Bible Verse: 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 (ESV)
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 19:20; Isaiah 55:8-9
There is a distinction between knowing godly wisdom and depending on it.
There are many instances in my life, and I’m sure yours, where you knew the wise thing to do but went a different direction and wished you hadn’t. Godly wisdom only helps you if you use it. What good is it to know it but not to act on it? Why do we do this?
Our verse today hits it right on the head, at least for me:
It all comes down to trust.
Do I trust that God’s wisdom works? Sometimes I do, but if I’m honest, sometimes I don’t. In those instances, I like to go with my way, which is usually the easier way.
Sometimes, the wise thing to do seems too complicated and takes too long. I wouldn’t say I like that, so I go with my own wisdom, but end up regretting it. I think I’m probably preaching to the choir today, as you have likely also felt that tension.
It frustrates me that Solomon wrote, “…with all your heart.” That’s a lot of commitment and dependence, and it is clear that if we want to live a life led by godly wisdom, we must trust Him with all our hearts. We must be all in, no holding back.
In my faith journey, now spanning well over three decades, I have found that this is the hardest part of living for God. The hymn lyrics, “Oh, for grace to trust Him more!” often ring in the recesses of my mind as I think about growing in faith and wisdom. Complete dependency is not easy, but it is necessary.
So, I have a choice to make today, and you do too. Am I going to depend on God’s wisdom intentionally? As we have walked through the pathway to discovering and developing wisdom this week, will I now depend on God’s wisdom? Will I defer to what God wants and not what I want?
This doesn’t happen overnight; it takes discipline and time. But there is no better time to start than today!
Prayer: Dear God, help me to trust You and Your wisdom with my whole heart. Help me to be disciplined in making Your wisdom my priority. Help me to be attentive to Your voice. Thank You for Your patience when I choose a different path and for Your forgiveness when I ask.
Reflection: What decisions do I need to make today? What does God want me to do? What’s the wise thing to do?
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