Published 3/18/20
Read Proverbs 3:5-8
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."
Reflect
What does it mean to trust in the Lord with all your heart? Where are some places where your understanding and God's will conflict?
For a detail-oriented person, the Bible can be a bit frustrating. It simply doesn't address many of the finer details of life. Where's the verse that talks about what to do when our bank account is empty? What's God's advice on car repair? The in-laws are coming over; is there a Psalm for that?
As nice as it might be to have specific words from God on every conceivable subject, that's not what God has given us. In fact, He's offered something infinitely better than a comprehensive "God's Guide to Life's Problems." He's offered Himself as a guide through all of life.
One of the first places where we see God as a guide is in Genesis 12. "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you'" (Genesis 12:1, NLT). The first thing we see about God as a guide here is that He sets the destination. If you're plotting your own course through life then only occasionally looking to God for advice, then you have it backwards. Just like Abram, God has a destination and a path for all of us to follow.
The next thing we learn about God's guidance is that while He may not pick the easiest path, He picks a path that will let us know we can trust Him in anything. We see God guiding again in Exodus as thousands upon thousands of Hebrew slaves march out of Egypt. At that time God used a pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day to mark the way. But did God mess up when He led them straight to the Red Sea? Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid, Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you" (Exodus 14:13, NLT). And that miraculous rescue is still being told today!
The lesson Israel learned that day was so important that for centuries when Israel started going down the wrong path, God would remind them of their escape from Egypt.
Pray
Lord Jesus, take control of my life. Help me to surrender to You. Amen.