| Day 289: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. The Weight of Your TrustMy child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
(Proverbs 3:1-6) ReflectAsk anyone to quote from the book of Proverbs and he or she might quote from this chapter, especially Proverbs 3:5-6. "Depend[ing] on your own understanding" has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can't trust anyone—not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than even we are! We can trust him completely in every choice we make. This does not mean we can omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason. Yet we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We can instead be willing to listen to and be corrected by God's Word and wise counselors. To receive God's guidance, said Solomon, we must acknowledge God in all our ways. This means turning every area of life over to him. About a thousand years later, Jesus emphasized this same truth (Matthew 6:33). RespondLook at your values and priorities. What is important to you? In many areas of your life you may already acknowledge God, but it is in the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence that will cause you grief. Make him a vital part of everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes. Bring your decisions to God in prayer. Use the Bible as your guide, and then follow God's leading. He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you. | 
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