Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

"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." Proverbs 3:5-6 Truly, it's foolish NOT to do this. God sees from a totally different perspective than we do. He knows all the circumstances of our lives. He knows the enemy planning to attack us, and he knows the temptations that will try to lure us off the right path. He, and he alone, knows our future. So what folly it is for a person to lean on his own limited understanding and perspective, and ignore the God of heaven who knows all. Therefore the Word of God advises us to resist leaning on our own understanding, to resist trying to figure every situation out, to resist making decisions on our own. We don't have enough knowledge of the hidden things in order to make right decisions. If you proceed according to the dictates of the understanding you feel you have ...then you're on your own. vs 7-8: "Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." If you walk in total trust in the Lord, you WILL depart from evil. Who would drink a glass of poison deliberately? That's exactly what walking in evil is. Man doesn't believe that sin will bring any judgment upon him, because The Liar has spoken to him telling him that nothing bad will happen. Here, drink this, it only has a LITTLE poison in it but it's so pleasant. That is a lie from hell. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7 God is the one who has created nature's laws and who has put into life the principles of his Word. In nature, if you throw a ball up it will come down. Gravity is a law so sure that no one would even think to deny it - yet they would deny the spiritual laws that the same God has established. One of those laws is that whatever a person sows, he is going to reap. This law is unavoidable. Yes, there is forgiveness of sin, but the spiritual law of sowing and reaping remains in effect. If a woman commits adultery, she can be forgiven. But if a baby is conceived, God’s forgiveness won’t change that fact. This is an obvious example of sowing and reaping, but it is presented here only because it's so obvious. The fact is that all sin produces a reaping from what one has sown. If you gossip against someone, you can be sure someone will gossip against you. That's the way it works. We reap what we sow. vs 8: "For he who sows to his flesh WILL of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." The opposite is also true. If a person sows righteousness, he will receive the blessings of the principles of God. If he chooses to humble himself before God, God will honor him, so if one wants honor, the way to achieve that is to humble oneself before God. The way up is down. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12 Therefore, turn all that makes up your life over to the only One who knows all about you. Surrender all to him, and he WILL direct your paths. Acknowledge him in everything, big and small, major and minor, and you will find him faithful. Trust in him therefore, with ALL of your heart and let HIM lead you. "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, on you I wait all the day." Psalm 25:4-5