Eternal Truth for Daily Living

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

 

It is sad when some verses of scripture remain out of sight and forgotten except for those certain, special occasions connected with the calendar. Such is the plight of Proverbs 3:5-6, which is normally pulled out during the excitement of springtime and high school graduation, then gently put away until another graduating class needs some kind of spiritual enlightenment before donning their caps and gowns. How tragic and sad that we treat the dynamic authority of God’s word with such carelessness, for the truth found in this passage is not a one-time shot in the arm to inoculate us against making foolish life choices before going to college. No, beloved, these verses should be contemplated frequently, not occasionally, for we need this wise council throughout our lives, not just during one particular chapter.

Moving into an arena of the unknown is always intimidating. Realizing that God was showing me that His call upon my life had not been trashed or discarded, I knew that I needed to make adjustments to His leadership. Without knowing the outcome, we are often challenged to start walking when He hasn’t even revealed the destination! If you don’t believe me, reacquaint yourself with the journey of Abraham as found in Hebrews 11:8. “Walk by faith, and not by sight” is the admonition of scripture, and such a lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. (Thinking still of Abraham, leaving your homeland is really nothing when compared to God's command to travel to a certain mountain and thrust a knife into your cherished son.)

Beloved, faith living is often a bold course of action that looks stupid and foolish to the unenlightened and misinformed. Never allow the sharp frowns and stinging criticism of those whose greatest desire is to conquer the American dream and live for the present pleasures of a hell-bound world divert your focus. When you and I abandon ourselves to His leadership, we should be prepared to chunk our good old common-sense right out the door as well. The Bible says that we should not lean upon “our own understanding” when seeking to implement His will. Our journey will be complicated enough without thrusting what we see, hear, think or feel into the equation. So beware of the one who often gives us the greatest problem in successfully navigating His chosen pathway, and that one is us!

I do not know all that my family and I will encounter in this new year, but I do know that our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. If you don’t believe me, read Ephesians 3:20, and believe Him!