Need Direction?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)



I don't know about you, but I constantly crave direction. My hubby has referred to me as "can't-make-a-decision-Cathy." And I know what the problem is.



Fear.



I'm so afraid of making the wrong decision that I end up in the sad condition known as the paralysis of analysis. 



Praise the Lord that there is hope for me (& people like me)!



TRUST IN THE LORD

The best cure for fear is trust in God. However, an untested faith isn't faith at all. I can trust a chair to hold me up, but until I actually put my weight on the chair, my faith isn't proven. In our daily lives, we must live in such a way that proves our trust in God. Lean on Him.



WITH ALL YOUR HEART

In an age when so many people and things vie for our affection, it can be challenging to have an undivided heart when it comes to God. But it's more than a suggestion. It's a command. When a Pharisee asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37, NIV)



LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

This is where I falter the most, and I don't think I'm alone. Our society is big on going with your gut instinct. The only problem with that philosophy is that our guts can be dead wrong. We can't follow our based-on-human-understanding plans and expect God to bless them. In every decision we face, no matter how big or small, we need to seek God. We can't see the big picture. He can.



IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

Admit that He is, always has been, and always will be. Recognize His sovereignty and authority. Express your gratitude for all that He is. Know Him and make Him known.



HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT

This path-straightening is the benefit of an undivided trust in God, seeking after Him, and acknowledging His Presence in our lives. His plan will prevail. He alone can clear obstacles from our paths and allow us to move forward. He alone--if we follow the truths in these verses--can truly direct our paths.



Why fear? Instead trust Him, seek Him, acknowledge Him. He'll make our paths straight.



Dear Father,



Thank You for being trustworthy. Help us to lean on You, confident that You will hold us up. Give us undivided hearts, Lord, to love You with all that we are. May we seek after You and Your desires in every decision we face. May You be glorified through our acknowledgment and confession that You are our God. Thank You for the abundant blessings that are ours because we belong to You.



In Jesus' Name,

Amen