Proverbs 3

Oh boy. This stuff is too good. I could write pages about some of these verses, but I'll try to keep it short.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
on your own intelligence rely not;
In all your ways be mindful of him,
and he will make straight your paths. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

This is a lot of people's favorite verse. This is the type of verse that you tape to your bathroom mirror, on your laptop, or any other place where you might need this frequent reminder. However, it's funny how often we like to grab on to the promise without meeting the requirement. We tell ourselves that God will make straight our paths and go along our merry way without trusting the Lord with all our heart and in all our ways being mindful of Him.

What does it mean when someone tells us to trust them? It usually means that either the circumstances are shaky or that you are wavering. I know that as a Christian, I often am told to just "trust God." But when it comes down to it, I'm not sure I trust God like I trust my car to get me from point A to point B or my computer to turn on when I press the power button (though in reality, the likelihood of failure for both of these things is much higher than God). A lot of times when it comes to trusting in God, I find myself having a "just in case" folder in which if God doesn't come through, it's okay because at least I have a backup plan. When I come to my senses though, I realize just how dumb that is. What does it say about who I believe God to be if I feel like I have to help Him out in case He can't come through? In fact, it should be more like, "God, you better be real because if this falls apart, I'm screwed! I don't have a plan B."

And what does it mean to be “mindful of him”? From the Greek, it means “to know, to perceive, find, distinguish.” Often times, we tell God of our plan and then ask Him to bless us. I’m always reminded of that celebrity who wins an award for something and though they seem more well known for the debaucherous life they live, they make sure to, “thank God for making all of this happen.” This is where I start talking to the TV, but let’s not go there. It’s helpful to remind myself that I do this in many ways myself. I need to know, perceive, and distinguish God more deeply in my moment-to-moment life.