Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Prov. 3:5, 6).
William T. Stead, who went down on the Titanic, was asked to become editor of the Pall Mall Gazette in London. He consulted his friend Dean Church about it, and after their interview Mr. Stead expressed his assurance that he would be divinely guided. The dean was astonished at his certainty. "I should feel swindled," said Mr. Stead, "if I were not so led."
"Why so?" asked the dean.
"Why? I read in the book of Proverbs: 'In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' I have acknowledged Him, and I know that I shall be directed."
One of the hardest lessons to learn in this life is to trust God fully. It is so easy, so natural, to lean on our own understanding. "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36) is the medicine we need. The real test is the Lord's demand for "all thine heart." The same divine requirement is repeated in the last verse of our text: "Inall thy ways acknowledge him." If God is not in all our ways, He is not in our waysat all. In little things, as well as the large, we are privileged to acknowledge God. He is interested in us 24 hours a day, 60 minutes of the hour, 60 seconds of the minute.
He watches over all our life's journey, from the first uncertain step of babyhood to the last uncertain step of old age. He knows all about us, gives us all blessings, and leads us all through life if we desire and permit Him to do so. Why then should we not acknowledge Him? "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). Then let us ask the Lord to direct them. "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps" (Prov. 16:9).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not" (Ps. 17:5).
William T. Stead, who went down on the Titanic, was asked to become editor of the Pall Mall Gazette in London. He consulted his friend Dean Church about it, and after their interview Mr. Stead expressed his assurance that he would be divinely guided. The dean was astonished at his certainty. "I should feel swindled," said Mr. Stead, "if I were not so led."
"Why so?" asked the dean.
"Why? I read in the book of Proverbs: 'In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' I have acknowledged Him, and I know that I shall be directed."
One of the hardest lessons to learn in this life is to trust God fully. It is so easy, so natural, to lean on our own understanding. "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36) is the medicine we need. The real test is the Lord's demand for "all thine heart." The same divine requirement is repeated in the last verse of our text: "Inall thy ways acknowledge him." If God is not in all our ways, He is not in our waysat all. In little things, as well as the large, we are privileged to acknowledge God. He is interested in us 24 hours a day, 60 minutes of the hour, 60 seconds of the minute.
He watches over all our life's journey, from the first uncertain step of babyhood to the last uncertain step of old age. He knows all about us, gives us all blessings, and leads us all through life if we desire and permit Him to do so. Why then should we not acknowledge Him? "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). Then let us ask the Lord to direct them. "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps" (Prov. 16:9).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not" (Ps. 17:5).
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