Carina Francke

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

As adults we don’t easily trust each other, and with good reason. We disappoint each other, abuse confidences for selfish reasons and are simply untrustworthy; therefore we rely our own judgment, insight and knowledge.

Accordingly, we find it difficult to trust God with the big and small things in our lives. We must understand that the kingdom of God is a reverse order: show love, do not hate; serve, do not rule; give away, do not hoard; die so you can live. This implies that you must entrust your entire being to God and unashamedly do what our verse for the day teaches: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Why trust in God? Because "… the Lord is one." (Mark 12:29); "…‘I am who I am ... “ (Exodus 3:14).

When believers truly trust in God, our security lies in our confidence in him and his power.  We then, want God to know every decision because we know he will guide us along the right path.  He will straighten the path for us.

The Hebrew explanation for ways indicates a path, a direction or manner of doing things. This suggests specific opportunities that repeatedly cross your path.  One such opportunity is the privilege of living every new day to the fullest.  It is as if this section wants to encourage us to acknowledge God every day, throughout the course of our lives.

How do we “know" God in all our ways? According to the Spirit-Filled Bible this “know and recognize” involves: “observation, investigation, or reflection of first-hand experiences“. The deepest level of “know”, however, is a direct, intimate relationship with him – a life-giving intimacy on a spiritual level where we, in daily prayer communicate with him. It is on this occasion that we present our day's agenda before God and trust him to make changes that will give birth to his will, blessings and victories in our lives and in that of others.

Prayer: Lord, our God, I declare my total trust in you as King of my life. I confess, however, my tendency to put my own smug arrogance before your input in my daily life.  Will you be my compass today, for every important as well as every trivial decision I must make.  Amen.