Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5–6 instructs us, “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.”

Today’s passage, perhaps the most famous in all of Proverbs, asks us to do the same thing, but to an extreme degree. Proverbs 3:5–6 instructs us, “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.”

The three commands in these two verses are variations on the same theme. In the first place, Solomon tells us to trust in the Lord with “all our heart.” That is, we are to rely on God completely and totally with all our beings. Consistent with Proverbs’ use of metaphorical language, “heart” in this passage doesn’t refer to the physical muscle pumping blood through our bodies. Nor does it refer to our emotions, as it commonly does in English. Instead, “heart” is a metaphor for our mind, feelings, will, and personality. In this case, the heart is everything that makes a human a human.

Second, we must not “lean on our own understanding.” This is hard for most people because we tend to trust mostly in ourselves. Solomon assures us, though, that nothing but God is worthy of our trust, no matter how wise or intelligent we may be.

Third, “in all your ways submit to him.” In all our actions, reactions, thoughts, and plans, we are to submit to the Lord. Are you seeing a theme here? The entirety of our being should be turning toward the Lord, relying on Him, and doing what He says. Solomon is giving us a whole-life, all-encompassing ethic of living in right relationship with God.


Time for a trust exercise. Consider in whom or in what you are trusting today. How can you trust God with all of the circumstances in your life? What do you need to turn over to Him?

 

[Intercessor]

Thanks for reminding us to be wholehearted in our trust in The Lord... I like another rendering of the second part of this verse -- in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths -- I know that ### used to ask for travelling mercies EVERY TIME they all loaded in the big van to go minister -- they travelled hundreds of miles to give testimonies and sing choir and their safety record during the years I was affiliated with them was impressionable. Just a memory that came to mind : )

 

[Motherangelica]

Wonderful thought for today. To trust in God is to rely on Him alone no matter what we are going through and how we feel today. To trust Jesus is the foundation of an eternal relationship with Him. It allows us to come to Him with an open heart believing that He is going to do us good, to bless our life and to lead us all to His home in glory.

 

[UsherThomson]

Let us all obey God's word every single day of our life. Praying for guidance in our life so we will not miss our way to heaven. Trusting God's direction in our life. Jesus is the Way, the truth and the Life, no one cometh to the Father but through Him.

 

[Sherue]

Wonderful thought for today. To trust in God is to rely on Him alone no matter what we are going through and how we feel today. To trust Jesus is the foundation of an eternal relationship with Him. It allows us to come to Him with an open heart believing that He is going to do us good, to bless our life and to lead us all to His home in glory.

Amen###