Today, we read what may be the most well-known passage in Proverbs, chapter 3:5-6. Don’t trust in your own understanding. Lean on God. Trust in Him. Acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Think of all the time that we spend fretting and fussing, trying to figure it all out. We are told today that if we trust in our own understanding, we will find ourselves in a mess. But when we trust in God, He leads us, He straightens our paths, and we find rest. It’s not about us figuring it all out. It’s about us submitting to Him. And when we do that, we find the life we have been looking for.

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Good morning! It’s wonderful to be with you as we continue our exploration of Proverbs. As we embark on this new year together, we’ve committed to diving into a chapter of Proverbs each day. While we’ll combine some Proverbs for the weekend sessions, our aim is to cover the entire book over the course of January. Today, on this third day of January, we’re delving into Proverbs chapter 3, with a particular focus on verses 5 and 6, which are among the most well-known passages in the entire Bible.

Given that this chapter has 35 verses, we won’t read it in its entirety here. I encourage you to click on the provided link to read the full chapter or refer to your Bible. Instead, I want to zero in on the significance of verses 5 and 6: “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.”

Reflecting on these verses, I’m reminded of a time in my past when I was part of a drama group called “The Mission.” We would perform Christian skits in various churches, and we proudly had these verses printed on the back of our t-shirts. The version I grew up with, the NIV, says, “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 your paths straight.” The core message is clear: trusting in God’s ways, rather than relying solely on our understanding, leads to straighter paths.

One of the key lessons here is recognizing the brokenness of our own understanding. As humans, it’s common to think that we have everything figured out, but this can lead us astray. Trusting in God, submitting our hearts to Him, brings a peace and understanding that surpasses our own. Overthinkers, like myself, often find it challenging to relinquish control, but acknowledging God’s ways and leaning on His understanding straightens our paths.

Imagine the time and energy we could save by redirecting our focus from worry and overthinking to submitting ourselves to God. Verse 7 emphasizes not being wise in our own eyes, and verse 8 promises healing and refreshment when we let go of our own plans and lean on God’s wisdom.

Verse 9 encourages us to honor the Lord with our substance, and He will abundantly bless us. Moreover, verses 11 and 12 remind us not to despise the Lord’s discipline; correction is a sign of His love. God desires to guide us toward life-giving paths, and His discipline is rooted in love, just as parents correct their beloved children.

So, let’s make it a goal for this year not to spend our time trying to get God to bless our plans but, instead, to acknowledge Him in all our ways. When we do so, our paths become straighter, our lives gain more clarity, and we experience healing and refreshment.

As we move forward, let’s submit ourselves to God, acknowledging His ways, and experience the life He intends for us. Tomorrow, we’ll continue our journey with Proverbs chapter 4. Thank you for joining us, and I look forward to reading together again. Have a great day!