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

Funny little bit of trivia, Proverbs 3:6 is the one verse that has stuck with me all my life. So there’s a little bit of bias to spend a little more time trying to get at all the meaning that anyone posibly could! However, God showed me something that was more important recently, what happens when you stop acknowledging all that He can do? We know what can happen when you trust in God for everything and not in yourself, but what about when you trust in yourself?

The answer to that sounded simple at first, until I really started to think about it. When you’ve walked with God (or at leats attempted to ) for any bit of time you tend to forget that which was your life before. The song So Long by DC Talk came on while I was setting up the verses for this month and it made me really think about what was implied by this verse. And then I got to thinking about why God would give me that song in a time like this, and then I realized that it was just for this post. Which brings me to my actual thought for the day.

It\’s all about leaning, and putting all you are, into God and letting Him shape and mold all that you are and do. If you try to put your emphasis in other things what have you gained? What could possibly be better than a relationship with that who created you? In the end I was reminded of what this verse has truely brought me over the years: hope.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:1-4

There’s a slipperly slope here than I tend to slide down, and that’s the favor of men. I have the tendency to not really care what other people think of me. Whether that’s good or bad I’m still not totally sure, but it is written that winning favor with man is good. Just not as good as favor with God, it is second afterall.

Now, lets backtrack to verse one. Unfortunately, I’m starting this series with chapter three, however this verse is still a good way to set things up because it reminds me (at least) that everything that comes here after in the chapter is vitally important. Not my words, but the word of God. But why? Verse two helps to answer that, it helps you in this life as well as the next. More life to spend spreading the love of God, more years to bring prosperity to yourself (however it is that you count it) and more time to start storing treasure in heaven.

Verse three sums alot of this little opener up into one two part thing: faithful love. As important as this is between people (boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife, brother and sister, friends, etc), it’s just as important between us and God. We can love God with all we are, and yet not be faithful to Him and His teachings. Does it happen? Well, yes, we do sin afterall, but it’s the attitude of the heart that God looks at.

So go out henceforth and faithfully love those around you. Not just to gain favor with God and man, but with yourself as well.