Are You "Going It Alone"


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

(MSG) Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.

(GNT) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. 6 Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way. 

(NLT) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

They saying hearing things over and over, helps it to stick. Well, I REALLY like the way the Message and the Good News Translation have these verses!! Just hearing it put in a different way, sometimes helps it stick more.

The part that got me today, was not trusting in yourself – what?!?! Isn’t that what we are told nowadays?!
lean not on your own understanding
don’t try to figure out everything on your own
Never rely on what you think you know
do not depend on your own understanding

God’s word always points us back to Him. Trusting in Jesus to guide, direct, lead and help us. All of these are saying the same thing, just in a different way. Being ‘self-aware’ is different than being ‘selfish’ or ‘self-centered’ – being aware that we need to trust and rely on Someone who is always seeking the best for us. Yup, not easy! It can be very hard, because it goes against what seems to be our ‘nature’.

Then the part about trying to figure things out on our own, that is a big one too! However, when we go to Him with confidence knowing that He not only IS listening, but that He WILL hear us and help us! I LOVE having that confidence in Him!! When I pray, I expect that He is right there, listening and giving me His undivided attention. I expect that He will answer my prayers. However, I trust that His ways of answering are the good, best, and right ways. Very often (more than you know) the “way” I THOUGHT He was going to answer is VERY different than how He actually did answer. For me, that just strengthens my trust and faith in Him. He really does know best!

Today, if you have been trying to “go it alone” STOP it! First, go to our amazing, loving Father and share what is going on. Climb up on His lap and picture Him bending His ear to you, giving you incredible eye contact, and not only hearing you, but listening to you – every word! Now, here is the hard part: listen back! Listen to what the Holy Spirit whispers in your heart. Perhaps God wants you to do something different. Or nothing at all. Perhaps He will have someone pop in your thoughts that you should go talk to and share this with. Perhaps He will be quiet for a bit. Seeing if you will really trust Him as He starts working on things behind the scene. It is not always easy, believe me – but it is worth it!! I’ll be praying for you today. Be blessed!! Trust and pray – there really is no other way!



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