Proverbs 3:5-6

 

In efforts to have the scripture on my heart, I committed last year to memorizing scripture with a friend. You can follow the plan here:  http://www.triapologia.com/files/2009BibleMemorization-ESV.pdf

The first memory verse comes from Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” Trust, according to the Dictionary means: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing; confidence. To trust in the Lord with all of your heart means just what it says: rely on Him at all times with all your heart. Rely on His strength and ability with complete confidence. When life looks bleak, when you lose your job, when relationships break, when your world feels like it is crashing in on you, trust  Him. It’s not a command that is conditional based on circumstances. No, it means that on the sunny days and also on the rough road, trust him. To Trust the Lord, demands our participation. The participation of submitting. Submitting our actions, desires, present, and future to a Sovereign, loving God.

The second half of the verse says, “lean not on your own understanding.” Stop relying on your own wisdom, it is lacking! We see a small piece of the puzzle, but He sees the whole thing. . When I consider this, leaning on my own understanding sounds quite foolish and yet I still think I know better. I still seek to have some kind of control.

“In all your ways acknowledge him.”  To acknowledge means to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of.  In all your ways, admit that God is real and acknowledge his promises to be true. In all your ways remember the God of the Universe is for you! He promises to work all things for good to those that love him, He promises never to leave us or forsake us, He promises to show  his goodness. It means admitting that all things in our lives are completely dependent on Him.

“…he will make straight your paths.”  His promise to us is to make our path straight. Not he might make it straight, he will! I am learning that the path is sometimes hard, but this is where I have discovered the heights and depths of Gods steadfast love for this impatient girl who too quickly relies on her own understanding.  When I submit and trust the Lord, he gives such a  peace even on the rough road. A peace that can only come from a God who has my name graven on his hand,  knows every number of hairs on my head and has every single one of my tears in a bottle.

Aren’t you glad we have a God that we can depend on in every area of life?  Aren’t you glad we have a God who’s wisdom is greater then ours?
Help us Lord, to actively submit our lives to your care, we trust you to make our paths straight, for your glory and our good.