“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.”
This little couplet from Proverbs 3 is one that I often think of these days. The reason for the often-ness of these verses in my life now has to do with my daughter, but it all started back when I first began attending Fayetteville (TN) ARP Church. This was one of the Bible passages the choir would sing as a benediction response. The words, tune, and timing of the song in the service would always stick it in my head for hours and days to follow—in a good way! Fast forward fifteen years. I find myself in a desperate state. My sweet two-year-old, Mary Emmaline, has fully exhausted my song repertoire. Not only have we sung all the songs I know, but she has memorized them! Now she’s asking for more. In a state of semi-panic, I rack my brain for a song. Enter this little couplet to that sweet little tune. And she loves it!
My prayer is that in time she will come to see and love the depth of Truth these lines hold like I do. Our God is a God who straightens our paths for us. He does it! He will make straight your paths. The Good News is here in these two verses. Trust God instead of yourself, trust him wholly, and witness his power to save!
What’s more, as I continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom, I can’t help but see my weakness and sin more and more clearly. In all your ways acknowledge him. That line convicts me! Acknowledging God in all of my life is much more difficult than acknowledging God in the convenient areas of my life. But the Christian life is an all-of-life thing—all your heart and all your ways. I am very thankful that God helps me to continue to grow. God has saved those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and God continues to grow those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. These verses hit that. It’s like Solomon is saying, “Think on this often! Think of your God often!” With that in mind, would you think on these things with me this week?
Hold these verses close, and reflect on the goodness of our God in salvation. At the same time, reflect on the power of our God in growing us. May we see it in our lives even this week.
Blessings,
Jeremiah