“WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD”

JANUARY 8, 2025

“TRUSTING GOD’S DIRECTIONS”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

January is the beginning of not only a New Year, but it also affords us a new story of our lives to be written. So at this new crossword, I’d like to encourage us to use this guideline for the new chapters we are about to live. These two short verses of scripture have so much wisdom packed in them through offering us such wise counsel.

Life often feels like a winding path, filled with decisions, uncertainties and obstacles. In moments of doubt or confusion, it’s tempting to rely on our own understanding or seek worldly guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to a higher way of not only thinking, but trusting fully in God’s wisdom and submitting to his directions.

Trusting God with all your heart isn’t just an exercise in our intellect; it’s a heart-level surrender. It’s acknowledging that his wisdom surpasses ours and that he sees what we cannot. Like a child trusting a parent’s hand to guide them, we can rest assured that God’s plans for us are always good. Our understanding is limited, shaped by circumstances, emotions and past experiences. Therefore, it is wise on our part not to lean on our own understanding. While these various perspectives are valuable, they are not infallible. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that God’s ways are higher than ours. Leaning on his understanding means seeking his will through prayer, his word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Submitting to him in all your ways means inviting God into every area of our lives, decisions, relationships, careers and especially in our struggles. When we surrender all of these to him, he promises to make the paths that we must navigate, straight. This doesn’t mean the journey will always be easy, but it will be purposeful and he promises to lead us toward his best for us.

So, may I suggest that you examine every area of your life, definitely those where you are struggling, and trust God’s directions. Intentionally submit your plans to him daily through prayer. Ask him to guide your decisions each day and support it by reading scripture. He is our present help and refuge in times of trouble. And don’t forget to thank him for being a faithful guide in your life thus far. Knowing that he is All-Wise, All-Powerful, Always Present and Unchanging. This should help us to know that we can count on him, even when we can’t count on others. And we can rest in the assurance that he is directing and ordering our steps.

As we begin this New Year, let us do so trusting in God’s direction, protection, and his perfect plan for our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Senior Pastor Andrea (aka Rev. Andie)