Yes! There is Good News! 8.27.2016

In the last article, I mentioned how valuable the book of Proverbs was. In it is wisdom and riches beyond compare. One of my favorite scriptures is found in this book of Proverbs, in Chapter 3, verse 5 and 6: “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 path straight.”

It goes on from there with some beautiful instruction, but let’s start with just these two verses. “Trust” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to be reliant, to trust, to hasten toward refuge.” And the word for “heart” literally means “the center of something.” To go a little further with this word, we can see that the organ that pumps blood is somewhat at the center of our bodies. But this word also includes the center of who we are. By definition in Hebrew, “it includes our motives, feelings, affections, desires principles and thoughts.” This is really a huge word. It encompasses the entirety of our personality.

This suggestion that we “trust the Lord with all our heart” looms large in our devotion to the Creator. At what point do we leave His understanding out of our lives? When do we not accept His instruction or wisdom? Does he not know all things? Does He not see all things? In Psalm 139:4 it says, “before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” If we desire to have a relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of all things and He tells us to “trust in Him with all that we are,” I believe we shall find this to be a good thing. Oh, and by the way, if you find this to be news to you, then let’s just call it “good news.”

This is a powerful statement, my friends and neighbors. Let me say that it takes guts and determination to put all of your trust in God.

So what does the second part of this statement in Proverbs say? “In all your ways acknowledge Him ...” The words “all your ways,” is another way of saying “with all your heart.” Once we have put our trust in Him and asked for His advice and guidance, as we come out the other side of that situation, I do believe we must acknowledge His leading, and help.

Then what happens? The next part of this scripture states “and He will make your paths straight.” This word straight has the sense of being smooth, pleasant or prosperous.

Doesn’t it seem obvious that we would want our paths to be pleasant or prosperous? Why would we want it any other way? Our God desires good things for those who trust and acknowledge Him. And that, of course, is “good news.”

There’s still more to come.