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Proverbs 3:5, 6 - Trust in The LORD ... And Lean Not unto Thine Own Understanding.Proverbs 3:5, 6 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.INTRODUCTION Trust involves heartfelt confidence in God. Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can't trust anyone - not even God. But God knows what is best for us. And he knows even better than we do what we really want. We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God's Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer, use the Bible as your guide, and follow God's leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you. [Life Application SB] COMMENTARY PEARL Total trust in the Lord means you trust him more than you do your own opinions. Relying on him to lead you in every decision means you can confidently walk into the future. Even as paths are being cleared in the wilderness, he makes a way for you where you could see none. He is faithful to guide you, and you will have the rest which his peaceful presence brings. Whatever your level of trust is today, nurture the relationship you have with him. Give him your time and attention asking him to reveal more of himself to you. Invite his Spirit to shift your perspective as he reveals the wisdom of the Father. Whatever you do, invite him into it. Remain teachable in his love and follow him. As you do, your trust will grow. Choose to trust the Lord more than you trust your own opinions today. [365 Days of Courage by Sara Perry of Broadstreet Pub] COMMENTARY When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His Word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that "the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19); but this is not faith. Where there is not only a belief in God's Word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith - faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). And do not forget the words of Christ, "the Father himself loveth you" (John 16:27). He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully... The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the Word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image. SC 63-65. {RC 123} Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ--the "all things" to supply the need of fallen men - was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And "whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." 1 John 3:22. {DA 668} ILLUSTRATIONS My son Isaac was starting middle school in the fall. Oh, boy! Middle school is scary under the best of circumstances, and the prospect of Isaac, who has Down syndrome, being victimized by bullies was more than I could bear. I wanted him in a safe school with good programs for special needs kids, so I talked to other parents of special needs kids about their plans. Several, including Isaac's best friend's family, considered applying for a program that enabled students to attend schools outside their designated area. I wanted Isaac to stay with his peers, and I prayed for direction. I emailed the agency in charge of this program for requirements and deadlines but discovered the deadline had passed. My mind raced to awful scenarios, all magnified by the thought that Isaac would be separated from his familiar friends. I prayed fervently and emailed Isaac's current teacher for help. She promised to check into the situation with our zoned school. I begged Jesus to help. I know You love Isaac, Lord, so I'm trusting You. The next morning, Isaac's best friend's mom texted me to say she'd decided to send her son to the zoned school. Later, I discovered that all of Isaac's classmates were going there too. The students would have their own mini-wing that would keep them safe while enjoying the middle school experience surrounded by familiar friends. I whispered a prayer of thanks to Isaac's very Best Friend. Isabella Campolattano Faith Step: Have carefully laid plans failed despite your best efforts? Reaffirm your trust in Jesus aloud and let go of the outcome. [Mornings With Jesus 2023 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] People have different areas of expertise. Maybe they've earned a reputation as an expert through honing their natural gifts or dedicating themselves to perfecting a specific skill. Me? I'm an expert second-guesser. I have a talent for dwelling on past decisions and wondering if I made the best choice. You might be impressed if you knew how much anxiety I can wring out of a moment from my distant past, or if you could count how many of my thoughts begin with "if only I had" or "I should have." I'm also pretty good at analyzing other people's actions and how much better my life would be if they had chosen differently. I have to admit, that's a miserable way to live, and it's not the lifestyle Jesus wants for me. He came to give us a life filled with meaning, joy, and peace. But how can I trade in my undesirable "expertise" for something that will help me be who Jesus wants me to be? Psychologists in an area of research known as "expert performance" studied how people get really good at what they do. They identified the key as - no surprise - deliberate practice. So instead of honing my natural bent toward worry and regret, I plan to diligently practice trusting Jesus and seeking His will. I want to be an expert at that. Dianne Neal Matthews Faith Step: Is there a personal decision from your past that nags at you or even haunts you ? Thank Jesus for His forgiveness and commit to living a lifestyle based on Proverbs 3:5-6 with His help. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Proverbs 3:5, 6 - Trust in The LORD And Lean Not unto Thine Own Understanding. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240328-0852.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240107-0733.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230916-0941.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220804-0853.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210305-0936.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |