Mensa Otabil - Trust in the Lord to Direct Your Paths
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We can trust God for our direction in the choices we want to make. We can trust Him to lead us in the right way. Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6 says, «Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.» It is one of my favorite passages of Scripture.
The word that is translated as «trust» in verse 5 means to lie helplessly facedown. To trust is to lie helplessly facedown; it is the posture of total surrender. It is like a soldier who has gone into battle and has been defeated. He takes his weapons, puts them on the ground, lies prostrate before the conqueror with his face down and his weapons down. That is what this trust means— to lie that way before God. That should be our posture before God. When we say we trust God, we take our weapons, skills, and abilities—all the things that we feel will defend us and help us—and we put them on the ground.
Then we lie before the Lord and say, «Lord, lead me, guide me, order my steps.» It’s a place of vulnerability because, when you trust Him, you’re unsure—will He come through for me? Will He help me? Will He guide me? But that place of surrender is where we begin in our trust with God. The danger, of course, is that many times we lean on our own understanding and our preferred options, and then we miss God. Just to be clear, it doesn’t mean that God suggests we ignore intelligence and common sense. Rather, it is cautioning us not to lean on our own understanding. That means you don’t yield totally; you don’t just support yourself on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him. That means, in every area of your life, bring God into the picture.
If you’re making a decision in the office, bring God into the picture. If it’s a family decision, bring God into the picture. If it has to do with your marriage, bring God into the picture. If it has to do with an academic decision you’re making, bring God into the picture. In all your ways, acknowledge Him. Don’t just bring God into the picture when you are in church, but in every area of your life and at every point in your life when you’re making a decision. You may have tools to make the decision, but surrender them to the Lord and say, «Lord, this is what I would wish to use, but guide me even in how to use my own tools, even in how to use my own brain, even in how to use my own effort. Help me to make the right decision.»
The Bible says when we do that, He will direct our paths; He will lead us. You may not fully hear Him shouting your name and telling you to turn left or right, but He will gently guide you and bring you to the place of great favor and great victory. I want you to trust God with your decisions. Acknowledge Him in all your ways; He will direct your path. Peace and life to you.