Finding God’s Way in a Dark Day
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Proverbs 3 New Living Translation
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Proverbs 3New Living Translation
Trusting in the Lord
3 My child,[a] never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[b]
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
Hang on to them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.
28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
29 Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.
30 Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.
31 Don’t envy violent people
or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
but he offers his friendship to the godly.
33 The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the upright.
34 The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble.[c]
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools are put to shame!
December 31, 2010 Save Article
taken from a message given by Adrian Rogers
“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.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Most would agree that these are trying and confusing times. And as we look at the year before us, how can we know God’s will? By trusting and acknowledging Him in all our ways. Yes, it’s difficult in uncertain days, but remember: His will is not a “roadmap”—it’s a relationship.
A Plan And A Promise
God has a personal promise for us in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God doesn’t just have plans for nations or congregations; He has a plan for you! God wants you to know the answers.
A Trusting Confidence
Proverbs 3:5-6 holds the key to walking confidently and successfully in dark times. These verses tell us to trust with all our hearts. This is complete, trusting confidence. And it is trust in the Lord—not in a purpose or plan, but a Person.
To fully trust God, we must start by knowing Him. As our knowledge of Him deepens, we come to love Him, then trust Him, begin to obey Him and be blessed by Him.
How do you start? Well, how did you come to love your spouse or a good friend? You spent time with them. It’s the same with God—it begins by spending time every day with God. It is the only way to know Him.
Verse five says not to lean on one’s own understanding. Does that mean not to have any understanding in the first place? Of course not. This is not an excuse for sanctified ignorance. Rather, it is a reminder to lean on God’s shoulder.
A Total Commitment
Proverbs 3:6a tells us it has to be total commitment: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him.” How do we “acknowledge” Him? As Lord—the Sovereign God—the rightful Ruler of life. We hand a signed, blank check to God and ask Him to fill it in. Have you ever handed someone a blank check? It takes ultimate trust, a total commitment of our ways to God’s way. Trust and commitment are the only way to find God’s way on a dark day.
A Thrilling Consequence
Out of trusting confidence and total commitment comes a thrilling consequence: He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6b). Through what ways will He direct us?
- His Word: In a dark day we need a little lamplight, and the Bible shines brilliantly. Many times, God’s will is already revealed through His Word. If you seek to know God’s way, you’d best know God’s Word.
- The Heart: God speaks directly to the human heart. We need to understand that prayer is a two-way street, and we must learn to listen to God with our hearts.
- His Wisdom: When we lack wisdom, James 1:5 tells us we are to ask God. We need to use our intellect that is on fire with the Holy Spirit.
- Providence: God opens and closes certain doors in our lives. There are times when, in our own judgment, we make terrible mistakes, and He intervenes and shuts those doors. This is the way of providence.
Clearing The Path
The Hebrew word for direct in Proverbs 3:6bis yashar.It literally means “to cut a path or clear the way.” The exciting reality is: God will not only lead you, but He will clear the way.
If you will trust God and acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will set an angel on a bulldozer ahead of you to clear the wilderness, level jungles, melt mountains, and fill valleys to make your pathway smooth! The gates of hell cannot prevail against the will of God and the Christian submitted to it.
There is no itinerary for the journey of life. It is filled with surprises. You find God’s will for the rest of your life by finding His will for the next fifteen minutes. Do what you know He wants you to do today. Be faithful in the small things; the greater things will come. He will lead the way through a dark day.
The Daily Hatch 