend some time - right now - with the Lord. I need Him so much.
I've started posting in the a.m. sometimes, but usually don't complete until about 7:15a or so, probably after you've had your quiet time. Still trying to post 5-6 times a week...and still loving it! You'll see something on Hebrews study tonight!
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