Can You Understand Your Way?

Well, the power is out at work so I thought I'd write a little...

A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?

Lately this Scripture has brought me comfort. Though, implied is the fact that you will be feeling discomfort in order for this verse to bring you comfort.

Ha.

Funny ;)

The reference is from Proverbs 20:24. On the surface it makes sense - that we won't necessarily understand life's ups and downs, changes, sames, and so on... If God is directing our steps, how then can we as finite beings understand or grasp His infinite wisdom in how He directs?

However, the discomforting reality is that we WON'T understand.

That's hard.

At least for me.

Maybe those with greater faith never have a problem with not understanding, but not understanding is difficult for me. So many questions...

What about...?

How long...?

How does this fit...?

Am I missing You Lord...?

Are you really directing my steps...?

I guess this is where trust comes in. I don't have to understand, but I do need to trust....

Trust in Him and lean not on my own understanding.

Trust that all things work or good for those who love Him.

Trust that HE IS directing my steps.

And if I'm off track? If I've made a mistake or missed Him? Trust that He will guide me back on track. His track.

Lord, I don't understand my steps, but you have said that I won't necessarily understand when You are the One in control. Teach me to trust You more. Teach me to walk one day at a time and trust the "why's" of life to Your infinite wisdom. And help me to trust that if I'm off track, if I seek you and trust you and don't depend on my understanding, you will direct my steps. I want to stay close to You no matter what. You are enough. Amen.

Diligence

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth. http://bible.us/Prov12.27.ESV

One thing the Holy Spirit seems to be speaking to me about lately, is diligence...

What Does Love Look Like?

http://bible.us/Prov3.12.ESV for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Tuned In?

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. http://bible.us/Prov2.2.NLT

Man, woman, or child...

What are your ears tuned to?

Trust, Revisited

We revisited these verses as a family tonight... with His help, we will be a family who trusts in the Lord, through all things.

http://bible.us/Prov3.5.ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Iron Sharpens Iron

I've been spending a lot of time lately getting to know another brother in the Lord, Larry Meece. Our time together has been encouraging and uplifting - my life has gotten better as a result of our hours working together. God, through Larry, has made me a better man.

I was reminded of that Scripture tonight...

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

We are all contagious. There is no way around it. Our lives matter and we are affecting the lives of those around us - for good or ill. Our attitudes, our faith (or lack thereof), our sin, our worries... They are all having an impact.

The question is, what kind of an impact are you having?

It's your choice. Let's choose life.

A Man's Steps

A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? http://bible.us/Prov20.24.ESV

Just sayin'. For my sake.

Dirty Oxen

A favorite verse... almost a riddle! So what does it mean??

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. http://bible.us/Prov14.4.ESV

Trust

The Lord has been using this promise of His greatly in my life lately... I hope it provides encouragement to someone else tonight as well.

I would encourage you to read and pray through each line of this passage, one by one. Do it with the Holy Spirit, and let His truth sink in deep.

May the Lord overwhelm you with His peace as you trust in Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Iron

Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

It is true - God uses people in our lives to sharpen us and make us better. The question is, who are you being vulnerable enough with that they can speak into your life? Who have you given the freedom to share with you what they see in you?

Vulnerability is scary, but necessary for growth. So I ask again, who are you vulnerable with?

Trust

I was reminded this morning that God has great plans for my life. He has great plans for us as a family.

The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11,

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Praise God that today we can trust that the Lord has great plans for us! He knows us by name, and knows what plans He has for us!

And now on to trusting Him...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Trust... can sometimes be the hardest part.

Lost

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Have you ever lost your way? As a man of course I have never gotten lost, nor ha...

I better stop right there. Because it simply isn't true.

I've been lost on the highway before, no doubt about it. But have you ever felt lost on the highway of life?

I wrote about it the other day, how the animated movie Cars surprisingly provided some comfort in my journey called life. Yet, I still feel I have more to share on the subject.

What do you do when things don't work out quite the way we had planned them to? What happens when a detour is thrown into our path and the dreams we had seem to be derailed? It seems that's where my family has been for the last little while. Do we abandon the dream? To we change the course? Is God wanting us to do something different?

For my wife and I, we have had a heart for ministry. Now, before I bleed my heart out anymore, the reality is that those who call themselves Christians are in ministry. We are the light of the world, and you don't need ministry to be an occupation or minister to be your title to reach out and love others the way Jesus told us to. We are the Body of Christ. But we have felt a specific longing for ministry. Full-time. Maybe it's a calling, maybe it's just pursuing our heart, either way, it's what we have gone back to. And more importantly, it's the direction it seems the Holy Spirit is leading us in.

So what do you do when things aren't looking the way you anticipated? Do we throw in the towel? Has God changed His mind? Did we miss it somehow? Do we really have anything to offer anyone?

I don't know the answer to these questions for you - I have difficulty answering them for myself sometimes.

But here is what I know...

Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

and

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

and

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

and

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

So... what do you do... But trust?

Problem is, that's easier said than done. It's more natural to trust in myself than Him. It's easier to trust in myself who is finite and limited and flawed, than the One who sees all, knows all, created me and can see the bigger picture. Doesn't make a lot of sense but it's the reality of my life at times.

OK, a lot of times.

So today, I choose to trust. As best I know how, I trust.

Even though I may feel lost, I know that in Him,

I am found.