WHAT TO DO WHEN WE'RE NOT CERTAIN WHAT TO DO
PROVERBS 3:5-6
Text:
Introduction:
Whatever goals and accomplishments we have set in our lives we will only realize them when we trust in God's guidance.
In our text we find some very practical and simple truths that give us guidance and instruction as to What To Do When You're Not Certain What to Do.
As we look at the road ahead, we see the obstacles, bumps and turns up ahead that make us impatient.
Note what the apostle said;
We read in Hebrews 12:1:
Hebrews 12:1
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
The author refers here to the race that is set before us and it is to run with patience.
When we speak of patience we speak of:
Not trying to do it all at once.
Not getting ahead of God
We can expect to find confusing turns along the way and things that will test our faith and commitment to God. This is normal, if you have determined to serve Him. The devil is going to test your faith and commitment.
The same thing happened to Job.
I can assure you that there will be hills to climb and bridges to cross!
How are we going to do it?
Read Passage -- Proverbs 3:1-6
Proverbs 3:1-6
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
There are times when we find ourselves in in a situation or facing circumstances that we are not certain how to proceed or exactly what to do.
Remember "We should never make a decision while at in-decision."
Notice two things that we find in this passage.
1. PREREQUISITES
Too often we want to enjoy the promises of God's Word, but with most every promise there is at least one prerequisite.
Such is the case here.
Note the prerequisites:
A. Trust in the Lord With All Thine Heart (vs. 5)
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Often we only turn to Him when there is no one else to turn to. But how about making Him our first resource, before turning to anyone else
The word trust means:
1. Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence
2. A person on whom or thing on which one relies
3. To believe
„X We must trust His Word
2 Peter 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
„X We must trust His Work
Philippians 1:6
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
„X We must trust His Ways
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 11:33
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Psalm 18:30
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Note we're not to just trust, but trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart.
Psalm 119:2
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psalm 119:10
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psalm 119:34
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalm 119:58
58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Psalm 119:69
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psalm 138:1
1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
B. Lean Not Unto Thine Understanding (vs. 5)
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Don't depend on yourself or what you know but depend on God's word
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Christian life is not a life lived by sight but rather lived by faith
Our success in the Christian life is not based on our ability but rather our inability which results in a dependency upon on the Lord
C. In all thy ways acknowledge Him (vs. 6)
Proverbs 3:6
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This means every aspect of our lives.
„X At Home
„X At Work
„X At Church
„X At Ease
„X At everyday life -- in everything we do
These prerequisites secure His:
2. PROMISE
Proverbs 3:6
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
He Shall Direct Thy Paths
„X Provider of this guidance -- "The Lord"
„X Promise of this guidance -- "He SHALL"
„X Person for this guidance -- "Thy Paths"
Close:
He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day;
But step by step my path unfolds,
My Lord directs my way.
Tomorrow's plans I do not know;
I only know this minute.
But he will say, "This is the way,
By faith now walk ye in it."
And I am glad that it is so,
Today's enough to bear;
And when tomorrow comes, his grace
Shall far exceed its care.
What need to worry then, or fret?
The God who gave his Son
Holds all my moments in his hand
And gives them one by one.
Need direction?
Today we should commit to these simple truths --
Trust in the Lord with all our heart
Lean not on thine own understanding
In all our ways acknowledge Him.
