There are thousands of promises in the Bible. We spend time memorizing scripture which include God's promises. There are hundreds of books that are written specifically to share God's promises to different groups of people. It is a popular type of book to buy for graduation or when someone is going through a struggle. Just because you are familiar with the promises of God doesn't mean that you really believe them. Sometimes they sound great until you really have to "Trust in the Lord your God and lean not on your own understanding". It's a hard thing to do. Sometimes we don't even realize that we are not trusting in the Lord and we sit around wondering why he is not "guiding our steps"
Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite verses in the bible and one of the few I have fully memorized...
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
It comforts me to know that I can trust the Lord and that I do not have all the answers so that when things do not make sense to me I can know that the Lord may be working in ways that I do not understand. I know that the Lord created all things and has a master plan that I cannot see or understand. There are many things that will not make sense to me because I cannot see or understand all that He sees and understands.
This does not mean that I should stand still and wait for Him to throw something in my lap to do. I have to move forward in the way that I believe I am being directed. I have to pray and give my life to Him and trust that He will help me to turn where I need to turn and stay straight where I need to stay straight. If I hear a whisper that I need to stop or not take an opportunity then I need to be obedient but I need to continue to desire to be in His will and not mine. I need to not waste time on things that I know He does not desire for my life. I need to spend time with Him one on one so that I know when He is directing me and when I am going rogue.
If I am not spending time in His word and in prayer which includes praise, thanksgiving and repentance how can I expect Him to make my paths straight? How can I expect to know when He is trying to redirect me? If my world revolves around me and not Him that it will be most difficult to trust Him and to submit to Him.
We can't take these promises out of context and only focus on the part that we like.. Trust in the Lord... He will make your paths straight... That version is not truth. We do not trust in the Lord to give us what we desire. We have to submit to Him and not lean on our own understanding...
How often do we take a memory verse and leave out important parts, even subconsciously, so that it suits our view of things?
Do not be anxious about anything but by prayer and petition present your request to God. This is one we use all the time but we leave out "with thanksgiving". It is critical that we do not leave out thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Look at your favorite bible verse again with new eyes. See if the Lord doesn't show you something new to be thankful for.
Let me know what your favorite promise is from the Lord.
