“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)
Understanding
True understanding about ourselves, others and this life only comes through trust in God. God alone has perspective and truth. God alone has understanding about what matters, who we are and what will happen. And the good news for you and me today is that our Heavenly Father is absolutely longing to share His understanding. God yearns for us to think and see through the lens of the Holy Spirit and His Word. Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV) 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 straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Why is it that when Scripture promises us God’s understanding, we still do life apart from His wisdom? Why do we look to our own minds and go our own ways when God makes His understanding and will so available? You and I are only capable of looking for understanding in that which we fully trust. If we don’t trust that God’s wisdom and will are truly the best path laid before us, we will go our own ways. If we don’t trust that God’s commands will actually produce the most abundant life, we will choose the ways of the world. To live with Godly understanding and wisdom is to look to God alone as our Truth.
Proverbs 3:13-18 (ESV) stirs my heart to lean on God for my understanding. Scripture says:
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
While all the world is declaring to you its understanding of truth, I pray that you will look to its one, True Source today. I pray that you will lean on your loving Heavenly Father for understanding about yourself, your life and others. May today be marked by a continual overflow of revelation. May you know how God feels about you and base your image off His understanding. May you experience to greater depths the perfect mind of Jesus. And may God’s Word transform your life as it plants seeds of wisdom that grow into beautiful, plentiful trees of peace and life.
— Craig Denison, First 15
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