This is the second message in our series “I’m at my wits end”
Typically when we are stressed beyond our limits, we don’t know from one minute to the next what to do or where to turn
So what can I do?
Let’s look at Proverbs 3:5-6
Our Scripture passage that we read this morning was written by the wisest natural man who ever lived – King Solomon
And perhaps of all the wise things Solomon ever said or wrote, this particular passage may be the wisest
Let’s break this passage down and take a more in depth look at it
1. Trust in the Lord
What does it really mean to trust someone?
It means to have confidence or reliance in someone or something
I can be confident in or rely upon God
He hasn’t given me a reason not to
We can trust God with our eternal salvation, but can’t trust Him at times to provide our most basic needs
For those of you who may put your trust into someone else, that’s your business, but for me I can’t trust anyone but the Lord
It wasn’t Allah who loved me enough to send his only son to die for me – I can’t trust him
It wasn’t Muhammad who took his cross and stamped “pardon” on my soul to save me from a devil’s hell – I can’t trust him
It isn’t some new age crystal that heals me from my sicknesses – I can’t trust it
It wasn’t Buddah who divinely inspired the writing of an infallible, inerrant revelation of his character to me – I can’t trust him
It isn’t Nostradamus who thinks thoughts of peace and not of evil towards me to give me a future and a hope – I can’t trust him
It isn’t Krishna who gives me joy unspeakable and full of glory – I can’t trust him
It isn’t Sun Myung Moon who gives me peace that passes all understanding – I can’t trust him
It isn’t L. Ron Hubbard who is the same yesterday, today and forever – I can’t trust him
It isn’t Merrill Lynch or Charles Schwab who promises to provide my every need – I can’t trust them
It isn’t Uncle Sam who promises to be my protector against all my enemies – I can’t trust him
God has proven time and time again that He can be trusted
2. With all your heart
Not some of it, ALL of it
God want us to trust in Him with every fiber of our being
It’s time to let go of the situation and let Him be God for a little while
In every aspect of our lives, He wants us to be confident in and rely upon HIM
3. And lean not on your own understanding
It’s time to admit it – most of the time you don’t know what’s going on
We like to think that we do because we want to have some sense of control
God’s desire for us to come to a place of total surrender and allow Himself to rule supreme in our lives
4. In all your ways acknowledge Him
“In all your ways” could be loosely translated “in every thing you do”
Bottom line - Don’t disregard God in your life
In the Book of Daniel chapter 3, we see where 3 Hebrew children acknowledged God
They didn’t compromise their belief by bowing to a foreign god
As a result they were bound and cast into a fiery furnace
But the King didn’t see three men bound being consumed by fire, he saw four men loosed and walking around
They came out without a burn mark on them, and they didn’t even smell like smoke
Three chapters later we see where Daniel found himself in a situation where he didn’t even think twice about acknowledging God
As a result, Daniel ended up in a den of lions
The Bible tells us that the king who had to throw Daniel in the lions den, actually liked Daniel
The Bible says that after Daniel was put in the lion’s den, the king went back to the palace and didn’t sleep
It’s better to be in the lion’s den with God, than in the palace without Him!
In the 16th chapter of Acts we find Paul in Silas in jail
But instead of groaning and complaining about their circumstances, they began to acknowledge God
They begin praying, singing and shouting praises unto the Lord
And when they did, the ground began to shake
The earth began to quake
And the chains and prison doors that held them captive swung wide open
In all your ways acknowledge Him
Not just when it’s popular
Not just when it’s easy
But in all your ways – in every situation acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths
5. He shall direct your paths
In every situation I just spoke to you about, God miraculously paved a divine pathway
The three Hebrew children, Daniel, Paul and Silas didn’t lean on their own understanding, but completely trusted God, and acknowledged Him in the midst of their circumstance
When you acknowledge God, He will:
Stand with you in the midst of a fiery furnace
Shut the mouths of ravenous lions
Break the chains of bondage, and open doors that hold you captive
Direct you paths
Are you at your wits end?
Are you at a point in your life where you don’t know whether you are coming or going?
Trust God – completely and totally
Don’t try to figure it out for yourself
Acknowledge Him in every aspect of your life and allow Him to direct your steps
