Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Trusting

I have been absent from this blog for a very long time. Most of that time was spent in writing, editing and publishing my book. The book is now finished and I am also officially retired, so I plan to have more time to devote to this blog site and will endeavor to post monthly articles. Thank you for being interested!!

I have recently been pondering Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." This is a very familiar scripture to me and one often quoted in Christian circles. Many a sermon has been preached from this also, I'm sure.

I began to see it in new ways the other day as God was speaking to me. I decided to study some specific words in these two verses. I looked up each of these words in the Hebrew for their meanings. I won't give you the Hebrew word because it's really not necessary for our purposes here. Walk with me through these:

Trust - means to be confident; sure and bold
Heart - involves the feelings, will and intellect
Lean - to rely, to rest in
Understanding - knowledge, wisdom
Ways - course of life; mode of action; journey; manner
Acknowledge - observe, recognition, know, designation, be aware, perceive, understand
Direct - be straight, straight way
Paths - a well trodden road

So, now that we have those meanings, let's look a little closer at this scripture - Donna's version -

Be confident and sure in the Lord with all your feelings, will and intellect and do not rely on or rest in your own knowledge or wisdom. In your course of life, your journey or mode of action, recognize, know, perceive and be aware of Him and He shall make a straight way for you on a well trodden road.

WOW! What this says to me is as I trust in the Lord and don't rely on myself in my journey through this world; as I recognize and acknowledge Him in ALL avenues of my life - good and bad situations - He will continue to direct me on the well trodden road - the road Jesus walked before me. You see, it doesn't matter what happens in our daily lives, the situations we find ourselves facing - whether it be the death of a spouse, the loss of a job, the unexpected pregnancy of an unwed daughter, the flooding of your home or even it's loss - all these things are in His hands. As we acknowledge that - acknowledge His presence and His awareness of it, He will show us how to walk through the situation. He will direct us and lead us. He will comfort us in our distress. He will extend His grace, amazing grace. He will show His mercy on our behalf and most importantly, He will walk with us through it. His word says - He will never leave us or forsake us.

Whatever or wherever you may find yourself today, TRUST HIM. Acknowledge HIM. He is worthy, so worthy to be trusted and fully acknowledged. God bless you!