The Long and Winding Road .
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

I read these passages considering my own path in life and the numerous twists, curves and u-turns I’ve made in my life. God’s grace was surely with me as I navigated the journey. His grace is the only explanation for how I am able to even know scripture at all, to understand a small portion of its meaning and to examine my life through the lens of the Bible.

God has truly showed us what is good. He also has told man – that includes us – ad infinitum that if we will trust Him, we will make our path straight. Um, I don’t know about you, but I think I’ve been exposed! The harsh glare of the truth is never pleasant, but thinking of an eternity apart from God is even worse. That’s why we are to attempt to live out the instructions of Micah.

I admit freely, though with great remorse and even downright shame, that I have not relied upon God often enough or sincerely enough in my life. Even in the last decade and a half, when I claim to have come to know Christ, I have wandered off course more times than I can count.

Again, my own life and my testimony are evidence of God’s mercy and grace. Human tendency is to act, respond, move, do something! I tend to be more Type A than anything else which means I tend am likely rush in, take over, and “get it done.” This tendency applies to business situations, volunteer leadership roles, and especially in my personal life. Rather than allow God to reveal the “straight path” to me, I chart my own course. That’s often when the doubling back occurs.

The world can seem so out of control and our lives can be so busy and overwhelming it is easy to forget that God’s got it all covered! If we will take a few minutes out of our exhaustingly frantic lives, He will remind us of that truth and show us the straight path to the peace which surpasses understanding.

My prayer today is that you will turn over one decision, one task, one activity to God’s direction and control. And that you trust in God with all your heart that He will walk with you all your days.

Mary

Labels: life, trust, understanding

  ¶ 6:32 AM