Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity – Friday
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6
You would always like to do the right thing whenever you undertake anything. Is that not so? -whatever will give you God-pleasing success and God’s blessing. How must you go about this?
Use proper forethought and calm deliberation in everything. Hence, make good use of the “understanding” (Psalm 119:104) which God has graciously given to you. But do not “lean unto [your] own understanding;” do not trust in yourself. For the sphere of your understanding, though it be ever so keen, is very limited. You cannot comprehend all things. A thousand contingencies may arise to upset your shrewdest calculations.
“Trust in the Lord with all [your] heart” in a truly child-like manner and He promises to “direct [your] paths.” In all your ways, in all your undertakings, in all your plans, acknowledge Him who is your dear heavenly, gracious Father. Let it be your foremost concern to do what is well pleasing to Him, avoiding everything that displeases Him. Why should this be your foremost concern? This ought to be your foremost concern out of overflowing, unending gratitude for all of God’s unearned, unmerited, and undeserved gifts of full pardon for all of your sins and your righteousness before Him, gifts which He has graciously given to you through the perfect obedience, the willing suffering, and the sinless “offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
When this gracious God directs your paths according to His own Word and will, you will have God-pleasing success and His rich blessings, whether you realize it or not. The psalmist, in the 37th Psalm, gave you this counsel and this reassurance: “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).
PRAYER – O my dear Heavenly Father, be with me in all my ways, and direct my paths for my welfare in time and for eternity. Increase my trust and confidence in Thee and in Thy sure promise to direct my paths, for the sake of and for the glory and honor of my only Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen.
Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be;
lead me by Thine own hand, choose Thou the path for me;
I dare not choose my lot; I would not if I might;
choose Thou for me, my God; so shall I walk aright.
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Choose Thou for me my friends, my sickness and my health;
choose Thou my cares for me, my poverty or wealth;
not mine, not mine, the choice, in things or great or small;
be Thou my guide, my strength, my wisdom and my all
(TLH, 532, 1-2).