5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Although verses 5-7 of Proverbs 3 are short, individually they are essential — collectively they are vital. Born into the world we are taught the ways of the world, how to understand the world, how to make sense of our lives according to the world. We are taught to trust our eyes, and our so-called intuition to determine lies. We are taught to pray for what we need and want, as if He is the God of things. But to live the Chrisitan life, you are to trust in him with your complete heart, allowing Him to guide you in the world. This only becomes possible once being transformed by the Word, which happens when you believe God, instead of merely believing in God.
When not acknowledging God, good times can make us feel wise in our own eyes, even after receiving what we’ve prayed for. The human condition, plagued by pride, would rather take glory instead of giving glory to God. This is a selfish and evil deception meant to separate you from God; “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the lord and depart from evil.” To fear the Lord doesn’t mean to be afraid of God. It means to have deep respect and reverence for God, holding Him above your own understanding.
If you acknowledge God in all your ways, His Spirit will direct you in the way you should go — not only providing provisions, but also His protections. The Spirit of God will give you discernment when encountering others, revealing what your natural eyes cannot see. God sees your complete picture, while you see frame by frame. Blessings are missed when we don’t allow the Spirit to light our path and lead our way. Without that guidance we risk of wandering into conflict, crisis, and even sin. This is why Christians are not to be wise in our own eyes as the world is, but are to “Trust in the Lord”, acknowledging Him in all our ways. Fear of the Lord’s awesome power and authority is meant to turn His children away from every evil thought, word, and action that produces sin, transgression, and iniquity.
Application
As you go about your day, remember to ask yourself if you are considering God first. Be still and learn to sense the Holy Spirit subtly but wisely guiding you in the way you should — or should not — go. When faced with a decision, simply ask God what you should do or say, and then be patient and wait for a response from Him. You will receive one if you’re spiritually receptive to the voice of the Spirit. The more you make trusting the Lord a part of your Christian lifestyle, the quicker and clearer you His voice will become to you. Don’t allow peer pressure to trick you into leaning on your own wisdom or that of the world. Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to let go of people or things that are contrary to being obedient to God. Doing so may avoid conflict, crisis, and possibly even sin.
Prayer
Father God in heaven, I give my whole heart to you and ask that you fill it with your righteous wisdom. That my worldly view be replaced with your spiritual understanding, sparing me from conflict, crisis, and sin. Leaving my heart receptive to your purity of thoughts, words, and ways. In Christ Jesus name, I pray. Amen.