“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV)
As I read this passage of Scripture today, the first thing that stood out to me was to define the word “trust.” For to trust the Lord is not just words we say or an emotional or intellectual decision we make one time in our lives to believe (not usually defined) in Jesus Christ. So, when a lot of people say that they have trusted in Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior, oftentimes it is nothing more than a profession of faith in Jesus Christ they make which they believe promises them forgiveness of all sins and heaven upon death.
Well, it appears that this word “trust” has the same meaning as “faith,” and it means to be persuaded, in this case to be persuaded by God in accordance with his divine will and purpose for our lives. And it involves obedience to his commands (New Covenant). For it is the will of God that we should die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness, no longer as slaves to sin but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. And it is his will that we should now walk in holiness and in obedience to his commands.
So, when we trust in the Lord with our whole heart, and our heart is the core of our being, which is the fundamental truth of who we are in character and mind and behavior, then all of who we are and think and do is then surrendered to the Lord to do his will. Our lives are now committed to him. We are now his possession and he is now our Lord (Owner-Master). So he is now the one in charge of our lives and no longer ourselves. And so our will is now to obey the will of God and to do what he says.
And now we are not to lean on our own understanding. For we are to no longer be putting our trust in our own flesh and in our own reasoning and decision making processes. And we are not to be wise in our own eyes, thinking we know better than God. Now we are to be acknowledging the Lord in ALL our ways, so that he can direct our paths, and not us. And he will lead us in the ways of righteousness, godliness, holiness, integrity, honesty, moral purity, uprightness, faithfulness, and self-control.
But we must walk in the fear of the Lord, believing what he says, and applying those truths to our lives, in his power, by his Spirit. And we must turn away from sin (evil, wickedness) and now follow the Lord Jesus according to his ways and in obedience to his commands (New Covenant). And when we walk in the ways of the Lord, and not in the ways of the flesh, it will bring healing to our lives, and we will know the peace and joy of the Lord in our daily lives, plus we will be directed by his purpose for our lives.
With All Your Heart
Video Talk
June 29, 2023
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My Sheep
An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Based off John 10:1-18 NIV
My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.
So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.
Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…
They know my voice, so they follow me.