“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 your paths straight.”(Proverbs 3:5-6NIV)
It is the beginning of the seventh month in 2010. In just 174 days Christmas will have finally arrived. In just 180 days 2010 will have ended. Perhaps a mid-year check-up might be something to carefully consider. In my walk with Christ, where am I? Am I fully trusting him? Do I rely too much on my own expertise? How often do I acknowledge his presence and direction in my life? Is my life as “straight” as it could be? Heavy questions, but appropriate for a growing believer.
Recently, a young man asked his friend how to find a good woman to spend his life with. His friend suggested some new approaches, which the young man rejected. He then outlined what he was doing to find the woman of his dreams. When he was finished, his friend said, “How’s that working out for you?”
It so easy for us to depend on our own understanding of how to live straight. But what results is our understanding giving us? Are we getting the results we want from our walk with Christ? It might be better to ask if we are getting the results Christ wants. The goal of the Christian is to walk a straight path of biblical righteousness taught by Christ. How do we achieve that goal?
The wise author of Proverbs gives us the easy way to straight living. First, trust the Lord. Note that we can not trust just any old philosopher that comes down the pike or writes a book of personal theory. Success depends on who we trust and the degree of our trust. Trust the Lord with all your heart . . . not half-hearted . . . not partially . . . completely!
Second, do not rely on your understanding. The Lord’s ways are higher than human ways. We see through a glass darkly, but the Lord sees everything clearly . . . our lives . . . his will for us . . . how to get us there.
Third, acknowledge the Lord in all your ways. Not a childish mantra of his goodness or some self-help theorem of positive affirmation. No! The acknowledgement taught here is a submission to the Lord’s authority for one’s life. He is Lord and our straight living depends solely on his ability to achieve it in us.
Three easy steps: Trust the Lord. Rely on the Lord’s understanding. Surrender to the Lord’s authority over your life. Results? He will make your paths straight.
Dear Father, thank you for the wisdom of your Word. Grant to us the faith to trust you, the wisdom to rely on you, and the humility to surrender to you. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the Lord’s straight paths,