You Want Me to Do What?

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.

Proverbs 3:5-6

What does it mean to trust in the Lord and not lean on your own understanding? More importantly, how do I apply this to my life? This verse is packed with implications on how we live our lives today. It is a natural extension to Galatians 2:20 as it continues with the idea that God should be in charge of our lives. When Jesus comes into our lives, He does not just stop by as a visitor; He moves in and He changes everything. Galatians 2:20 tells us that our lives are not ours, but Christ’s. We live by faith in Him, and in Him alone. This verse further clarifies this idea by telling us that we are to put our faith in God, and He will guide our way. The King James Version of Proverbs 3:6 tells us that He will direct our paths. If we place our faith in God, and lean on Him, as the solid rock, then He will guide and He will direct our lives. God will provide for us and He will give us the life that is best for us. He will direct our lives in the way that we should go.

What a relief to realize that it is not my responsibility to plan, to strategize, and to navigate the maze of life, but to just rest in my Creator and my Savior. I can relax in knowing that He has a plan for me and that He will accomplish that which He has in mind for my life. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God has a plan for our lives, and he planned our lives before we were born. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Again, God tells us that He has a plan for our lives in Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God has a plan for our lives and our job is to just trust in His plan, and acknowledge Him in all our ways. What does that mean, “acknowledge God in all our ways”? Well, it simply means to make sure that we are recognizing God in everything we do. God created us, has a plan for us, and provides for us. God is not fooled nor are His plans foiled by the schemes of this world. God’s plan is for you to be right where you are in the life that you are in, in the place you are in, at this time. God has already planned the number of days you will live, and the locations of your home. Acts 17:26 explains that “. . . he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”

Just imagine, God already knows the story of your life. He knows how it began, and He knows how it will end. He knows, and has a plan for all things; our job is to trust in Him for everything. This almost seems too easy. In this day of, “I can do it”, “create your own destiny”, and “if it is to be, it’s up to me”, it seems like God is telling us to abdicate our responsibility for our lives to Him, and just sail through our lives without personal responsibility for our actions or deeds. Understanding God’s Word as a whole helps us to realize that He is certainly not telling us that we are to become lazy in our ambitions, or that we should blame the results of poor choices on God. The work of a Christian is never finished, and we are to work harder than others because our work reflects God. We are His children, and we are to do everything we do as if we are doing it for God himself. Colossians 3:23-24 tells us that “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men_,knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

God is telling us in Proverbs 3:5-6 that if we trust in Him, and lean on Him that He will direct our lives. Who needs a life coach when we have the God of all creation promising to direct our lives and leading us through the valley of the shadow of death? Maybe this is what Jesus was talking about when he said in Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” How great a God we serve who tells us that if we trust in him with all our heart He will guide our lives! That He cares enough about my simple life to guide it patiently and deliberately, is beyond all comprehension.

Thank You Lord for loving me,

For caring enough about my simple life to send your Son to die for me.

For caring enough for my simple life to plan my life and my paths,

And for caring enough about my simple life to prepare a future for me.

Psalms 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Study Guide

Review Questions Proverbs 3:5-6