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The seed is the word of God (Luke 8.11).

Trust in the Lord

 ⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

(Proverbs 3.5-6, KJV)

Here in this proverb, we find the key to possessing God’s guidance,  through three commands that promise the results of God leading us.  The first two commands are similar in that they both require us to trust God, and trust God alone.  First, we are exhorted to trust God completely—without any doubt whatsoever ever.  Second, we are exhorted to place our trust in God, and not in our own understanding—our own rationalities.  Third, we read that we seek God in all our ways—all means available.  We must follow these commands to the fullest extent so that we may know God’s will for our life.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart

Notice here that it says, “all thine heart”, and not just part of your heart, or some, of your heart, or even most of your heart—but with all thine heart.  We are called to fully and completely trust in the Lord.  Jesus Christ is Lord.  If Christ is to be Lord of our life, then we must give him all that we have.  A true Lord owns everything you have, and you are merely a steward that cares for his possessions, and in turns uses them.  Therefore, if Christ is to be Lord of our lives, and hearts, then we must give him all we have.

Lean not unto thine own understanding

All too often, our faith stands or falls on your own cognitions, and not the word of the Lord.  We base our hope not on the promises of the Scriptures, but on our understanding—worldly understanding.  This is a gross error on our part because “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14.12, 16.25).  Why do we rather lean on our own thoughts rather than God’s, whose after all are so much higher than ours? (Isaiah 55.8-9).  How many of us have groaned because we did not have the money to pay the bills, but yet God promises to meet all our needs?  Do you remember the dream that Joseph had?  Look here, at all the trials he went through before his God given dream came true (Genesis 37-41).  Therefore, let us first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to us (Matthew 6.33).

In all thy ways acknowledge him

Notice here too, just as we are to trust with all our heart, so too should we acknowledge him in all our ways. Can one be done without the other?  I think not, how can we place our trust in something or someone and not act on it?  This would be a dead trust, or a dead faith—pointless.

 In what ways can we acknowledge God?  What are all the possible ways?  According to devotional bible commentator, Matthew Henry (1706 -1721, Complete), we are to acknowledge the Lord with thankfulness, prayer, before others, and privately. When times are hard, and when times are easy, through comfort and suffering.  So we are to acknowledge God not just in all our ways, but through all times of life.

He shall direct thy paths

“This is what the LORD says, ‘seek the ancient paths, where the good way is, and you will find rest for our souls’ ” (Jeremiah 6.16).  When we make the Lord our Shepherd, he leads to the good way.  The good way is safe from harm.  Even though we may walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, yet we need not to fear any evil because he is with us to protect us.  This grace brings us through “many dangers toils, and snares” (John Newton – Amazing Grace).

The ancient paths will give us rest for our souls, eternal rest.  When we trust with him with all our heart, and lean not unto our own understanding, and when we seek him in all our ways, then leads us to still waters, and he makes us to lie down in green pastors.  He leads us to the paths of righteousness, all for his glory.  Surely, goodness, love, and kindness shall be with us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23).  Just has he lead the Israelites through a pillar of smoke into the promise land, so too shall he lead us into the promise land (Exodus 13.21).  His Word provides all the wisdom we need for relationships, work, money management, long life, righteousness.

Volume 3, Issue 8 (August 2004)

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