Walking the Straight Path God Provides (Proverbs 3)

Evening Scripture Proverbs, Chapter 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame. Evening Reflection Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6, has long been my favorite passage of all of Scripture. Its truths cuts through the noise of this frenetic world we live in, and remind us what is involved with walking the pathway that God calls us to. Firstly, walking straight along God’s pathways is rooted in trust. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. I don’t know about you, but too often I try to reverse that order. I trust too much in my own understanding, and I lean not on God’s wisdom or direction. But the life of faith is rooted in the life of trust – this daring belief that no matter what, we are surrounded by the presence of the God who created us, redeemed us, and sustains us. Verse 26 promises that the Lord will keep our feet from being snared. This trust, this heartfelt trust that binds love and faithfulness to every action of our lives, is what allows us to walk the path that God sets for us. But we must remember, Proverbs 3 promises that the path will be straight – it doesn’t promise the path will be easy. The life of faith can be hard; struggle and difficulty can unexpectedly arise. But this doesn’t mean that we walk in error – it doesn’t mean that God is not leading us. The path that God has us on is the path that leads us to deeper experiences of God’s grace and love, and deeper knowledge of God’s will for our lives. And while the road my be hard at times, we can trust that are walking on the path that God has provided. As you rest this night, take a moment to reflect on the path that God has placed you on. Where do you see God moving around you? Where are you called to trust in Lord for your next step? Evening Prayer Gracious and ever-loving God, In you I live, and move, and have my being. In your presence is the pathway to life, and it is my desire to delight in your will, and walk in your way. Help me to discern the path that you place me upon. When I face decisions, Lord give me wisdom to follow your call to love and faithfulness. When the road is uneasy or hard, give the gift of trust in your presence. And Lord, in those moments when I don’t know where you are calling me, help me to be still and know that you are God, and to wait patiently for your directions. This I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. 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